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In contemporary Britain, public demonstration has ceased to be a fundamental right. Instead, it has become a conditional permission that authorities allow or deny at their discretion. This constitutes the implication of proposed measures that the current government is putting forward, which would dictate the timing and location demonstrations can occur, with possible imprisonment for those who defy these limitations.

Erosion of Democratic Rights

Earlier administrations had already weakened this essential right: the former Conservative government had given law enforcement sweeping additional powers, which international human rights organizations had condemned as "serious and undue limitations" on civil liberties. Taken together, these incremental assaults on liberty have effectively eliminated the hard-won right to public demonstration.

Using Atrocity to Justify Crackdown

The most recent restrictive measures are being defended by referring to last week's heinous antisemitic assault on a Manchester mosque. There should be universal agreement that the safety of British Jews must be safeguarded. However, using this atrocity as a pretext to suppress dissent is not only disconnected to that duty but distorts it.

"When you cannot draw the line at mass killing, you likely cannot draw the line at democracy," observed a prominent American author, whose words that rings true for the current government.

Historical Context of Demonstration

Consider Britain's rich history of protest and direct action against racism and authoritarianism, from the historic 1936 Cable Street confrontation to after World War II Jewish groups opposing fascism and the 1970s demonstrations against the far-right organization. Many of these historical demonstrators were branded as radicals in their time, even while they were advocating the freedoms of minorities.

Present Situation

In the current complex situation, here's what's truly occurring: Israel – a sovereign nation – is perpetrating what United Nations investigations have characterized as genocide. Its warfare have prompted the International Criminal Court to release legal indictments against Israel's prime minister and his ex-military leader.

International popular sentiment has changed significantly against Israel's violent actions. In Britain, a substantial majority of citizens think Israel has likely committed war crimes. Most people would endorse a total prohibition on arms sales to the state, and back the detention of the Israeli leader.

Suppressing Opposition

Having essentially failed the argument, pro-Israel advocates are now seizing on a vile anti-Jewish attack to try to silence a mass movement against a moral catastrophe. The British government appears to be included in this attempt. Ministers have failed to implement extensive restrictions on Israel and have permitted weapon shipments to continue.

People who are protesting against the destruction of Gaza have been labeled as hateful extremists. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a more extensive crackdown on these protesters until now: extremely few protesters have made truly offensive 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 cynical but also harmful. The standard interpretation of antisemitism, adopted by the British government and many organizations, has been rightly challenged for potentially restricting valid commentary of Israel. However, there should be universal agreement about one of its central illustrations: that "holding Jewish people collectively responsible for decisions of the state of Israel" constitutes antisemitism.

Escalating Restrictions

This is why we've arrived at a situation where police authorities can suggest that protests criticizing Israel's actions should be canceled because they might "accidentally or intentionally" endorse antisemitism. Similarly, political figures have declared that acknowledgment of Palestine as a nation has made organizations "complicit" in supposed mistreatment faced by British Jews.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the same day as the synagogue attack, the Israeli military killed numerous of Palestinians in Gaza – increasing the terrible count from 24 months of daily atrocities that have claimed tens of thousands of human lives. British politicians and news organizations have barely concealed the limited value they attach to Palestinian life. This represents one of the boldest expressions of discrimination in our time.

Crossing Thresholds

Our government has already crossed a concerning boundary by banning a specific activist group, a peaceful, anti-genocide direct action organization. Thousands of British demonstrators have been detained, mostly for holding signs opposing genocide and endorsing the banned organization. Many of those detained are elderly citizens; including a former clergyman and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Global Comparisons

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 taking these actions, they helped legitimize the authoritarian crackdown on such protests – and on freedom of expression in general.

Future Concerns

If a conservative administration comes to power, it would be given sweeping powers to control dissent. What might a new administration do with this restrictive framework? Our ancestors struggled, endured hardship and died to secure our freedoms. We may ultimately rue how easily we permitted them to slip away.