LONDON, U.K. – Fr John McGowan, a Carmelite priest from St Joseph’s Parish in Chalfont St Peter, was arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Parliament Square, London, in protest against the violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
Fr McGowan, who previously lived in Jerusalem for nearly five years, joined demonstrators on Parliament Square holding a sign that read: “I support Palestine Action.” His decision to risk arrest came after the UK government designated Palestine Action a terrorist group, a move he strongly opposed.
“I set out from my parish determined to get arrested,” he wrote. “I knew I would do it. My conscience wouldn’t let me stay silent.”
Moved by what he described as the massacre of over 60,000 people in Gaza, one-third of whom were children, Fr McGowan said the government’s inaction compelled him to act. He also drew parallels between this protest and past acts of civil disobedience by figures like Millicent Fawcett and Nelson Mandela, whose resistance involved property damage for moral causes.
While at the protest, Fr McGowan was met with a mix of reactions. Some questioned the Church’s silence; others applauded his courage.
“One man asked, ‘Where is the Church?’ I had no answer, except to say I was representing the Church,” he said.
Eventually, he approached a police officer and quietly asked to be arrested, in contrast to others who were carried away amid chants of “shame!” from the crowd. As he was taken into custody, he recalled a sense of calm and serenity, even as onlookers cheered and filmed the arrest.
He was detained for around four hours, treated respectfully by police, and released with “street bail”. Fr McGowan now faces a charge under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act and is scheduled to report to Poplar Police Station in late September. He remains resolute.
“I have no regrets. My conscience is clear,” he said. “I’m prepared for anything, even going to prison.”
Fr McGowan told his parishioners what had happened the next day at Mass. They responded with applause.
