Police have detained several demonstrators outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool during a protest backing Palestine Action, on a day of chaos in the city. Over 200 protesters gathered outside the conference, many clutching handmade placards declaring: "I support Palestine Action," the outlawed group.
Arrests at the demonstration
Dozens of officers looked on before swooping to arrest an elderly gentleman seated beneath a tree. Officers then made a second arrest after informing a protester he was displaying a sign supporting a banned organisation. Following questions about whether the man intended to keep holding the placard aloft, police escorted him away.
Additional protesters are anticipated to occupy the same position as those who have been detained. Arrests carried on throughout the afternoon as officers swooped on those carrying banners which read: "I support Palestine. I oppose genocide." Protesters applauded each time someone was hauled away by police, shouting "free, free Palestine." The arrest tally hit double figures an hour after officers began their crackdown.
Organisers' response
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which coordinated the demonstration, said: "We had hoped the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, would do the sensible thing and bin the ban on Palestine Action given the weight of public pressure to do so and the escalating amount of resources required in enforcing it."
"The first step the PM could do today, from the podium of his inaugural party conference is to commit to ending the prosecution and jailing of people as terrorists just for standing up against war crimes and genocide."
Legal context
Palestine Action was labelled a terrorist group by the UK Government earlier this year, with any public support for it landing protesters with an arrest and prison time. The official UK Terrorism Act was updated earlier this year and currently states: "This Order adds 'Palestine Action', 'Maniacs Murder Cult' and 'Russian Imperial Movement', including relevant aliases, to the list of proscribed organisations in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 ('the Act'). Organisations listed in that schedule are proscribed for the purposes of the Act."
"Any organisation operating under the same name as a listed organisation is also proscribed unless there is a note to the contrary, as there is for Palestine Action. The listing of Palestine Action refers only to the organisation based in the United Kingdom."
In its reasoning, it adds: "Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian group with the stated aim to support Palestinian sovereignty by using direct criminal action tactics to halt the sale and export of military equipment to Israel. Since its inception in 2020, Palestine Action has orchestrated a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions, including key national infrastructure and defence firms that provide services and supplies to support Ukraine, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), 'Five Eyes' allies and the UK defence enterprise."
"Palestine Action has also broadened its targets from the defence industry to include financial firms, charities, universities and government buildings. Its activity has increased in frequency and severity since the start of 2024 and its methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to use violence. Its activities meet the threshold of being concerned in terrorism as set out in the Terrorism Act 2000."
Israel has always denied the accusations of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" made by groups classed as terrorist organisations such as Palestine Action, as well as the UK Government.
