Palestine Action

[Coyote]

Re: Palestine Action

I'll have to get around to buying a Plasticine Action shirt soon. But it's absolutely disgusting that this is what the world has come to, where what's effectively graffiti on planes is treated as terrorism but genocide isn't.

This is the worst state the world has been in since WW2.

[Dorcus]

Re: Palestine Action

I'll have to get around to buying a Plasticine Action shirt soon. But it's absolutely disgusting that this is what the world has come to, where what's effectively graffiti on planes is treated as terrorism but genocide isn't.

This is the worst state the world has been in since WW2.

I'm ashamed to be British

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Palestine Action

Now being reported that there were 425 arrests yesterday - what a waste of police time and resources.

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

Now being reported that there were 425 arrests yesterday - what a waste of police time and resources.

They must have made another 300 arrests after their earlier 5.00 pm statement - so late afternoon into early evening. Eventually arresting and taking away about one third of the protestors.

The police claim there was violence directed at them - I saw nothing. The organisers claim the police used violence in some of the arrests - and posted video footage to back that up. The overall impression was of almost total calm on both sides - as the farce played out.

The main Palestine/Gaza demonstration had about 200,000 on it - and that was also peaceful, even at the point where the pro Israel group were set up (with Israeli, English, British and Indian flags). Their numbers were well down - normally 80-100 but yesterday under 40 of them with their 'there is no famine' placards and ethnic cleansing pop music at top volume!

The later police statement is incredible:

At just after 9pm, the Metropolitan police said it had made more than 425 arrests. The Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, Claire Smart, who led the operation, said: “In carrying out their duties today, our officers have been punched, kicked, spat on and had objects thrown at them by protesters. It is intolerable that those whose job it is to enforce the law and keep people safe – in this case arresting individuals committing offences under the Terrorism Act – should be subject to this level of abuse.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/06/police-make-arrests-at-london-palestine-action-ban-protest

So carting away hundreds of pensioners, Quakers, ex magistrates, veterans, blind and disabled people and filling up police cells across London was 'to keep people safe - in this case arresting individuals committing offences under the Terrorism Act'. What heroes!

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025/09/23/labour-conference-palestine-action/?__s=hheshtdmarsdn8syijsb

Another hundred terrorist grannies to be arrested at Labour’s conference?

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/01/palestine-action-protest-london-could-set-record-number-arrests-say-organisers

A mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action on Saturday could set a record for the number of people arrested at a single event of civil disobedience, organisers have said.

Defend Our Juries said it had received 1,500 pledges to attend the demonstration in London and risk arrest and was expecting hundreds more to register by the weekend.

The group said the record number of arrests at a single event was 1,314, made by the Metropolitan police during the Committee of 100’s 1961 anti-nuclear demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The central London square was also the centre of the 1990 poll tax uprisings when 339 people were arrested in one day.

More than 1,600 people have been arrested since the ban under the Terrorism Act came into effect on 5 July, mainly for holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” The highest arrest tally so far was on 6 September at a demonstration in Parliament Square when 890 people were detained, 857 for showing support for a proscribed group.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said: “With over 1,500 people already pledging to take part, and hundreds more expected to register by the weekend, this is set to be the biggest mass action yet defying the ban on Palestine Action.

“While Keir Starmer ignores the demands of his own party members to recognise Israel’s genocide and take action – including sanctions and a full arms embargo – thousands are stepping up where his government refuses to act.

“This Saturday could soon see the number of arrests nearly double from the current total of 1,600, setting a new record for the largest mass arrest – an extraordinary misuse of counter-terror and policing resources.”

On Sunday, Merseyside police arrested 66 people, including an 83-year-old, on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action at a rally outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Two were later dearrested.

[Dorcus]

Re: Palestine Action

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...say-organisers

A mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action on Saturday could set a record for the number of people arrested at a single event of civil disobedience, organisers have said.

Defend Our Juries said it had received 1,500 pledges to attend the demonstration in London and risk arrest and was expecting hundreds more to register by the weekend.

The group said the record number of arrests at a single event was 1,314, made by the Metropolitan police during the Committee of 100’s 1961 anti-nuclear demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The central London square was also the centre of the 1990 poll tax uprisings when 339 people were arrested in one day.

