Pro-Palestine protesters stormed into Birmingham’s iconic Bullring shopping centre today as security guards scrambled in the chaos.
The demonstration, which stopped traffic, was marching from Small Heath when they entered the Bullring shopping centre chanting slogans.
Speakers told the crowd that it was a peaceful protest as they appeared to have taken the police by surprise, Birmingham Live reports.
The march was one of several across Birmingham and the country calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Campaigners met at Small Heath Park outside Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe’s surgery and at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.
Protesters also held a rally issuing a vote of no confidence in Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood after she abstained in a Commons vote calling for a Gaza ceasefire.
The rally got split, half going into the Bullring despite security locking a set of doors. They marched up and were shouted at by some shoppers.
Eventually, the groups re-joined outside the world’s biggest Primark. Campaigners there were heard chanting: “Free Palestine.”
They also repeated “Rishi Sunak, shame on you! Shabana Mahmood, shame on you! Keir Starmer, shame on you!” after politicians voted on a Gaza ceasefire in Parliament earlier this week.
A total of 294 MPs voted against a ceasefire, 125 voted for, and 222 did not vote.
The latter protest stopped outside Tory MP Andrew Mitchell’s office. A woman, speaking during the rally, said: “We’re here today to collectively demand a ceasefire.” She called on Mr Mitchell to vote for a ceasefire.
