A video of a London police officer having a heated discussion with a woman about the offensiveness of swastikas has gone viral on social media.
video The footage was taken on Saturday during a large pro-Palestinian rally monitored by the Metropolitan Police. In the video, a visibly upset woman confronts a police officer about an anti-Israel protester who allegedly flaunted her swastika.
The officer did not seem to agree that the swastika was an offensive symbol that threatened public order. He cited the Public Order Act 2023, which outlines and limits police responses to protests.
“Under what circumstances is a swastika not disturbing public order?” the woman argued. She repeated the question over and over again.
World Health Organization remains silent on Hamas’ use of Gaza hospital as terrorist base
A line of police separates a Ceasefire Now protest from a pro-Israel counter-demonstration in London, England, March 30, 2024. (Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
“I haven’t said anything about it, yes or no,” he replied. “You have to put everything into context, don’t you?”
“Yes, but that’s in the context of a hate march,” interjected another woman, to which the first woman retorted, “Why do swastikas need context?”
“Why isn’t a swastika immediately anti-Semitic?” the woman added. “Why do we need context? This is what I’m confused about. This isn’t even about Israel. In what context is a swastika not anti-Semitic and not destructive to public order?” Is not it?”
“I don’t have deep knowledge about signs and symbols,” the officer said. “I know that the swastika was used during the founding of the Nazi Party and its time in power in Germany.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Berkeley City Council meeting, Holocaust memorial vote: ‘End Israel’
Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters wave flags and call for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas conflict during a protest in Trafalgar Square in central London on March 30, 2024. (Benjamin Kremer/AFP via Getty Images)
The two continued to argue, but the officer acknowledged that some of the symbols caused a “mass alarm.”
“Now, if you came to me and felt a collective alarm and distress at the symbolism of someone…” he said before being interrupted.
The woman responded, “I’m very troubled. I’m very anxious.”
The Metropolitan Police posted a statement on X suggesting the video was taken out of context.
“The video is a short excerpt of a 10-minute conversation with a police officer,” the response said. “During the entire conversation, the officer established that the person the woman was concerned about had already been arrested for a public order offense related to the placard.”
Ceasefire participants are currently reacting to a pro-Israel counter-demonstration in London, England, on March 30, 2024. (Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
“The officer then offered to arrange for another officer to accompany the woman to see if there were anyone else of interest among the protesters, but she refused to speak to her supervisor. After that, he turned his back and unfortunately left.”
After the video was posted, social media users criticized the police officer’s response to the woman’s claims.
One X user joked, “That executive deserves to be president of an Ivy League university.”
“Our police force has reached a new low,” a British commentator wrote.
“And his grandfather probably risked his life fighting the Nazis in World War II. What a shame,” another speculated.
An Israeli soldier stands on top of a tank at the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department for additional comment.
