Police arrested activist Peter Tatchell during a pro-Palestine demonstration in London on Saturday after he displayed a placard reading “Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance.” The 74-year-old, a prominent gay rights campaigner, was taken to Sutton police station in south London.
Tatchell characterized his detention as an assault on freedom of expression, claiming authorities argued the word intifada itself constituted unlawful conduct. Through the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he released a statement describing the arrest as part of an escalating pattern criminalizing peaceful assembly.
The activist explained that intifada, an Arabic term meaning uprising or rebellion, refers to resistance against Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. He emphasized intifada does not inherently signify violence and is directed at the Israeli regime’s actions, not Jewish people. By “non-violent resistance,” Tatchell clarified he advocated for boycott, sanction, and divestment strategies—tactics historically used to dismantle South Africa’s apartheid system.
Metropolitan police justified their enforcement decision in December, stating that the phrase “globalise the intifada” would trigger arrest because circumstances had changed following the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney. Officers reported arresting a 74-year-old man carrying the contested sign at the Palestine Coalition protest.
Tatchell highlighted a pattern of what he considers unjustified charges, noting three individuals faced prosecution at a London rally the previous month for expressing support for Palestinian resistance. He emphasized his consistent advocacy for Jewish communities against far-right and Islamist antisemitism, including participation in a November 2023 March Against Antisemitism alongside the chief rabbi.
Previously, in May, Tatchell faced arrest for displaying a placard condemning both Israeli actions and Hamas executions. He stated police later acknowledged this arrest was wrongful and he awaits settlement from the Metropolitan Police regarding the incident.
