What started as another heated demonstration in central London has turned into a firestorm of controversy—this time not over slogans or clashes, but one protester’s shocking choice of attire.
A well-known activist, Maria Gallastegui, stirred outrage when she appeared at a pro-Palestine protest in Trafalgar Square dressed in a striped uniform resembling those worn by Holocaust victims in Nazi concentration camps.
The outfit even included a twist: instead of the Star of David, it bore a star and crescent, a symbol often associated with Islam.
Protest Tensions Rise Amid Growing Government Crackdown
The protest was held in solidarity with Palestine Action, a group now under intense scrutiny after being designated a terrorist organisation by the UK Government.
Just days before, the group claimed responsibility for breaking into RAF Brize Norton, where they allegedly damaged two military aircraft—one of which may now cost up to £25 million to repair.
In response, the protest in London was meant to be held outside Parliament but was rerouted to Trafalgar Square due to an exclusion zone imposed by the Metropolitan Police.
Despite the location change, emotions ran high, with scuffles breaking out between protesters and police.
Who Is Maria Gallastegui?
Maria Gallastegui isn’t new to protests—in fact, activism is her full-time lifestyle.
Now 66, she left behind a career as a coach driver nearly two decades ago to dedicate herself to causes she believes in.
Since then, she’s been arrested numerous times, including during a 2005 protest advocating for the right to protest.
She gained public attention for living in a tent in Parliament Square for six years, opposing government attempts to limit protest rights near the Houses of Parliament.
In 2021, the BBC interviewed her while she was camping in a 150-year-old tree in Hackney that was due to be chopped down for a housing development.
Tensions Explode at Monday’s Mass Demonstration
Monday’s protest attracted hundreds of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and holding placards in a tense stand-off with police.
Footage from the scene shows activists in black face coverings and keffiyehs, some getting dragged out of the crowd by officers as scuffles intensified.
Others were seen confronting police directly—shouting into their faces, throwing water, and resisting removal.
There were also clashes between pro-Palestinian activists and a smaller group of pro-Israel counter-demonstrators, who had to be escorted away for their own safety as tensions escalated.
So far, 13 people were arrested and seven charged, but Gallastegui was not among those detained.
The Bigger Picture: Legal and Political Ramifications
The British Government’s move to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group has drawn widespread debate.
The group has reportedly conducted over 350 attacks on UK sites in the past five years, with damages “running into the millions,” according to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Even Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the recent RAF incident, describing the group’s tactics as dangerous and damaging.
With the situation now involving counter-terrorism police, public protests in their defense are drawing even closer government and law enforcement attention.
What’s Next for Activism in the UK?
As pressure mounts on activist groups and the government tightens its grip on so-called “extremist” protest actions, the future of public dissent in Britain looks uncertain.
Gallastegui’s controversial protest outfit may have been symbolic, but it also reignited a fierce conversation about where the line lies between expression and offense, especially when historical atrocities are invoked.
The fallout from Monday’s protest is far from over—and with more legal actions potentially on the horizon, the tension between activist movements and government response shows no signs of calming down.