Police and protesters, Trafalgar Square, October 14
[Alisdare hickson via flickr/wikimedia commons cc-by-sa-2.0 detail]

• FOR months I have been regularly going on the demonstrations to try to stop the carnage in Gaza.

These have all, without exception, been peaceful and unthreat­ening. I think, in part, this is a consequence of light-touch policing. As we know, a smile will trigger a responsive smile but aggression can trigger more aggression.

Last week I was upset to find myself demonised on national news for going on these demonstrations. Apparently I was part of a “mob” and a person of hatred.

Then, on Saturday, I joined the march from Mornington Crescent to Barclays Bank in Tottenham Court Road.

As on the previous occasion, marching along this route, there were about four police officers accompanying us till we took up our position on the pavement outside the bank. There we waved our flags and shouted out slogans and made our speeches. The sun was coming out and it was all very happy and friendly.

When asked to make way for pedestrians we complied and so it went on till, not long before the planned finish time, a couple more police came out of the bank.

We were then marshalled rather more aggressively and some people, presumably employees, left the bank before closing time, hustled out and away by more police. There was no response from the demonstrators.

Another man came out and then a phalanx of about 15 or 20 police surged out and insisted that we cross to the other side of the road. Our organiser was asking us to obey, when one officer read out a statement, presumably the modern equivalent of The Riot Act. I felt very put out, but followed our leader’s guidance, as we all did, and crossed the road.

At that point we were ordered to get off the road itself and onto the pavement. Then it was, make way for pedestrians; then make a wider space on the road side of the pavement. After that we were corralled back into Bedford Avenue.

None of this was asked for politely. All of it was loudly demanded and rushed. I felt thoroughly intimidated by the experience. It felt like incitement. I fear for what will happen on next Saturday’s national march.

When I pointed out that there was no need for these tactics – in fact we would have broken up sooner but for the police methods – I was told the orders had come from “higher up”. This did not surprise me but makes me worry for the future of our country and its essentially peaceful, democratic nature.

LOUISE LEWIS, N6