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In a powerful act of defiance, more than 50 people have been arrested in London as hundreds gathered in Parliament Square to protest the government's recent ban on the group Palestine Action. The demonstration, organized by the legal campaign group Defend Our Juries, saw protesters openly displaying placards in support of the proscribed organization, a criminal offense under the Terrorism Act 2000 that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Police swooped on the protesters, many of whom were silently holding up signs that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." The Metropolitan Police, which had a significant presence in the capital for a busy weekend of protests, confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that arrests were ongoing. A separate arrest was also made at a Palestine Coalition march, for a person carrying a placard in support of Palestine Action. Organizers from Defend Our Juries claimed that between 600 and 700 people were at the Parliament Square event, and that police were preparing for what could be "the largest mass arrest in their history."
The Home Office, which proscribed Palestine Action last month, said the ban was based on "strong security advice" and was a response to "serious attacks" by activists. They emphasized that the decision was not a ban on protesting for Palestinian rights. The ban followed incidents like a break-in at a Royal Air Force base where activists damaged planes. The co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, has won a bid to bring a legal challenge against the ban.
The protests in Parliament Square are part of a wider wave of demonstrations by Defend Our Juries. Over 200 people have already been arrested across the UK since the ban was implemented last month. Among the first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales are Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, who were charged after attending a previous protest.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan warned that anyone showing support for the banned group could expect to be arrested, and that such an arrest could have "very real long-term implications" on travel, employment, and finances. He added, "it is very likely an arrest in these circumstances will lead to a charge."
London's police are facing a particularly busy weekend with other significant events taking place, including a separate march by the Palestine Coalition and a pro-Israeli group march by "Stop the Hate" on Sunday.
