 On September 24 , 1928 , the Day of Atonement , British police resorted to removing by force a screen used to separate men and women at prayer . Women who tried to prevent the screen being dismantled were beaten by the police , who used pieces of the broken wooden frame as clubs . Chairs were then pulled out from under elderly worshipers . The episode made international news and Jews the world over objected to the British action . The Chief Rabbi of the ultraorthodox Jews in Jerusalem issued a protest letter on behalf of his community , the Edah HaChareidis , and Agudas Yisroel strongly condemning the desecration of the holy site . Various communal leaders called for a general strike . A large rally was held in the Etz Chaim Yeshiva , following which an angry crowd attacked the local police station in which they believed the British officer involved in the fiasco was sheltering . 
