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Because it’s impossible to hold a major sporting event in 2024 without protesters trying to ruin everyone’s enjoyment, Wimbledon had an anti-Israel protest staged just outside the gates on Monday morning. 

Dozens of people held Palestinian flags and chanted the usual rhetoric, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” 

The main focus of the protest was Barclays, the major bank that is headquartered in London and serves as one of the biggest sponsors of Wimbledon. 

Protesters demanded that Wimbledon remove Barclays as a sponsor because the anti-Israel contingent claims that Barclays “funds genocide.” 

The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign posted a video of one of the protesters explaining their position. 

“We’re here outside Wimbledon demanding that Wimbledon end its partnership with Barclays Bank,” the “activist” says. 

“Barclays Bank provides financing worth billions of pounds to arms companies supplying the weapons and the military technology that Israel is using in its genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza.” 

It’s worth noting that this conflict began when Hamas, the terrorist organization that runs Gaza, committed a brutal terrorist attack that took thousands of Israeli lives. They continue to hold over one hundred hostages, including some Americans. 

Anti-Israel protesters chanted

Anti-Israel protesters chanted “Free Palestine” outside Wimbledon and demanded the tournament drop Barclays as a sponsor.

(Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)

To be clear, though, Barclays isn’t only being protested by the anti-Israel group. No, apparently, they’ve also managed to anger the climate “activists,” as well. 

A “climate crisis” organization sent a letter to Wimbledon, also urging the prestigious tournament to refuse Barclays’ sponsorship. 

“Barclays is the new Shell and is using Wimbledon’s great reputation to cover up its role in financing the climate crisis,” the CEO of the organization said. 

“No decent organization should be sponsored by Barclays, and if Wimbledon is serious about its legacy and its commitment to the environment, then it must drop them.”

As of now, both Wimbledon and Barclays have defended themselves against the protests and have no plans to end their partnership.