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In contemporary Britain, protest has ceased to be a basic freedom. Instead, it has become a privilege that authorities allow or withhold as they see fit. This constitutes the implication of proposed measures that the current government is putting forward, which would determine when and where protests can take place, with possible imprisonment for those who disobey these restrictions.

Gradual Weakening of Civil Liberties

Earlier administrations had already undermined this essential right: the former Conservative government had granted law enforcement extensive new authorities, which global rights bodies had condemned as "serious and undue restrictions" on civil liberties. Collectively, these progressive attacks on liberty have practically abolished the hard-won right to freedom of protest.

Using Atrocity to Rationalize Suppression

The most recent limitations are being defended by citing last week's heinous antisemitic assault on a Manchester mosque. We can all agree on widespread consensus that the safety of Jewish communities in Britain must be protected. However, using this horrific incident as a pretext to suppress opposition is not only disconnected to that duty but perverts it.

"When you can't draw the line at genocide, you probably cannot establish limits at democracy," observed a prominent American author, a statement that applies equally for the present administration.

Historical Perspective of Protest

Reflect on Britain's long tradition of public demonstration and direct action against racism and fascism, from the 1936 Battle of Cable Street to after World War II Jewish groups opposing fascism and the 1970s mobilizations against the far-right organization. Many of these historical demonstrators were labeled as radicals in their era, even while they were advocating the rights of minorities.

Current Reality

In the current complex situation, here's what's truly happening: Israel – a sovereign nation – is committing acts that international bodies have characterized as genocide. Its warfare have prompted the International Criminal Court to release arrest warrants against Israel's prime minister and his ex-military leader.

Western popular sentiment has shifted dramatically against Israel's violent actions. In Britain, a substantial majority of the public believe Israel has likely committed war crimes. Most people would endorse a total prohibition on weapons exports to the state, and approve the arrest of Netanyahu.

Silencing Dissent

Having largely failed the public debate, pro-Israel advocates are now seizing on a despicable anti-Jewish attack to attempt to silence a mass movement against a ethical disaster. The British government seems included in this effort. Ministers have not enacted extensive restrictions on Israel and have allowed arms exports to proceed.

People who are demonstrating against the erasure of Gaza have been labeled as hateful extremists. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a broader suppression on these demonstrators until now: extremely few protesters have made genuinely hateful statements about Jewish people, giving law enforcement little justification to take action.

Dangerous Conflation

Equating Jewish heritage with the actions of the Israeli state is not only manipulative but also dangerous. The official definition of antisemitism, adopted by the British government and numerous institutions, has been rightly challenged for potentially stifling legitimate criticism of Israel. However, there should be no disagreement about one of its central illustrations: that "making Jewish people generally accountable for actions of the state of Israel" constitutes prejudice against Jews.

Escalating Restrictions

This is why we've reached a point where police authorities can propose that protests criticizing Israel's actions should be called off because they might "accidentally or intentionally" endorse anti-Jewish sentiment. Similarly, government officials have stated that acknowledgment of Palestine as a nation has made political parties "implicated" in supposed mistreatment faced by Jewish communities.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the very day as the synagogue attack, the Israeli military killed dozens of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – adding to the terrible count from 24 months of daily atrocities that have taken many thousands of lives. British politicians and news organizations have barely concealed the minimal importance they assign to Palestinian existence. This represents one of the boldest expressions of discrimination in contemporary society.

Crossing Thresholds

Our government has already crossed a dangerous boundary by banning Palestine Action, a non-violent, human rights-focused direct action organization. Thousands of British protesters have been arrested, primarily for holding signs against mass killing and endorsing the proscribed group. Many of those arrested are pensioners; among them a former clergyman and the child of a World War II genocide survivor.

International Parallels

It's easy to see where this trajectory 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 current president described such demonstrations as anti-Jewish. In doing so, they helped legitimize the authoritarian crackdown on such protests – and on freedom of expression in general.

Looking Ahead

If a hard-right government comes to power, it would be granted sweeping powers to control dissent. What might a Reform government do with this restrictive framework? Our ancestors struggled, suffered and sacrificed their lives to establish our liberties. We may eventually regret how easily we permitted them to be eroded.