Protests at the ticket barriers at Bradford Interchange.

[Fisherman80]

Please remove if I break any forum rules.

I've just arrived at Bradford Interchange from Leeds to be confronted by Palestinian protesters at the ticket gates.
While I respect the right to protest I also respect the right for passengers who are leaving the Interchange not to be harassed by loud music,flag waving and people handing out leaflets denouncing Isreal.
I'm not taking sides and all I want is for the killing to stop in that part of the world.
What I witnessed was shocking and if I was Jewish or Isreali I would have felt extremely frightened.
It's things like I've just witnessed that make me ashamed to be from Bradford.

 

[1D54]

Whilst 'law enforcement' doubtless stood by and did nothing!!

 

[CompactDstrxion]

Sounds like police weren't aware/in attendance?

 

[Mojo]

Sounds like police weren't aware/in attendance?

Even if they were they would probably have let criminal activities take place without arrests. As police in Britain don't use tools like tear gas or water cannon which are commonplace in Europe and the US, they typically don't have the ability to make arrests unless there is imminent danger during protests of this nature. The official line is that they will gather intelligence and go after people later.

 

[43066]

Please remove if I break any forum rules.

I've just arrived at Bradford Interchange from Leeds to be confronted by Palestinian protesters at the ticket gates.
While I respect the right to protest I also respect the right for passengers who are leaving the Interchange not to be harassed by loud music,flag waving and people handing out leaflets denouncing Isreal.
I'm not taking sides and all I want is for the killing to stop in that part of the world.
What I witnessed was shocking and if I was Jewish or Isreali I would have felt extremely frightened.
It's things like I've just witnessed that make me ashamed to be from Bradford.

Are they actually on station premises? I’d agree that’s completely inappropriate.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Saw one at Leeds on Monday 12 February. Police made one arrest but the person arrested wasn't involved in the protest. Thought it was well conducted, they left plenty of space for people to access shops, departure boards and the platforms.

 

[Zamracene749]

Are they actually on station premises? I’d agree that’s completely inappropriate.

Last november I got caught up in a Free Palestine rally inside Edinburgh Waverley station. I doubt the police could have done anything but watch. Thankfully, I did not witness any violence, but I'd imagine it could be very intimidating to some passengers, even I was on edge trying to push past them with a suitcase towards platform 7 as they all headed north.
As an aside, I was on an advance and was close to missing my train due to this, do wonder what the TOC stance would have been if I had?

 

[YorksLad12]

They've been on Leeds station when I've passed through, possibly twice (the days blur into one when I'm homeward bound). Always confused me, as you need permission to cough at a Network Rail station these days, let alone protest.

 

[RAPC]

Walked through similar protests with no problems at all. All the ones I’ve seen have been noisy, but not aggressive or threatening.

Hopefully nobody has crossed the line or done anything illegal at the protest at Bradford. From the description, flag waving and handing out leaflets are not activities that the police will need to get involved with though. Or has something more serious happened?

 

[800 Driver]

Even if they were they would probably have let criminal activities take place without arrests. As police in Britain don't use tools like tear gas or water cannon which are commonplace in Europe and the US, they typically don't have the ability to make arrests unless there is imminent danger during protests of this nature. The official line is that they will gather intelligence and go after people later.

I'm not sure the use of tear gas and or water cannon in a busy city centre transport interchange would be wise, even if they were part of the police's armoury.

 

[Fisherman80]

Are they actually on station premises? I’d agree that’s completely inappropriate.

They were next to the ticket barriers,plus they were occupying the concourse area of the station. They were not outside the station premises and the gate staff looked as though they were turning a blind eye or trying to avoid a confrontation.
I agree with the right to protest but what I don't agree with is getting in people's faces who have maybe just finished work and want to get home without being harassed.

Walked through similar protests with no problems at all. All the ones I’ve seen have been noisy, but not aggressive or threatening.

Hopefully nobody has crossed the line or done anything illegal at the protest at Bradford. From the description, flag waving and handing out leaflets are not activities that the police will need to get involved with though. Or has something more serious happened?

When you only have one exit from the station and that exit is occupied by people protesting about something which may cause offence or alarm and distress to someone of a particular religion or nationality then that definitely is crossing the line.

 

[danbarjon]

Saw one at Leeds on Monday 12 February. Police made one arrest but the person arrested wasn't involved in the protest. Thought it was well conducted, they left plenty of space for people to access shops, departure boards and the platforms.

I saw one in Leeds as well on the 4th November and it was very well managed, one of my family members was in a wheelchair and as soon as they were asked they moved instantly so no faults from me.

 

[800001]

They were next to the ticket barriers,plus they were occupying the concourse area of the station. They were not outside the station premises and the gate staff looked as though they were turning a blind eye or trying to avoid a confrontation.
I agree with the right to protest but what I don't agree with is getting in people's faces who have maybe just finished work and want to get home without being harassed.


When you only have one exit from the station and that exit is occupied by people protesting about something which may cause offence or alarm and distress to someone of a particular religion or nationality then that definitely is crossing the line.

What would you expect the station/barrier staff to do? When they are most likely seriously out numbered?

 

[Starmill]

Even if they were they would probably have let criminal activities take place without arrests. As police in Britain don't use tools like tear gas or water cannon which are commonplace in Europe and the US, they typically don't have the ability to make arrests unless there is imminent danger during protests of this nature. The official line is that they will gather intelligence and go after people later.

Imagine using tear gas or a water cannon inside Bradford Interchange station. Wouldn't be a pretty sight.

