Demonstrators at a pro-Palestine rally led by the protest group Youth Demand have accused the Government of “trying to shut us down”.
The “Shut It Down For Palestine” rally began on Malet Street, Bloomsbury, at 6.30pm.
Youth Demand says it is the first in a series of protests it will be staging throughout April, which will “shut down” the capital using tactics such as “swarming” and roadblocks.
Arthur, 24, who joined Youth demand a year ago and now acts as a spokesperson, expressed concern over the government's attitude to the protests.
Speaking to our reporter Josh Butler at the scene, Arthur described the scene when police broke in to a Quaker meeting held last week and "rounded up" all the attendees.
"It's shocking, it's unbelievable, but it's also not surprising,” he told The Standard.
“What we are trying to show here is solidarity, against a government that is desperately trying to shut us down."
See also: Who are Youth Demand?
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20:24 , Daniel KeaneThank you for following our live coverage.
Watch: Youth Demand at pro-Palestine rally
20:01 , Daniel KeaneFemale protester criticises police
19:40A woman who said she had been arrested by police for protesting gave a speech to an excited crowd criticising the Met’s treatment of campaigners.
She said: "I'm not okay I panic when I hear police sirens."
"My cell was freezing, they traumatised a bunch of young women, we will be back, they can never take away our voices."
It was unclear which protest the woman was referring to where she was allegedly detained.
Counter protester claims chants are 'anti-Semitic and offensive'
19:13 , Daniel KeaneOne man who identified as a counter-protester said he felt the chants were “anti-semitic, disruptive, and offensive”.
“As a Jewish person who lives in London when they disrupt this city I will stand against it,” he told the Standard.
Protesters were heard asking police to keep the counter-protesters away from where the rally was taking place.
Counter protesters shout in opposition
18:57 , Megan HoweCounter-protesters shout in opposition as the speeches call for unity against the government's actions to support Israel.
Police have intervened to keep order between the two groups.
A flag has been held up to block out the small group of counter-protesters, who hold signs reading "London says no to terrorists".
'We're trying to show solidarity against a government desperately trying to shut us down', protester says
18:53 , Megan HoweArthur, 24, who joined Youth demand a year ago and now acts as a spokesperson, expressed concern over the government's attitude to the protests.
Speaking to our reporter Josh Butler at the scene, Arthur described the scene when police "broke in" to a Quaker meeting held last week and "rounded up" all the attendees.
"It's shocking, it's unbelievable, but it's also not surprising,” he told The Standard.
“What we are trying to show here is solidarity, against a government that is desperately trying to shut us down."
Arthur took up a megaphone and joined in the speeches to a crowd of around 50 as drums banged and cheers rang out.
"It's our duty to resist"
18:50 , Megan HoweProtesters gathered in Bloomsbury have been seen holding banners and chanting “Resist to exist” and “UK Government pick a side, justice or genocide” in a night of action as they demand the UK impose a total trade embargo on Israel.
Youth Demand protest is about to begin
18:28 , Megan HoweThe “Shut it Down for Palestine” protest in Malet Street is about to begin.
Youth Demand say it is the first in a series of protests it will be staging throughout April, which will “shut down” the capital using tactics such as “swarming” and roadblocks.
More protesters sign up since the Quaker House raid
17:35 , Megan HoweYouth Demand has claimed as many as 200 people have expressed interest in joining in upcoming action following a police raid at a Quaker meeting house.
It comes as more than 30 officers entered a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at around 7.30pm on Thursday, according to Youth Demand.
Six women were arrested and the raid was condemned by the Quaker community as an aggressive violation of their place of worship.
However, according to The Guardian, Youth Demand has said the publicity surrounding the raid has increased awareness of its activities and as many as 200 people have since expressed interest in joining future protests.
Watch: Who are Youth Demand?
17:14 , Daniel KeaneRallies to take place every Thursday and Saturday in April
17:13 , Megan HoweStarting this evening, Youth Demand rallies will take place every Thursday and Saturday in April.
At 6.30pm tonight, protesters will meet at Senate House Library in Malet Street. On Saturday, the group will meet again at 11am at Lincoln's Inn Fields.
🔥YOUTH DEMAND ACTIONS ARE BEGINNING! 🔥
— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) March 26, 2025
📣 RALLY: Tuesday 1st April @ 6.30pm, Senate House Library, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU
✊ SWARMING ACTION: Saturday 5th April @ 11am, Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP
In April, there will be open rallies & actions EVERY Tuesday & Saturday.… pic.twitter.com/XT9Od5Vy36
What has happened at previous Youth Demand protests?
15:47 , Megan HoweYouth Demand began protesting last summer.
Early action included activists painting the Labour Party HQ red, spraying the Ministry of Defence with paint and blocking Waterloo Bridge.
Last October, protesters plastered a photo of a Gazan mother and child over the glass of Picasso’s 1901 painting ‘Motherhood (La Maternité) at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.
Another previous demonstration by Youth Demand included three people hanging a banner and laying rows of children’s shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer’s home in April last year.
Leonorah Ward, 21, Zosia Lewis, 23, and Daniel Formentin, 24, were each handed suspended prison sentences following the incident.
Who are Youth Demand?
15:26 , Megan HoweProtest group Youth Demand has threatened to ‘shut down’ London with a month of coordinated action starting later today.
Activists say it will be their “biggest civil disobedience campaign yet”, after six Youth Demand protesters were arrested last week on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance at a Quaker venue.
But who are Youth Demand and why are they protesting?
Youth Demand, who describe themselves as a “new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide”, began carrying out acts of civil disobedience in 2024.
The group advocates for two primary demands: to cease all trade with Israel and to make the rich pay, by raising £1 trillion by 2030 from the super-rich and fossil fuel elites to compensate communities and countries harmed by fossil fuel consumption.
Youth Demand employs non-violent civil resistance tactics to push for these objectives.
So far, the protesters claim to have mobilised over a thousand people to take part in 60 “actions”
In April 2024, they organised daily swarming road-blocks in London as part of their civil disobedience campaign.
Recently, Youth Demand gained media attention when Metropolitan Police officers raided a Quaker meeting house in Westminster, arresting six women attending a Youth Demand gathering. The raid was condemned by the Quaker community as an aggressive violation of their place of worship.
