More than 500 people were arrested at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, the first mass protest against the proscription of Palestine Action since the group’s ban was ruled unlawful by the High Court. The Metropolitan Police confirmed 523 arrests by midnight, with ages ranging from 18 to 87.
Protesters held signs reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” and sat on camping chairs or the ground. Some dressed as suffragettes or wore masks of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Banners near the National Gallery read “Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth” and “Israel starves kids”.
Officers began making arrests around 1pm, carrying some individuals away from the square. One elderly woman using walking sticks was escorted away. An organiser from Defend Our Juries called the arrests “truly surreal”, noting the government’s ban had been ruled unlawful and leading lawyers warned any arrests would be unlawful.
Former Palestine Action-affiliated prisoner Qesser Zuhrah, who was on hunger strike for 48 days, said the “entire world” opposes the ban. She stated: “This British government is hellbent on establishing that the ones that create the weapons are not the terrorists but the ones that destroy the weapons are the terrorists.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was granted permission to appeal the High Court’s decision. The Metropolitan Police initially said it would stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act but later revised its approach, calling the earlier statement an “interim position”.
