Hundreds of demonstrators affiliated with over eighty activist organisations protested against the London Defence Conference (LDC) on Friday (10 April), which is hosted in partnership with King’s College London.
Protests began at noon outside Bush House’s South Wing against the annual event, which centres around defence and geopolitical issues and is hosted in collaboration with King’s School of Security Studies.
Despite previous iterations being hosted at Bush House on Strand, this year’s event took place at the Raffles Hotel on Whitehall, a little-advertised fact that many protestors seemed initially unaware of.
King’s says that “following the success and impact of the conference over the last few years, it has now grown in size and as such we are no longer able to host it on our campus”.
The protests were led by pro-Palestinian activist group KCL Stands For Justice (KCLS4J) and was supported by over eighty different organisations. Major banners displayed read “Hands off Gaza” and “Workers of the World, Unite!”.
A counter-protest quickly developed, with demonstrators waving the flags of the United Kingdom, Israel and the former Shahdom of Iran. Roar spoke to Mark Birbeck, Director of pro-Israel activist group Our Fight, who said the following:
“This has gone beyond simply a moral or a pacifist case against the arms industry, this is actually a call to leave us defenceless. They’re effectively trying to shut down the arms industry and support for our allies”.
Various students and visitors alike supported the initial protest, which began at Bush House. One told Roar: “It breaks my heart…the lack of empathy is shocking.” Another agreed, citing similar protests that had taken place on other university campuses.
King’s says that the LDC “brings together world leaders and experts in defence and security to discuss how to maintain safety and security in an increasingly insecure global environment”.
Significantly fewer attended the counter-protest, with physical confrontations breaking out at several points. Both groups were close to one another with many of the counter-protestors filming the pro-Palestine groups.
Compared to last year’s demonstrations police presence throughout most of the protest was sparse, with only a handful of police liaison officers visible in its early stages.
The protest, said to be in the hundreds, then made its way down Victoria Embankment to the new location of the London Defence Conference at Raffles Hotel, leaving the counter-protest on Strand.
Protestors chanted for “no Palantir in the NHS”, referring to the controversial American intelligence firm that has sponsored past conferences and recently won a slew of NHS contracts.
Representatives for Palantir – co-founded by Trump ally Peter Thiel – have urged the government not to give in to “ideologically motivated campaigners” by scrapping the contracts that would involve processing NHS patient data.
Outside Raffles, protestors delivered speeches condemning the conference taking place inside. One speaker said that the conference “is hosting the worst war criminals – those who have made their millions, who sustain themselves off Palestinian blood, Iranian blood, Lebanese blood”.
Footage circulating on X suggest that a portion of the protest later broke off from the main group. The splinter group is seen in the footage chasing Royal Navy officers to the Ministry of Defence’s headquarters, which the personnel were able to safely enter.
Protesters allege that armed police officers aimed their rifles at members of the unarmed crowd. Social media footage appears to capture the moment, although it does not clearly show an officer pointing a weapon.
The LDC did not respond to a request for comment.
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