London Police urge students to reschedule October 7 pro-Palestine march

The Metropolitan Police in London are urging student organizers to reschedule a pro-Palestine march currently set for October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. The group organizing the demonstration, known as the University of London Coalition, plans to march from King's College London in the Strand to University College London in Holborn starting at midday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stated that while the police lack the legal authority to ban the march outright under current laws, they have attempted to contact the organizers to request a date change. Harman noted that October 7 is a day of mourning and reflection for many Londoners and expressed concerns regarding the impact of the march on students and staff, particularly within the Jewish community. The police cited rising levels of antisemitism at UK universities as a reason for their concern.

If the march proceeds on the scheduled date, the police intend to impose specific conditions regarding its route and timing to maintain public order. Authorities have also written to four London universities, requesting that they take steps to ensure students and staff do not feel targeted or unsafe. The police emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward hate crimes and incitement to violence.