Very long sorry...As someone who was in Westminster on Saturday (and Sunday)...

...attending memorial services in Westminster Abbey and at the Cenotaph I have the following observations which are not from the Daily Fail.

1) I saw many people travelling in support of the Palestinian March heading towards their assembly point -ALL were extremely peaceful and generally polite. there wasn't anything intimidating at all and several were family groups with young children who had made their own flags etc. The vast majority of Palestinians and their supporters are not supporters of Hammas but individuals who are watching the world stand by allow a nation's people receive treatment worse than that metered out by the Germans in the 1930's "because there are hostages"

2) On Saturday I arrived at Westminster Bridge just as the "counter protesters" were assembling and being "kettled" by the Police - here there was much shouting and abuse of the Police and basically the ordinary citizens/tourists were being impeded in their peaceful endeavours - There were absolutely no pro palestine demonstrators in the vicinity as their assembly point was two miles away.

3) Whilst attempting to reach Westminster Abbey I helped a lost Canadian and his wife who had tried to find a way into the Abbey away from the crowds as they felt intimidated by the gathering.

4) I attended a service of remembrance for those Commandos who lost their lives in the 1939-45 war fighting for the freedoms that we enjoy today that the non jewish occupants of Gaza and the West Bank do not enjoy due to Jewish Settlers evicting them from their property (even without this conflict) - I appreciate that not all Jews agree with this stance from the "Israeli Jew")

5) After the service I planted Poppy Crosses in the Field of Remembrance -including one in the plot for the Royal Norfolk Regiment and whilst pausing to reflect noticed several from 1917 in respect of deaths in Gaza.

6) As I was going to be back the next day to parade at the Cenotaph for Operation Chariot I left. By then the Police had released the "counter demonstrators" and what I saw made me ashamed to be British...

7) One of the "Nationalist" protestors had climbed onto the statue of Winston Churchill and no effort was made by the Police to remove him - he somehow managed to attach an England Flag to Churchill's cane before climbing down and joining the others in a chant/song..."Sweet Caroline" - indicating exactly how pointless and futile their demonstration was.

8) I then made my way to Waterloo Station and came across the pro palestine demonstrators on their way home. Despite the fuss that has been made in the media for this all it was was a group of about 30 sitting on the floor whilst another barked a speech into a megaphone which was lost in the acoustics of a rail station. There were two or three police nearby but they were not interfering with anyone or blocking the concourse. When their leader finished speaking they applauded and started chanting for a ceasefire. Definitely not worth the column inches that were devoted to it.

9) Once again on my journey home I saw may supporters of the palestine March and didn't feel intimidated at all.

My biggest gripe for both days was the lack of poppies on display anywhere other than at the cenotaph - my rough guess was that only around 5% of the people were wearing some form of poppy which I found atrociously bad. Irrespective of your views on the futility of war and the sacrifices made, they happened and wearing a poppy is a simple act of remembrance. Whichever side you are on in the Hamas/Israel or Russia/Ukraine human tragedies you have to admit that there is evil in the world and wearing a Poppy is a simple act to symbolise that you will remember them.

Sorry for long post - I have been cogitating this since Saturday and have nowhere else to vent my spleen so apologies, someone else started it today with the post about a coconut which until it was explained to me (and probably the majority of the people of Britain) meant nothing other than they were a bit nutty!

Posted By: Ruttles on November 14th 2023 at 11:51:48

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