Last november I got caught up in a Free Palestine rally inside Edinburgh Waverley station. I doubt the police could have done anything but watch. Thankfully, I did not witness any violence, but I'd imagine it could be very intimidating to some passengers, even I was on edge trying to push past them with a suitcase towards platform 7 as they all headed north.
As an aside, I was on an advance and was close to missing my train due to this, do wonder what the TOC stance would have been if I had?

If you're on the wrong train you're on the wrong train. You'd just have to buy a new ticket, or hope the company didn't attempt prosecution.

 

[nanstallon]

While in a democracy everybody has a right to protest against the actions of the Israeli government (although personally I support the right of Israel to defend itself), nobody has the right to engage in anti-Semitism and I would expect the police to take action against anyone engaging in that behaviour. Even a legitimate protest should only be made on public land or on private land (such as a railway station) with the landowner's permission.

 

[Zamracene749]

If you're on the wrong train you're on the wrong train. You'd just have to buy a new ticket, or hope the company didn't attempt prosecution.

I thought that might be the case. Couldn't really plan for it to take almost 15 minutes from Waverley steps to Platform 7 due to a massive protest, I guess I'd have to meet an especially spiteful member of staff that would refuse travel if there were plenty of seats on the next service! Edit- I would of course ask before boarding or approach the ticket office staff. Jumping on and expecting grace would be rightly construed as entitled behaviour.

 

[Bantamzen]

There's been a lot of these pop-up protests recently. At one recent event close to where I work in Leeds I asked one of the organisers why they were protesting outside of the Playhouse. Their response was that it was to raise awareness and pressure the UK government to intervene. I replied by asking if this was the same government people had been wanting to stay out of Middle Eastern conflicts in the past. All I received was a moment of stunned silence.

Whilst I will always support the right to protest, these current ones are little more than virtue signalling, social media content creations. A lot of the people attending clearly have no idea what they want the government to do, and most don't seem to acknowledge that there are two sides in this conflict. Hamas are hardly an innocent party in all this, but there are no calls for them to stop in these protests. If anyone wants to be serious about peace in the Middle East, then they should be demanding that both sides stop this nonsensical game that they are playing.

 

[sprunt]

I too support the right to protest provided that nobody actually protests.

 

[Starmill]

I thought that might be the case. Couldn't really plan for it to take almost 15 minutes from Waverley steps to Platform 7 due to a massive protest, I guess I'd have to meet an especially spiteful member of staff that would refuse travel if there were plenty of seats on the next service! Edit- I would of course ask before boarding or approach the ticket office staff. Jumping on and expecting grace would be rightly construed as entitled behaviour.

Absolutely agreed. While you wouldn't have any entitlement to travel, hopefully you'd find a member of staff willing to be pragmatic about it.

 

[Western Lord]

I suspect that many of the current pro-Palestinian protesters doing the rounds at the moment are the same bunch of anti-everything anarchists who jump on any bandwagon.

 

[DarloRich]

I too support the right to protest provided that nobody actually protests.

spot on! and protest without making any noise.

I suspect that many of the current pro-Palestinian protesters doing the rounds at the moment are the same bunch of anti-everything anarchists who jump on any bandwagon.

While I am sure there is a common constituency Palestine is much more of a left wing cause. Look at the number of Socialist Worker and Stop the (western) war placards at these demonstrations .

At one recent event close to where I work in Leeds

They seem to be marching in Leeds every Saturday - i bumped into a protest in the square with the Black Prince statue the other weekend.

By big concern with it is that several of the marchers were carrying banners and placards that could easily be anti semitic - "from the River to sea" being an obvious example but i saw others displaying obvious tropes about Jews secretly running the world.

There is a problem with many on the left that they simply do not think that Jews can be victims because they are white ( adjacent) rich and powerful. They don't see how thier views or statements could be in anyway consider anti Semitic. It is the kind of nonsense that Corbyn revelled ( always an anti racist campaigner etc) in and it is very poor frankly.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There is a problem with many on the left that they simply do not think that Jews can be victims because they are white ( adjacent) rich and powerful. They don't see how thier views or statements could be in anyway consider anti Semitic. It is the kind of nonsense that Corbyn revelled ( always an anti racist campaigner etc) in and it is very poor frankly.

I've noticed this too. Since Brexit and lockdown I've found myself realigning politically, and have moved from pretty far-left to somewhere between centre-left and centre-right depending on the issue (though not sure how much it is that I've moved as opposed to the 'Overton window' shifting). In my student days I went on various protests organised by the likes of Socialist Worker, and even then you didn't have to dig too deep to find some quite alarming antisemitic views. The idea of a 'horseshoe theory' (that the extremes of right and left are more similar than either would want to admit) certainly seems to hold some water when it comes to antisemitism- and often for the same flawed motivations.

 

[Bantamzen]

There's currently a protest down the road from me in Baildon close to a small industrial whom the protestors are claiming has a business that are "arming Israel". I've no idea what company this is, how or why they've come to this conclusion, but we can't move around here for the movement of tanks, missiles and weapons.. (For the record as far as I know the companies are mainly DIY, building / timber supply as well as some logistics and car parts & rentals.)

And of course hanging onto their coat tails are Socialist Workers happily blowing whistles and waving flags at bemused locals wondering what the hell these muppets are on about. I can only assume that one of them supplied something to Israel once, and this classes as "arming". "Free Palestine" is rapidly becoming the new "Stop Oil Now".

Edit: I've learnt something new, there is a company in the business park that engineer electronic systems for military applications, I honestly never knew. However the systems they engineer whilst potentially having military functions, are not actual weapons. So I guess by this logic anything that goes towards the Israeli military should be protested against.