A woman was arrested at the Queers for Palestine protest in Brighton at the weekend on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation.
The investigation has been handed over to counter-terror police, Sussex Police said.
The Queers for Palestine group gathered outside Brighton railway station and made their way down Queen’s Road to the Clock Tower.
Dozens were gathered there for the fortnightly vigil for hostages still being held by Hamas since the terror group’s attack on Israel on Saturday 7 October 2023.
Echoing the chants at the Glastonbury music festival calling for death to the IDF (Israeli Defence Force), at the Clock Tower there were also shouts of: “Death, death to the IDF!”
One of those taking part in the vigil said: “The police didn’t see that as incitement to violence. Instead, they told us to move back – and warned us not to respond!”
Jumping on the Bob Vylan bandwagon, “Queers for Palestine” marched past our gathering at the Clock Tower this afternoon screaming “Death, death, to the IDF” at us. Naturally, the police didn’t see that as incitement to violence. Instead, they told us to move back—and warned us… pic.twitter.com/ujJ8eO9JFI
— Sussex Friends of Israel (@SussexFOI) July 5, 2025
Another said that it was disappointing that the route had taken the Queers for Palestine past the vigil when they could have turned down North Road like many other protest marches.
They said, instead, it felt as though the police were content to allow the bigger group – the Queers for Palestine – to linger at the Clock Tower and try to goad and intimidate those remembering the hostages and risking potential violence.
Sussex Police said: “Police responded to a protest march in Brighton city centre on Saturday (5 July) to facilitate a peaceful and safe demonstration and minimise disruption to the wider community.
“Officers engaged with the march organisers prior to the event to understand the planned route and ensure appropriate safety measures were in place.
“Police have powers to alter the route or location of a protest under section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986 where there are believed to be factors including serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the community.
“Regular assessments during Saturday’s demonstration judged the lawful threshold to use these powers was not met.
“Protests are assessed on the available information and intelligence.
“Police decision-making is about being lawful, peaceful, balancing the rights of groups and remaining impartial.
“These complex assessments and decisions are made by specifically trained and qualified officers and public safety is their priority.
“At around 1.45pm during the demonstration, a 38-year-old woman, from Brighton, was arrested on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation.
“She has been released on bail.
“The investigation has now been handed over to Counter Terrorism Policing South East.
“We remain committed to ensuring any reported offences are fully investigated in line with relevant legislation and take all factors into account.”
The force added: “Sussex Police is aware that the ongoing conflict in Israel and in Gaza is generating public concern and is impacting communities globally and locally.
“We recognise there is the potential for increased tensions and continue to engage with our communities, working with partners to ensure people feel safe and protected.
“Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact Sussex Police.”
I was horrified to learn from friends at the hostages vigil that the shameless Queers for Palestine mob included Alan Baker (aka Sarah-Jane Baker) a trans activist who, last summer, formed part of the mob of mostly men who chased women through the streets of Brighton. This is the Alan Baker who served time for kidnapping and torture and came to prominence with a speech at the 2023 London Trans Pride parade imploring the crowd “if you see a TERF, punch them in the fucking face” (alongside Baker was our very own Lloyd Russel Moyle). And so at the Clocktower it seems Baker and co extend their intimidation to the Jewish residents – mostly older women – and friends in support – who regularly hold this vigil for the October 7th Israelis kidnapped by Hamas (intimidation that included the chant made infamous at Glastonbury: “death, death to the IDF”). Having been spat at by passers by at numerous of these vigils, the courage of these residents is impressive.
In a week that included council leader Bella Sankey demanding satire in the Spectator be regarded as a hate crime you’d think her declarations on X might include an expression of solidarity with Jewish residents? Is the hostile environment that Sankey and her administration have created for gender critical women now about to expand to Jews? Cllr Sankey should speak out.
Julia
That is not the most horrifying news this week.
It has given you the chance though to side step what we are all seeing and point your figure instead at Sarah – Jane Baker, Lloyd Russel Moye and Bella Sankey. Who I am sure wish the safe return of the hostages in Gaza, and a peaceful resolve to the accelerated actions in Gaza, just as I do.
Not entirely sure what you want? you surely cannot be asking for us to look away and say nothing?
Tailor,
I was, of course, referring to my city – Brighton & Hove – and a week that saw the intimidation of Jewish residents at the clocktower (as reported in this article) with the repulsive addition of the poisonous Alan ‘Sarah-Jane’ Baker. And I was referring to news in The Argus 7/7/25 describing Bella Sankey reporting to the police Spectator journalist Rod Liddle’s send-up article which included a wistful joke about dropping a bomb on Glastonbury and another on Brighton.
Its absolutely right to point the finger at the hateful, violent Baker. You should too. As for Sankey – the leader of our city council – do you not find it galling that she devotes energy to demanding the police investigate Liddle (for incitement to terrorism!) and none to condemning the barrage of real, visceral hate and intimidation directed at Jewish residents by Q for P and Baker.
Yes, an aspect of the news week in Brighton & Hove worth commenting on I think.
But I’m glad you say you want the safe return of the 20 living hostages held now for more than 600 days.
Thanks for your reply Julia
We can not look just effects us at the end of our noses our conscious should not let us.
Sarah Jane Baker, Lloyd Russel Moyes and Bella Sakey did not cause hostages to be taken to Gaza yet you point to them. They are in no part in breaking past cease fire which possibly could have release more hostages. I fail to see how Brighton is to blame but time and time again I read comments point to others, other than the perpetrators.
Found Rod Liddle’s article pathetic and to suggest that any criticism levelled from Glastonbury artists and Crowd or residents of Brighton should be bombed raises eyebrows as to what people find acceptable. As is what we seeing on the news daily.
Bella Sakey is the council leader for of Brighton & Hove and is well with her right to call out Rod Liddle article in a manner she was elected for. To suggest that Bella Sakey does not support the Jewish community in Brighton & Hove i do not believe to be true and very serious accusation to make.
You are absolutely right to say this Julia
Well said Julia!
I’m glad people remember this Alan baker fraggle,
Definitely and there were others too!
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Minister has openly stated plans to give Gazans a choice of imprisonment in a concentration camp (where they will be kept – probably starved – until ethnically cleansed) or “exterminated” outside the camp. “Exterminated” an actual word being used by Israel minister Smotritch.
And people are complaining about chanting against the organisation committing genocide.
And for those who say it is not a genocide, I agree with the genocide scholars, Omer Bartov, Raz Segal, Amos Goldberg, Daniel Blatman (to name just four) that this is a genocide.
Holocaust inversion is the new holocaust denial. Rather than corrupt and misrepresent statements that are not government policy (for the purpose of fermenting Jew hate), why don’t you focus on getting your own house in order? Hamas are Islamanazis who have terrorised their own people, willingly put them in harms way as human shields and done nothing to hasten the end of the war despite possessing the means to do so. Approximately half of fatalities in Gaza are non combatant (mercifully few by standards of modern conflict) , every one is on the shoulders of Hamas and the other terror groups. There is no genocide , it is a lie to diminish the truth of the Shoa … and you know it.
Harley in these proposed Humanity camps do you think baby formula will be aloud in. At present Israel will not allow baby formula to enter Gaza. Why is baby formula not aloud?
Are you suggesting that what we are seeing in Gaza and story’s from British doctors working in Gaza are a lie to diminish the truth of the Holocaust? No one with a fit mind would deny the truth of the Holocaust and would stand by the words NEVER Again.
Time will tell if you or Robert are right.
Completely agree Harley
How ironic, and totally ignorant, that Palestinians and most others like them, disposable gays, trans, and any other ‘queers’, and yet idiots like this person are supporting them. Given half a chance, the very sc um they are supporting would happily dispose of them.
May be your comment is the reason the that Queer for Palestine demonstrated not only for actions in Gaza and also the use of being gay or trans as an reason to support what we see happening in Gaza by people who have no idea what it is like to be gay or transsexual until it is of help to there interests.
May be this trope was used against them at the clock tower ?
Queers for Palestine may also saying ‘not in my name ‘ much like so many Jewish people critical of what we are seeing in Gaza are saying.
How ironic, and totally ignorant, that Palestinians and most others like them, disposable gays, trans, and any other ‘queers’, and yet idiots like this person are supporting them. Given half a chance, the very sc um they are supporting would happily dispose of them.
‘Despise’ not ‘disposable’.
‘Despise’ not ‘disposable’.
Queers for Palestine ?
Do they not realise that Muslims see gay and Queer people an abomination? Do these dress ups not realise they would be exterminated if the went to Gaza? Do males who take female hormones lose their sense of irony? Answers on a postcard🇮🇱
800 killed at Gaza food hubs but is just jokes for you? Chris ward & Peter Kyle who are you supporting ?
Well written. Is there a ‘Palestine for Queers’ group?? These idiots also fail to realise how hurtful and disgusting the term ‘queers’ is. I do not care if the community has ‘reclaimed’ the term, I and thousands of others grew up scared of being called ‘queer’ as it was usually followed by a physical attack. Bury the word!
Israel is a Failed Terrorist State who are carrying out a Genocide in Palestine I have nothing but respect for anyone who stands against these Crimes against humanity which Israel is commiting
We have informed your employer you hold extreme view. 🇮🇱
I am happy to pay airfares for any and all Queers for Palestine. To get to Palestine. There they can experience the barbarous treatment meted out to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Hamas subject these people to deprivation of rights to be open with frequent reports of violence and death for being gay.
That is what these morons are supporting.
(Written by a supporter of a two state solution.)
Tailor – (Respectfully) will you let this woman speak? Can I not be allowed to make my points on the intimidation and vilification of Jewish residents in Brighton without you demanding I defer to what you think I should be saying? I think I see what you’re doing – its the ‘zoom out protocol’. Jet wash away a specific point someone wants to make by zooming to the big picture and the points YOU want to make. The essence of what you’re saying is a man like Sarah-Jane joining a mob intent on intimidating a vigil for the hostages, and not a squeak from Bella Sankey is simply irrelevant. Does it not matter you that these residents get spat at? that they are subjected to the blood-libel? They know people whose relatives were butchered by the Hamas racists at Nova and at the Kibbutz. IDF service is compulsory in Israel and the inference of ‘death to the IDF’ is as clear a threat as ‘from the river to the sea’. Is it any wonder that these residents are becoming fearful. Tailor – I cannot believe that you want to say to me ‘no-one one cares about your small-picture comment Julia’ or that Bella Sankey issuing a statement of support is anything other that a good thing.
Julia I care for for small picture is horrible and should not have happened. I just wished you cared as much for the bigger picture. Then we could work together fix a long term peaceful for all solution.
Queers for Palestine! haha, Turkeys for Christmas! Cant get my head round that!
Send all the trannies over to Gaza, their mental health issues will soon be sorted!