More than 500 people have been arrested at the first mass demonstration against the proscription of Palestine Action since the group's ban was ruled unlawful by the High Court. Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, holding signs reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' The Metropolitan Police said 523 people had been arrested by midnight, aged 18 to 87.
Some demonstrators dressed as suffragettes or wore masks of Keir Starmer. Banners near the National Gallery read 'Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth' and 'Israel starves kids'. Officers began arresting people on the edges of the demonstration shortly after 1pm, with several individuals carried away. One elderly woman using two walking sticks was escorted away.
Defend Our Juries, the organisers, said the arrests were unlawful given the High Court ruling. A spokesperson described the situation as 'truly surreal'. Former Palestine Action-affiliated prisoner Qesser Zuhrah, who was on hunger strike for 48 days, said the 'entire world' opposes the ban. She added: '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.'
Kamran Ahmed, who was on hunger strike for over 60 days, said he was there to support 'righteous people taking righteous action'. Ally, a 72-year-old sculptor, called the proscription 'blatantly absurd' and expressed concern about free speech. Retired British Library curator Andy Simons, 73, wore a sign reading 'Free, free speech', stating that non-violent free speech should be allowed.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was granted permission to appeal the High Court's decision. The Met initially said it would stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act, but later revised its approach after the appeal was allowed.
