Panic as pro-Palestinian groups threaten major UK Christmas event | United Kingdom | News
Panic erupted in the UK after pro-Palestinian groups threatened to disrupt one of London’s biggest Christmas events over their sponsorship deal with Barclays.
Campaigners have called for a boycott of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball, which is set to headline next weekend with Coldplay and Katy Perry at the O2 Arena.
Protesters from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Palestine Action plan to demonstrate at the shows, raising fears that activists could try to disrupt the event.
The protest is part of a broader campaign against Barclays over its financial ties to defense industry companies that activists say supply weapons to Israel.
Talk to The telegrapha PSC spokesperson said they were urging people not to attend the Jingle Bell Ball and other events sponsored by Barclays.
A PSC spokesperson said: “We are urging people not to attend the Jingle Bell Ball and other events it sponsors as part of our boycott of Barclays.
“Barclays uses its support of arts and culture to launder its financial links to military operations in Gaza and give itself respectability.
“Families in Gaza do not have the freedom or security to celebrate Christmas and would like to see an end to this conflict. »
There are now fears that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin may retire from performing live shows.
Coldplay singer Chris Martin has expressed support for peace in the Middle East and called for an end to oppression and occupation.
During the band’s headline performance at Glastonbury earlier this year, Martin called on the crowd to send love to Israel and Palestine and show a “beacon of unity”.
He also performed a duet with Palestinian singer Elyanna and during a concert in Tokyo, Martin led his fans to send love to Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and elsewhere.
Earlier this year, Palestine Action members targeted 10 banks and Barclays sites across the country by covering them in red paint.
The organization aimed to pressure the bank to withdraw its investments in Israel’s arms trading and fossil fuel industries, particularly regarding their stakes in Elbit Systems.
