More than 500 people have been arrested at the first mass demonstration opposing 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 confirmed 523 arrests by midnight, with ages ranging from 18 to 87.
Demonstrators sat on camping chairs and the ground, some dressed as suffragettes or wearing masks of Keir Starmer. Organisers Defend Our Juries criticised the arrests, stating that the government's ban had been ruled unlawful and leading lawyers warned any arrests would be unlawful. A spokesperson described the situation as "truly surreal."
Among those arrested was Mike Higgins, a blind disabled man whose previous arrests have caused outrage. An elderly woman using walking sticks was escorted away. One woman told officers: "You could be on your way catching real criminals." The Met initially said it would stop arresting people for such offences but revised its approach after the Home Secretary was granted permission to appeal the High Court's decision.
Former Palestine Action-affiliated prisoner Qesser Zuhrah, who was on hunger strike for 48 days, said: "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, on hunger strike for over 60 days, added: "I'm here to support righteous people taking righteous action against the government."
