Pro-Palestine Sit-In at Waterloo Station Left Me Crying
Police Oppression?
Last Saturday, 18th November 2023, I went to Waterloo station, London, UK, to join a sit-in for Palestine.
A few days before that we had a Zoom meeting, just about how to prevent ‘hostilities’ at such gatherings. In my opinion, it was no big deal. I attended the meeting to meet the people so that when I show up, I could just go “Oh hi”. You know how it is.
During the Zoom meeting, they mentioned something about police oppression, but I didn’t pay much attention to that. I have an MSc in Voluntary Action Management and about 30 years of experience in citizen activism. I have never ever had a problem with the police. In fact, I’ve always worked with them. After all, we are on the same side — to uphold the Law. Many social issues wouldn’t exist if the Law was honoured, and never more so than in Palestine right now. I am 100% certain that if everyone acted according to the law, this bloodshed would not be taking place.
Plus, I had to mitigate a meeting between protestors and the police after violent protests in Bosnia in February 2014. When I say violent, I mean there was blood, broken bones, bruises, and fire. Both sides were in the wrong. The meeting took about two hours, and all was well. That’s it. To be honest, that was the only time I was a…