Metropolitan Police Remove Demonstrators at Central London Palestine Action Protest
Police officers have begun physically removing protesters from a significant demonstration in central London organised against the ban on Palestine Action. Hundreds of individuals, many of them elderly, gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, displaying placards and sitting on camping chairs or the ground to voice their opposition.
Scenes of Confrontation and Arrest
Signs visible among the crowd read "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action". Near the National Gallery, large banners were unfurled stating "Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth" and "Israel starves kids". Officers were observed carrying away several people, including older participants, from the demonstration. As one woman was removed, chants of "shame on you" echoed from the crowd.
Police lifted a man out in handcuffs and walked an elderly protester with a walking stick to waiting police vans. One woman shouted sarcastically: "Yeah she looks like a terrorist doesn't she mate". Protesters accused police of dragging a woman out without supporting her shoulders, and she was later seen lying with her eyes closed as officers and bystanders surrounded her.
Organisers' Message and Police Response
Protest group Defend Our Juries said the demonstration, called Everyone Day, would show that resistance to the ban on Palestine Action is "stronger than ever". The Metropolitan Police stated Saturday's action "is likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest". In March, the force announced officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters as a High Court battle over the ban continues.
The police had paused arrests in February after the High Court ruled the Government's ban was unlawful, but decided to resume as an appeal against the ruling is likely to take several months. Defend Our Juries warned: "This issue affects everyone. From striking workers to peaceful protesters, everyone fighting for any worthy cause is at risk. If left unopposed, what starts with an unlawful ban on one direct action group will lead on to the removal of everyone's rights and freedoms."
Expert Commentary and Broader Context
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu noted: "I think the difficulty is, when you've got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn't practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police. It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action."
He added that arrest decisions were operational, based on intelligence about crowd numbers and intentions. Protesters have arranged mass rallies where demonstrators hold up signs saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action", aiming to overwhelm the criminal justice system with cases.
More than 3,000 people have been arrested for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned as a terrorist group last year, including over 2,400 in London. Recent arrests include seven people at an RAF base in Suffolk protesting against the Iran war, and 18 supporters outside New Scotland Yard in March.
The trials of hundreds accused of holding up placards have been paused while the High Court case continues. Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
