National Day of Demonstrations sees decentralised rallies across the capital
A fresh wave of protests in support of Palestine is set to take place in London this weekend, as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) hosts its National Day of Demonstrations on Saturday, 12 April. Unlike previous mass marches through central London, this weekend’s action will be spread out across nine boroughs of the capital, with simultaneous demonstrations also scheduled in towns and cities across the country.
The PSC has been at the forefront of a series of high-profile protests in the UK calling on the government to take a firmer stance over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a statement published on its official website, the group said:
“As Israel escalates its genocidal assault on Gaza, we must ramp up our actions in our local communities in solidarity with Palestine. Join an action for Palestine in your local community on 12 April to demand our government immediately stop arming Israel and pressure Israel to end its genocide against Palestinians.”
This Saturday marks one of the first times the PSC has adopted a decentralised protest strategy, moving away from the larger, centralised gatherings typically seen at locations like Trafalgar Square or Whitehall. Instead, campaigners will hold smaller rallies in areas such as Camden, Haringey, and Wimbledon.
A number of protests will take the form of static demonstrations rather than marches, with organisers focusing on local visibility and outreach. For example, Merton PSC is planning a silent protest in Wimbledon, while other areas will see speeches and placard-led vigils.
London protest locations and times
Camden: Camden PSC will host a demonstration outside Sainsbury’s on Camden Road from 11am to 12pm.
Enfield: Enfield Town Centre will see activists gathering outside Barclays from 11am to 1pm.
Haringey: Campaigners from Haringey J4P are expected at Tottenham Football Ground (N17 0BX) from 12 noon.
Harrow: Brent and Harrow PSC will protest outside Primark on St Ann’s Road in Harrow town centre. No specific time has been provided.
Lewisham: Demonstrators will gather at the corner of Lewisham High Street and Mount Pleasant Road from 1.30pm.
Tower Hamlets: A protest in Altab Ali Park (E1 1FD), supported by several groups including Tower Hamlets PSC, is scheduled for 12 noon.
Waltham Forest: A demonstration is due to take place in Waltham Forest Town Square from 12 noon to 2pm.
Westminster: Westminster PSC will be holding a demonstration outside The Chippenham pub on Shirland Road (W9 2EX) from 1pm to 2pm.
Wimbledon: Merton PSC will stage a silent protest outside the Wimbledon Quarter from 12 noon to 1pm.
Wider national movement
The decentralised nature of this weekend’s campaign is echoed across the UK. Protests have also been announced in Birmingham, Ipswich, Leicester, Peterborough, and Tunbridge Wells, suggesting a broader strategy to bring the message into more communities across the country.
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The PSC has said it hopes this approach will “mobilise people in their own boroughs and towns”, enabling more direct local engagement and sustained pressure on policymakers.
Metropolitan Police response
At the time of writing, the Metropolitan Police has not issued a formal statement regarding the planned protests. However, officers have routinely been deployed during previous demonstrations to maintain public order and monitor crowd activity.
With protests planned across multiple boroughs, a police presence can likely be expected, though on a smaller scale compared to the force required for major city-centre demonstrations.
As tensions continue to mount over the UK government’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, this weekend’s grassroots action is set to keep the issue firmly in the public eye. Whether the shift to more localised protests will alter public perception or political response remains to be seen.
