More than 500 people were arrested at the first mass demonstration against the proscription of Palestine Action since the group's ban was ruled unlawful by the High Court. The protest took place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, with hundreds of demonstrators sitting on camping chairs and holding signs reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.'
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 523 people had been arrested by midnight, with ages ranging from 18 to 87. Officers began making arrests shortly after 1pm, with some individuals being carried away from the demonstration. One elderly woman using two walking sticks was escorted away, and a woman told officers: 'You could be on your way catching real criminals.'
Defend Our Juries, the organising group, criticised the arrests, stating that the government's ban had been ruled unlawful and that leading lawyers had warned any arrests would be illegal. A spokesperson described the situation as 'truly surreal' and 'absurdly authoritarian'.
Former Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners, including Qesser Zuhrah and Kamran Ahmed, spoke at the protest. Zuhrah said the 'entire world' is against the ban, while Ahmed said he was there to support 'righteous people taking righteous action against the government'.
Protesters expressed concerns over free speech and the right to protest. Andy Simons, a retired British Library curator, wore a sign reading 'Free, free speech' and said: 'Free speech, as long as it's not violent, is something we should have.'
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has been granted permission to appeal against the High Court's decision. The Metropolitan Police initially said it would stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act but revised its approach after the appeal was granted.
