Nearly 900 Arrested in London Protest Against Palestine Action Ban

London – A mass protest in Parliament Square saw the arrest of 890 individuals, including an RAF war veteran, during a demonstration against the government's proscription of the group Palestine Action. The arrests, primarily for supporting a proscribed organization, occurred as participants held signs expressing opposition to genocide and support for Palestine Action. The incident has drawn significant attention, with social media highlighting the arrest of a Royal Air Force veteran.

The government officially proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July, categorizing it alongside groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. This ban makes membership or support for the organization a criminal offense, carrying a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison. The proscription followed incidents where activists allegedly damaged military aircraft at an RAF base.

The protest, organized by Defend Our Juries (DoJ), gathered an estimated 1,500 people, many of whom were elderly or disabled, who sat peacefully holding signs that read, "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." Organizers described the demonstration as an act of mass civil disobedience aimed at challenging the controversial ban. They assert that Palestine Action is a non-violent direct action group, not a terrorist organization.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed 890 arrests, with 857 specifically for supporting a proscribed organization, and 33 for other offenses, including assaults on officers. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart stated that officers faced violence, being "punched, kicked, spat on and had objects thrown at them." However, DoJ spokespersons have disputed claims of widespread violence, calling them "frankly laughable."

Among those arrested was Steve, a disabled RAF veteran using a walker, whose detention was widely circulated on social media. One tweet observed that the veteran was "arrested for holding up a sign that offended the wrong people," reflecting public sentiment regarding the nature of the arrests. Human rights groups have criticized the ban and the subsequent arrests, arguing they disproportionately limit freedom of expression.

Defend Our Juries has vowed to continue protests, stating that the ban is "impossible to enforce and a preposterous waste of resources." The organization also noted that the large number of arrests, particularly of peaceful protesters, highlights a significant challenge to civil liberties within the UK's legal framework. Legal challenges to the proscription continue as the debate over free speech and national security intensifies.