When is the pro-Palestine march? If London rally will clash with Remembrance events

Plans for a pro-Palestinian march in central London on Armistice Day have sparked a backlash from ministers and fears over clashes with far-right groups.

Despite urging organisers to cancel the protest and amid mounting political pressure, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the force does not have the powers to ban the event.

“The laws created by Parliament are clear. There is no absolute power to ban protest,” Sir Mark said on Tuesday.

In an article published in the Times on Wednesday night, Home Secretary Suella Braverman attacked the Met for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and wrote: “If the march goes ahead this weekend, the public will expect to see an assertive and proactive approach to any displays of hate, breaches of conditions and general disorder.”

But when exactly is the march, and could it interrupt remembrance memorials? Here’s everything you need to know.

When is the pro-Palestinian march and will it clash with Remembrance Sunday?

The pro-Palestinian Ceasefire Now march will be held this Saturday, 11 November, in central London. It will start next to Hyde Park at 12pm and end at the US embassy in Battersea. The demonstrators are calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

It will not clash with memorial events held to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, 12 November. No pro-Palestinian marches are planned for this Sunday in London.

March organisers have repeatedly said that they will not go anywhere near the Cenotaph. This was echoed by Sir Mark who said: “The organisers have shown complete willingness to stay away from the Cenotaph and Whitehall and have no intention of disrupting the nation’s remembrance events.

“Should this change, we’ve been clear we will use powers and conditions available to us to protect locations and events of national importance at all costs.”

Both the start and endpoint of the march are more than two miles away from the Cenotaph.

Far-right fears

Tommy Robinson, the far-right founder of the English Defense League (EDL), has called on his supporters to gather near the Cenotaph in central London on Saturday. “We cannot trust the police to do their jobs,” he said in a video.

“[We should be] prepared to defend if we need to defend,” he said, adding: “And making sure no one comes on our sacred lane and disrespect our nation and our country in such a way.”

Some memorial events are planned at the Cenotaph on Saturday.

One of the events, held by the Western Front Association, commemorates Armistice Day which marks the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany on 11 November 1918.

But the event’s organiser told the Guardian that he backed the pro-Palestine march on the same day and that his organisation believed in “freedom of speech”.

Richard Hughes said: “I think a lot of people are trying to whip this up. The police are not going to let anyone near the Cenotaph. We are a democratic organisation that commemorates those who fought for democracy, so free speech is important.”

The Cenotaph, which means “empty tomb” in Greek, has been at the heart of the UK memorial events since 1920 – when it was first unveiled.

The annual national service of remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, 12 November.

The service will start at 11am and will commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women involved in both world wars and later conflicts.