19 July 2024
Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC) wishes to record its increasing concerns over Police Scotland’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests at and around arms-producing factories.
GGEC has been made aware of events outside Thales weapons factory in Govan, and at Govan subway station, on Wednesday 3 July 2024.
We understand that the policing operation at Thales involved the unnecessary cordoning of a picket line, compressing of protesters on the line, refusal to permit further people to join the line, removal of such people into a ‘kettling’ containment situation, and the unwarranted ordering of observers from a public street under threat of such containment.
We further understand that on dispersal of the demonstration, the main body of peaceful protesters were ‘escorted’ to Govan subway station. On arrival, they were met with aggressive levels of policing, including the use of batons and pepper spray to make undue arrests. Multiple injuries were received and recorded.
https://twitter.com/ggectee/status/1814178622984392945?s=46&t=KuUo_VjYJYAxKcydnWm3EA
For legal reasons, we are unable to comment on specific details about those arrested. But we are compelled to register our deep worries about the provocative nature of this policing operation and the purpose behind it.
This letter of concern follows a similar statement issued by GGEC regarding the policing operation at Thales on 15 May 2024.
It is of additional concern that this latest escalation of heavy policing is now serving to undermine public confidence in the more general policing of pro-Palestine events in and around Glasgow.
We wonder whether the disturbing forms of policing now evident at Thales and Govan subway station now signifies a more decisive intent to defend corporate arms companies and the state interests around them. Are these orders being handed down and enforced at the expense of a public right to protest and oppose the enabling of genocide by those companies?
The foremost question here to Police Scotland must be: who do you serve; who do you protect? Is it those trying to stop the genocide by asking companies and governments to uphold international law, or the weapons suppliers and their political sponsors who are party to the genocide in violation of international law?
As in our last statement, we again urge the Scottish Government and minister responsible for policing to instruct a substantive review of these events and the police methods deployed.
We are open to speaking directly with ministers and with Police Scotland on these vital matters.
Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee