Students urged to move October 7 pro-Palestine march

The University of London Coalition is facing increasing pressure to reschedule a pro-Palestine march planned for October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. Education Secretary Lucy Powell has urged the group to show 'respect' and 'compassion' by moving the protest.

Police appeal for date change

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stated that many Londoners would be marking "a day of mourning" for those who lost their lives. He appealed to the coalition to "reflect on the impact and distress" a protest on this date might cause and to "exercise your right to protest on a different date." The Metropolitan Police have contacted several London universities seeking their assistance in moving the demonstration. However, the police currently lack the authority to ban marches but can request a ban from the Home Secretary if there is a significant risk of disorder.

Calls for compassion and safety

Ms Powell stated that Jewish communities should be able to remember victims "free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse" and that all Jewish students should feel safe on campus. She emphasised that while the right to protest is fundamental, it must be exercised lawfully. The University of London Coalition, which includes various pro-Palestine university groups and societies, is expected to march from King's College to University College London.

Rise in university anti-semitic incidents

The calls for the march to be moved come shortly after the Community Security Trust reported a rise in anti-semitic incidents at UK universities. The trust recorded 95 such incidents in the 2025-2026 academic year, an increase from 83 the previous year. While this figure is lower than its peak following the October 7 attacks, it remains significantly higher than pre-attack levels. Ms Powell described these findings as "deeply troubling" and reiterated the government's expectation that universities adopt a "zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism."