GB News host Alex Armstrong was heckled yesterday whilst reporting at the Palestine Action protest, as one protester claimed that “GB News is not welcome” in an angry rant.
Speaking about the moment, Alex said: “I care about freedom of speech, even from people I vehemently disagree with. I will always fight for everyone’s right to have a voice and have their voice heard.
“But you won’t be surprised to find out that some of them there were ready to put a stop to that.”
He added: “Oh yes, the irony of protesting in favour of your freedom of speech for your organisation whilst trying to shut down freedom of speech itself.
People behind the GB News host were heard yelling “you are not welcome here” and “stop the genocide.”
GB NEWS
“Interesting that we were descended on and they tried to bully us, of course, out of the area, but they failed.”
As he interviewed protesters and the general public, people behind the GB News host were heard yelling “you are not welcome here” and “stop the genocide”.
One person swore at the host as he tried to conduct interviews with the protesters.
Alex Armstrong said: “Yeah, it does make me wonder what people visiting the UK must think of our country, honestly. I asked one protester what message he had for Keir Starmer and the Government.”
The protester responded to Alex: “Don’t prosecute Palestine Action. Turn around and do something about the genocide.
“There was genocide going on in the late 1930s. They pretended it wasn’t happening. You should turn around and take action against the genocide that’s going on in Palestine right now.”
Alex explained that he had “endured abuse, heckling and being chased around Parliament Square” before his show in the evening.
The demonstration occurred after Palestine Action lost a late-night Court of Appeal challenge on Friday, which sought to prevent the ban from taking effect at midnight.
Dozens of protesters stood silently beneath the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, holding placards declaring: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.
A mass of Metropolitan Police officers encircled the demonstrators, whilst occasional chants of “free Palestine” erupted from surrounding onlookers.
GB News were descended on by the protesters
GB NEWS
Among those arrested was an elderly woman wearing a dog collar, who had been seated in a camp chair with one of the placards at her feet. Officers were seen taking her away from the scene.
Another protester was observed lying on the ground in handcuffs as police gathered around her.
Some onlookers criticised the police response to the initially peaceful demonstration.
The Home Office welcomed the ban on Palestine Action following the group’s unsuccessful legal challenge.
