Police have warned of mass detentions if a planned protest in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action goes ahead this weekend in London. The Metropolitan Police stated it would arrest anyone breaking terrorism laws, as Downing Street urged people not to attend.
The protest, organised by the group Defend Our Juries, is expected to draw hundreds to Westminster on Saturday. Participants are being asked to hold signs saying “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action”. The Met cautioned that organisers are attempting to put pressure on the criminal justice system.
In a separate development, 300 left-leaning Jewish figures, including director Mike Leigh and author Michael Rosen, will send a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday calling the ban on Palestine Action “illegitimate and unethical”. The group, which includes human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman KC, expressed “horror” at Israel’s actions.
The Met believes turnout will be in the low hundreds, not thousands as claimed. Police resources will be stretched as a large pro-Palestinian march and anti-immigration protests are also scheduled for Saturday. Defend Our Juries denied any plot to overwhelm the police.
