Peter Tatchell, 74-year-old gay rights campaigner, faces arrest for expressing support of Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation at London's Palestine solidarity march.
The activist held a placard with the phrase "globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel's occupation of Gaza & West Bank", sparking his detention by police. Tatchell called it an "attack on free speech," arguing that the word 'intifada' means uprising, rebellion or resistance against Israeli occupation and is not antisemitic.
He was taken to Sutton police station after the event, where a total of 13 arrests were made at the Palestine Coalition protest and one from the Stop the Hate counter demonstration. The Metropolitan Police had stated earlier that protesters who chanted "globalise the intifada" would now be arrested due to recent changes in their policies.
Tatchell also highlighted that his arrest is part of a broader trend of restricting peaceful protests, saying he has been defending Jewish people against far-right and Islamist extremism through various campaigns.
The activist held a placard with the phrase "globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel's occupation of Gaza & West Bank", sparking his detention by police. Tatchell called it an "attack on free speech," arguing that the word 'intifada' means uprising, rebellion or resistance against Israeli occupation and is not antisemitic.
He was taken to Sutton police station after the event, where a total of 13 arrests were made at the Palestine Coalition protest and one from the Stop the Hate counter demonstration. The Metropolitan Police had stated earlier that protesters who chanted "globalise the intifada" would now be arrested due to recent changes in their policies.
Tatchell also highlighted that his arrest is part of a broader trend of restricting peaceful protests, saying he has been defending Jewish people against far-right and Islamist extremism through various campaigns.
just saw the news about Peter Tatchell being arrested at that Palestine solidarity march... what's going on here? 
can't believe they're cracking down on peaceful protests like this. 13 people gettin arrested and one from a counter demo too? 
it's like they're tryin to silence people who care about the cause. Tatchell is sayin' that 'intifada' ain't antisemitic, but do the cops really care about nuance? 
this just shows how far restrictions on free speech have gone in this country... what's next, gettin arrested for wearin a hoodie with a certain slogan? 
74-year-old Peter Tatchell is just tryin' to show some love for the Palestinian people and they're arrestin' him? it's like, what even is the point of free speech if you can't express your opinion without gettin' locked up? 
I mean, I get that Tatchell might've used a word that might be misinterpreted, but come on! intifada ain't exactly a dirty word, is it? 
and what's with the police just chillin' 'n' waitin' for protesters to say somethin' they don't like before throwin' 'em in the clink? 
that's just not right. Tatchell's been fightin' against real hate, far-right and Islamist extremism, so I just can't understand why they're targetin' him now... 
. I'm shocked that the Met Police would be so quick to suppress dissenting voices – especially when they're advocating for non-violent resistance. It's like they forgot that freedom of speech isn't just about free speech... 
. The fact that he was specifically targeted because of his placard is pretty telling, don't you think? 
. I'm not surprised that 13 people were arrested at the protest – it just goes to show that peaceful protest has become a thing of the past... unless you're supporting Israel, of course 
think about it, we're living in times where even expressing support for someone's right to resist an occupation can get you arrested... what does that say about our society? is it not a fundamental human right to stand up against injustice and fight for freedom? 
but now, his own convictions are being used against him... it's like, what's next? are we gonna start arresting people for wanting to speak out against systemic inequality? 
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by this news! I mean, come on, Peter Tatchell is a legend in the LGBTQ+ community and a vocal advocate for human rights, especially when it comes to protecting the rights of Palestinians. His message of non-violent resistance was clearly conveyed and not meant to be divisive or hateful. The fact that he's being targeted by the Met Police is a huge concern 
. This isn't about Palestinian rights or Israeli policies, it's about protecting our fundamental human rights and freedoms #FreePeterTatchell #PeacefulProtest #HumanRightsMatter
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. The fact that 13 people got arrested in total just highlights how restrictive our protest laws have become. It's like we're living in a time where we can't express our opinions without fear of repercussions 
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. Peter Tatchell was just standing up for a cause, expressing his support for the Palestinian people, and he gets arrested for it 
. The Met's new policy on "globalising the intifada" is basically a recipe for censorship 
. I mean, what's next? Arresting people for wearing 'Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions' t-shirts? 
. It's time to rethink these policies and let people express themselves freely 
. Here's a chart comparing arrests at Palestine Coalition protests in 2022 vs 2023: 
... I mean, what's next? Arresting ppl for showing support of a cause? It feels like they're trying to stifle free speech and control what we can say. I don't think "intifada" is even a bad word, it just means people are standing up against occupation & oppression! 
the fact that they're targeting ppl who chant "globalise the intifada" with antisemitism accusations is just another way to silence dissenting voices 
. peter tatchell's arrest is a warning sign for all the activists out there who want to make a difference 
. what if they start arresting people at our school's student-led initiatives? that would be a total disaster 
. And what's with the new police policies? 
. I mean, isn't free speech supposed to be a fundamental right? It's crazy that someone can get in trouble for expressing support of Palestinian resistance - it's not like they're advocating for violence or anything 
. The word 'intifada' is actually about resisting occupation and fighting for justice, so what's the problem? 
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