Activists charged with ‘harassment’ for protesting Keir Starmer’s genocide complicity

Police have charged three Youth Demand activists for protesting outside Keir Starmer’s London house. Allegedly, the demonstrators may’ve caused “harm or distress to the occupant”.

But surely the Labour Party leader’s support of Israel using UK-made weapons to commit what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is investigating as a “plausible” genocide is more distressing than a peaceful protest.

Youth Demand: ‘Starmer stop the killing’

Activists put up a protest sign with the words ‘Starmer stop the killing’ and placed children’s shoes outside his home.

Israel has killed over 13,000 Palestinian children since the violence intensified on 7 October.

The UK involvement in Israel’s military campaign includes parts for F-35 fight jets and the drone Israel used to kill British and international aid workers, along with a Palestinian driver.

Indeed, Youth Demand are calling for Starmer to support an arms embargo on Israel:

🚨 BREAKING: Youth Demand Pay @Keir_Starmer a Visit

Whilst 12,000 children in Gaza are slaughtered, @UKLabour continue to allow the selling of arms to Israel. We are calling on their humanity.

🤝 We won't stand for this. Donate to help us take action: https://t.co/AYrnfqCNPX pic.twitter.com/RkMp8TckKQ

— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) April 9, 2024

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has affirmed Labour doesn’t support an immediate ban on arms sales to Israel.

That’s despite Israel killing over 33,000 Palestinians, using starvation as a weapon through its blockade and then massacring hungry Gazans while they queue for bread, to name some of war crimes from the occupying power.

“We’ve had enough”

Anyone’s right to a private life is important, but an ongoing genocide is surely a pressing matter.

The police arrested three protesters outside Starmer’s home in Kentish Town:

➡️ 'We're young, we've had enough, and we won't stand for it.'

📢 3 people have been arrested after taking action outside Keir Starmer's house. The Tories and Labour are complicit in the genocide of thousands of people around the world

‼️ Join them at https://t.co/rqU3Oswm2K pic.twitter.com/sJiclrsF3H

— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) April 9, 2024

Starmer could simply talk to these protestors. Instead, the MP – as the occupant – has enabled their charging with public order offences.

In response, the Conservative government rallied to Starmer’s side. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I don’t care what your politics are, no MP should be harassed at their own home. We cannot and will not tolerate this

And Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

This is unacceptable. There is no excuse for harassing and intimidating politicians and their families in their homes.

But people on social media pointed out that the media frequently doorstepped former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn:

Can someone please explain why it was acceptable for the media to camp outside Jeremy Corbyn's house?

When he was leader, his house was relentlessly broadcast on national TV.

Why was this deemed acceptable?

Why doesn't it happen to his successor?

I'd love to know the answer! https://t.co/QzDOUMhIWo

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) April 9, 2024

It seems the media can take political activity to the Labour leader’s house, but activists with legitimate concerns cannot.

This was entitled 'Lady shouts in Spanish as she escorts Jeremy Corbyn to his car' https://t.co/dseuhd7VTn pic.twitter.com/2apGgo6gER

— j (@jrc1921) April 10, 2024

The media- unlikely to hold Starmer to account over Israel

The mainstream media has systemic biases while playing a major role in informing opinion. Activists can help counter balance that.

The Centre for Media Monitoring (CMM) case study shows that the corporate media and the BBC remain dedicated to protecting Israel in its crimes.

The content analysis found the media barely mentions that Palestine faces ongoing occupation- let alone an approach that uses a colonial lense.

That’s despite, Israel licensing gas drilling in the territory Palestinians have left.

So the media are unlikely to doorstep Starmer over Israel.

With such a media context, we should in particular welcome political engagement from our youth. But the current approach is to treat them like criminals. That’s not on.

Featured image via Youth Demand – X