Protesters occupy Barbican

Protestors occupied the main foyer of the Barbican Centre on Saturday (16 March) as part of a "protest against censorship and cultural genocide".

Cultural Workers Against Genocide said it staged a "guerilla" festival of Palestinian art and culture – featuring a pop-up radio station, dance and theatre performances, poetry readings and craft-making – in response to Palestinian artists and allies being "censored and silenced". 

It said The London Review of Books had to find a new venue at short notice after the Barbican cancelled a talk by Pankaj Mishra, while Elias Anastas, co-founder of Palestinian radio station Radio Alhara, was warned not to mention Palestine ahead of a live interview at the Barbican.

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The Barbican Centre previously apologised for pulling the interview with Anastas, saying the decision to ask him to avoid spending too much time discussing free Palestine was made “in haste”.

A spokesperson for Culture Workers Against Genocide said: "We are witnessing the attempted erasure of Palestinian society, culture and heritage alongside the genocidal violence being committed by Israel, with full support from the US and our own government.

"As UK art and culture workers, we have a duty to speak out and act in solidarity with our colleagues in Palestine and in the diasporas."

A Barbican spokesperson said: “On Saturday afternoon, a peaceful protest took place in the Barbican’s foyer. We respect people’s right to express their views and protest peacefully.”