Charlotte Church: Welsh singer attends pro-Palestine rally in London weeks after ‘River to Sea’ tune controversy

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Charlotte Church was seen main a pro-Palestine rally in London this afternoon – two weeks after she drew criticism for singing an obvious antisemitic tune.

The Welsh singer was on the entrance of the gang of 1000’s of protesters who marched from Hyde Park to the US embassy of their name for a direct ceasefire in Gaza.

It occurred simply hours after US president Joe Biden instructed supporters in Philadelphia that securing a ceasefire was “wanting powerful” because the scenario worsens within the Center East.

Ms Church, 38, was seen smiling and posing for photos beside banners on the march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign.

Her look comes two weeks after she denied the tune “From the River to the Sea” was antisemitic following criticism for singing a rendition at a pro-Palestine fundraising concern in Caerphilly in South Wales.

The tune’s lyrics are a reference to the land between the Jordan River, which borders japanese Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west – and are controversial to many British Jews who see them as a name for Israel’s destruction.

Talking at right now’s occasion, the singer stated she joined the protest to “present solidarity with the folks of Palestine for all that they’re struggling by way of”.

She added: “I’m right here right now to name for a direct ceasefire, to ask our authorities and governments everywhere in the world to ship as robust message as we probably can. However a powerful, a peaceable, a loving message, that’s what each single march that I’ve been on for Palestine has been about.

“There’s been singing there’s been drumming, sure, there’s been emotion, however within the majority that emotion has been love, has been compassion as a result of that’s why we’re all right here.

“We’re all right here as a result of we can not bear what we’re witnessing. We can not bear to see civilians, kids, ladies slaughtered. And so we’re right here as a result of our hearts are so full of affection for the Palestinian folks.”

A big police presence was within the space with a counterprotest additionally organised. One man carrying a banner condemning Hamas as a terror group was arrested after holding the signal aloft as pro-Palestine activists filed previous him.

The protest, considered one of many who have taken place within the capital at weekends, comes as some are demanding more durable motion, with the price of policing them already reaching over £32m.

Robin Simcox, the federal government’s counterextremism tsar, warned {that a} “permissive surroundings for radicalisation” was growing.

Writing in The Each day Telegraph, Mr Simcox stated: “We won’t have change into an authoritarian state if London is not permitted to be become a no-go zone for Jews each weekend.”

And Daniel Sugarman, the director of public affairs on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, stated: “Many British Jews do really feel that the centre of London is unsafe for them throughout these marches. This contains synagogues within the space.”

Responding to Mr Simcox’s feedback, a No 10 spokesperson stated: “The prime minister would wish to clarify it is extremely necessary to take individuals who really feel this fashion extraordinarily severely and he’s conscious about the concern and misery that many individuals have been feeling and communities throughout our nation.

“That’s why he’s very clear that among the behaviour that we’ve seen in latest weeks is unacceptable and it doesn’t replicate the values that now we have as a society.”

John Rees, an organiser from the Cease the Battle Coalition, rejected Mr Simcox’s claims, saying it was “irresponsible” of the federal government to whip up what he described as pointless concern in Britain’s Jewish neighborhood.

He stated: “After all, if the federal government decides to whip up that form of concern, then individuals are going to really feel that, after all they’re.”

A Cease The Battle Coalition assertion learn: “The scenario in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Half one million individuals are dealing with hunger, acute meals shortages are affecting the entire inhabitants and Israeli forces are finishing up massacres towards these in queue for fundamental foodstuffs.

“In the meantime, right here in Britain, the federal government has escalated its assaults on the pro-Palestine motion, with Rishi Sunak resorting to the ‘mob rule’ cliche and James Cleverly calling for an finish to the latest wave of protests whereas floating clampdowns on the suitable to protest.

“The mixture of those two crises means there’s by no means been a extra necessary time to proceed our protesting. Ensure you’re on the streets as we march from Hyde Park Nook to the US embassy in 9 Elms.”