War heroes demand pro-Palestine march on Remembrance Sunday is cancelled urging protesters to ‘show some respect’
FEARS of ugly scenes marring Remembrance events have sparked pleas to put our heroes first and honour them with the dignity they deserve.
Veterans, military chiefs and MPs tonight pleaded for respect after a fourth consecutive weekend of protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
War heroes called for a pro-Palestine march on Remembrance weekend to be cancelled, demanding: “Show some respect.”
Met chief Sir Mark Rowley was also urged to ensure services for our war dead are not “hijacked” after weekend chaos.
Sgt Jay Baldwin, 38, who lost his legs in Afghanistan, said: “What is happening in the Middle East is terrible.
“But next weekend is when we remember those who have fallen whilst defending our freedom and our life as it is today — it’s not a time for political demos.”
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Former Staff Sergeant Wayne Ingram, 54, added: “I feel disgusted that these protests are going ahead.
“Those who are taking part must show some respect for our veterans.
“If anything happened to war memorials around the country, it may well be a prelude to veterans kicking off they feel so angry.”
Hundreds of thousands could attend next Saturday’s pro-Palestinian Million March.
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Organisers have been urged to scrap it over fears it will disrupt the earlier Armistice Day Two Minutes Silence, at 11am.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced calls to ban the rally, with cops resistant to stopping it.
Police were told to use all their powers to ensure train stations are not blocked by sit-ins.
Heroes’ families will also be heading to the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, plus Sunday’s remembrance service at The Cenotaph in Whitehall.
A total of 29 people were arrested in the capital on Saturday, with six charged to face court.
Five were held on Friday over a sit-in demo at King’s Cross station.
Pro-Palestine protesters mobbed poppy sellers at Charing Cross station, with other demos disrupting hubs in Manchester and Glasgow.
Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff, told The Sun: “It is vital that the Armistice Day commemoration on Saturday and the Remembrance Sunday events should proceed without disruption.
“This includes routing any marches well away from Whitehall so that their noise does not disturb the Two Minutes Silence.”
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who served in the Royal Green Jackets, warned: “Any form of national demonstration that overshadows our nation’s moment of reflection is provocative and totally unacceptable.
“The organisers need to show some respect.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper gave the green light for cops to arrest protesters after the King’s Cross demo.
A source close to him said tonight: “Attempts to use stations as a location to cause disruption and intimidate passengers are unacceptable.”
Tory MP Greg Smith said: “It is beyond comprehension that these rallies and protests calling for Israel to surrender to terrorists are allowed to disrupt people’s lives by blocking railway stations and more.
“We need a hard crackdown on such activities.”
PM Rishi Sunak wrote to Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley on Friday telling him planned action was “provocative and disrespectful”.
Cops can demand rallies are banned but the move must be sanctioned by Ms Braverman and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Falklands veteran Simon Weston said: “This is the only time of the year that politicians take any notice of veterans, for crying out loud.
“And it is time they changed the law to make it illegal to protest on Remembrance Sunday.”
Rear Admiral Chris Parry told The Sun that Sir Mark should consider his position at the Met if there is serious interference with Remembrance weekend.
Mr Parry added: “It would be a complete affront to our way of life and our institutions.
“The problem at the moment is that the law isn’t being enforced, because I suspect that the police are not able to control these large mobs.”
Deputy PM Oliver Dowden has revealed “grave concerns” about the protests going ahead.
He said: “At a time that is meant to be a solemn remembrance of the sacrifice of previous generations and upholding our British values, the police need to think very carefully about the safety of that demonstration.
“Namely whether it could spill over into violent protest and the signal it sends particularly to the Jewish community.”
Meanwhile, Ms Braverman warned that anyone found desecrating The Cenotaph should be “put into a jail cell faster than their feet can touch the ground”.
The Royal British Legion said: “While we respect the right of people to protest within the law, the Poppy Appeal is a time for Remembrance, and we hope events can go ahead without disruption.
“At this point, we are not aware of any potential protests during Remembrance events.”
Other veterans called for respect. Ex-Army Warrant Officer Jim Wilde, 68, said: “Remembrance Day and the Cenotaph are two things all military and veterans hold close to their heart.
“Holding any sort of march on this day is totally unacceptable to veterans worldwide.
“Our police need to be firm, fair, and robust in the policing of this event, and ensure that politics does not hijack this sacrosanct day.”
Ex-soldier Derek Hunt, 72, added: “Protesters should think very carefully about demonstrating on Remembrance Sunday.”
The march on Saturday will start almost two hours after the silence.
Tonight the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said it had “no intention of marching on or near Whitehall” on Saturday, and no protest was planned for Sunday.
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The group said: “Given these facts, we are alarmed by members of the Government, including the Prime Minster, issuing statements suggesting that the march is a direct threat to The Cenotaph and designed to disrupt the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
“Such statements are encouraging the calls from Far-Right activists and commentators who appear to be inciting action on the streets to stop the protests taking place and are deeply irresponsible.”
Let us pay respects in peace
By Simon Weston, Falklands veteran
SERVICEMEN and women in their millions died for the right for people to protest.
It is part of the freedom we veterans all fought for.
There is great empathy and sympathy from most people over what is happening to innocent people on both sides in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
But we must also have the right to remember our dead in peace and have Armistice Day protected in law.
Politicians have to stand up and be counted now.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said anyone who damages or desecrates any war memorials will be locked up.
But every mayor in the country should be saying it is not acceptable to disrupt a service of peaceful remembrance.