Palestine Action protest Organisers reject police call for mass rally to be postponed

Police have asked organisers to postpone a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action so resources can be used to protect Jewish and Muslim communities after the terror attack at a Manchester synagogue.

- Ben Quinn

Defend Our Juries, the group that has been organising the protests in London, said it intended to go ahead with its action tomorrow, and it urged the police to focus on protecting those communities fearing reprisals or follow-up terror attacks.

"We urge you to choose to prioritise protecting the community, rather than arresting those peacefully holding signs in opposition to the absurd and draconian ban of a domestic direct action group," Defend Our Juries told the Metropolitan police in a letter of reply.

The protest in London tomorrow could set a record for the number of people arrested at a single event of civil disobedience, according to organisers. They said they had received 1,500 pledges to attend the demonstration and risk arrest, and were expecting hundreds more to register by the weekend.

A letter from the Met police to Defend Our Juries after the attack in Manchester - in which two members of the Jewish community died - said the event in London would require "a significant policing plan".