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In contemporary Britain, protest is no longer a fundamental right. Rather, it has become a privilege that authorities grant or withhold as they see fit. This constitutes the underlying meaning of proposed measures that the current government is putting forward, which would dictate when and where demonstrations can occur, with potential prison sentences for those who disobey these limitations.

Erosion of Democratic Rights

Previous administrations had already undermined this essential right: the previous Tory administration had given law enforcement sweeping additional powers, which international human rights organizations had condemned as "serious and undue restrictions" on civil liberties. Taken together, these progressive attacks on liberty have effectively abolished the hard-won right to freedom of protest.

Exploiting Tragedy to Rationalize Suppression

The most recent limitations are being defended by citing last week's heinous antisemitic attack on a Manchester Islamic center. We can all agree on widespread consensus that the safety of Jewish communities in Britain must be protected. However, using this atrocity as a pretext to stifle dissent is not only disconnected to that responsibility but perverts it.

"When you can't draw the line at mass killing, you probably cannot establish limits at democratic principles," observed a well-known American author, a statement that rings true for the current government.

Historical Context of Protest

Consider Britain's rich history of public demonstration and activism against racism and fascism, from the historic 1936 Cable Street confrontation to postwar Jewish groups opposing fascism and the 1970s demonstrations against the far-right organization. Many of these historical demonstrators were labeled as radicals in their era, even while they were fighting for the freedoms of marginalized groups.

Present Situation

In today's complex situation, here's what's truly occurring: The Israeli government – a sovereign nation – is committing acts that international bodies have described as systematic destruction. Its warfare have led the global justice body to issue arrest warrants against Israel's prime minister and his ex-military leader.

Western public opinion has shifted dramatically against Israel's military campaign. In Britain, a substantial majority of citizens think Israel has probably committed war crimes. Most people would endorse a complete ban on arms sales to the state, and approve the arrest of the Israeli leader.

Suppressing Opposition

Having essentially lost the public debate, Israel's supporters are now seizing on a despicable antisemitic crime to attempt to suppress a mass movement against a ethical disaster. The British government seems included in this effort. Government officials have failed to implement extensive restrictions on Israel and have allowed weapon shipments to proceed.

People who are protesting against the destruction of Gaza have been labeled as hateful extremists. Yet there's a important factor why there hasn't been a more extensive suppression on these protesters until now: very limited protesters have made genuinely hateful statements about Jewish people, giving police authorities minimal reason to intervene.

Dangerous Conflation

Equating Jewish heritage with the actions of the government of Israel is not only cynical but also harmful. The official definition of antisemitism, adopted by the British government and many organizations, has been rightly questioned for potentially restricting valid commentary of Israel. However, there should be no disagreement about one of its key examples: that "holding Jewish people collectively responsible for decisions of the state of Israel" constitutes prejudice against Jews.

Increasing Limitations

This is why we've arrived at a situation where law enforcement can propose that protests criticizing Israel's policies should be called off because they might "inadvertently or deliberately" support antisemitism. Similarly, political figures have stated that acknowledgment of Palestine as a nation has made organizations "complicit" in supposed mistreatment faced by British Jews.

Double Standards

On the very day as the religious center assault, the Israeli military killed dozens of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – adding to the horrific toll from 24 months of daily atrocities that have claimed many thousands of human lives. British politicians and media outlets have barely concealed the minimal importance they assign to Palestinian life. This represents one of the most brazen demonstrations of racism in contemporary society.

Crossing Thresholds

Our government has already passed a concerning boundary by banning Palestine Action, a non-violent, anti-genocide direct action organization. Thousands of British demonstrators have been detained, primarily for holding placards opposing genocide and supporting the banned organization. Many of those detained are pensioners; including a retired priest and the child of a Holocaust survivor.

Global Comparisons

It's easy to see where this path leads. In the United States, political leaders helped vilify demonstrations supporting Palestine: a former House Speaker suggested that some were "connected to" other nations, while the sitting leader characterized such protests as anti-Jewish. In taking these actions, they contributed to normalizing the repressive measures on such demonstrations – and on freedom of expression in general.

Future Concerns

If a hard-right government comes to power, it would be given extensive authority to control opposition. What might a new administration do with this repressive toolkit? Our ancestors fought, endured hardship and sacrificed their lives to establish our liberties. We may eventually regret how casually we permitted them to slip away.