More than 1,600 people have been arrested since the ban under the Terrorism Act came into effect on 5 July, mainly for holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” The highest arrest tally so far was on 6 September at a demonstration in Parliament Square when 890 people were detained, 857 for showing support for a proscribed group.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said: “With over 1,500 people already pledging to take part, and hundreds more expected to register by the weekend, this is set to be the biggest mass action yet defying the ban on Palestine Action.

“While Keir Starmer ignores the demands of his own party members to recognise Israel’s genocide and take action – including sanctions and a full arms embargo – thousands are stepping up where his government refuses to act.

“This Saturday could soon see the number of arrests nearly double from the current total of 1,600, setting a new record for the largest mass arrest – an extraordinary misuse of counter-terror and policing resources.”

On Sunday, Merseyside police arrested 66 people, including an 83-year-old, on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action at a rally outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Two were later dearrested.

I think this is the way forward, mass protests and force the Government to submit.

[JamesWales]

Re: Palestine Action

Of all the things to protest about. Jeez.

[stevo]

Re: Palestine Action

Of all the things to protest about. Jeez.

Maybe you're missing the point?

[Dorcus]

Re: Palestine Action

Of all the things to protest about. Jeez.

Oh of course there's many many more but this is a very important point of principle: it's a great place to start

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

Of all the things to protest about. Jeez.

You had Truthpaste riding shotgum for you there.... and then you lost him!

[truthpaste]

Re: Palestine Action

Good spot Jon. Most people don't realise who they are referring to when they say that.

As for who I'm ridng with, I'll let Denzel share that with you, because he has the same 'Driver' as me.

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

Cancelling a major protest in London tomorrow in support of lifting the ban on Palestine Action “lets terror win,” its organisers have said amid pressure to call it off from police and the government after Thursday’s terror attack in Manchester.

On Friday, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, also called for the protest to be postponed after police said they wanted to be able to focus their resources on protecting Jewish and Muslim communities.

But the organisers, Defend Our Juries, said that supporters, including many Jewish people, wanted the protest to go ahead.

It expected 1,500 people - including priests, vicars, pensioners and healthcare workers - to take part in the event which would involve them peacefully sitting holding cardboard signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’.

In a statement it said:

"Our thoughts are with everyone who has lost loved ones in the horrific attack on Heaton Park Synagogue and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community across the UK.”

”Many Jewish supporters of Defend Our Juries have warned that postponing tomorrow’s action would risk conflating the actions of state of Israel with Jewish people around the world – as [Benjamin] Netanyahu seeks to do – who bear no responsibility for Israel’s crimes, which could fuel antisemitic hatred and prejudice.

“It couldn’t be clearer that tomorrow’s action – which is in Trafalgar Square and not near any synagogue – is about defying the government’s absurdly authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action and the government’s complicity in the genocide being committed by the Israeli government.

Cancelling peaceful protests lets terror win. It’s more important than ever to defend our democracy, including our fundamental rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech, and to take a stand tomorrow against killing and against oppression, and for peace and justice for all.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2025/oct/03/manchester-synagogue-attack-victims-adrian-daulby-melvin-cravitz-attacker-jihad-al-shamie-latest-news-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-68dfd0718f08d534bcbb5b8c#block-68dfd0718f08d534bcbb5b8c

[Dorcus]

Re: Palestine Action

Cancelling a major protest in London tomorrow in support of lifting the ban on Palestine Action “lets terror win,” its organisers have said amid pressure to call it off from police and the government after Thursday’s terror attack in Manchester.

On Friday, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, also called for the protest to be postponed after police said they wanted to be able to focus their resources on protecting Jewish and Muslim communities.

But the organisers, Defend Our Juries, said that supporters, including many Jewish people, wanted the protest to go ahead.

It expected 1,500 people - including priests, vicars, pensioners and healthcare workers - to take part in the event which would involve them peacefully sitting holding cardboard signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’.

In a statement it said:

"Our thoughts are with everyone who has lost loved ones in the horrific attack on Heaton Park Synagogue and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community across the UK.”

”Many Jewish supporters of Defend Our Juries have warned that postponing tomorrow’s action would risk conflating the actions of state of Israel with Jewish people around the world – as [Benjamin] Netanyahu seeks to do – who bear no responsibility for Israel’s crimes, which could fuel antisemitic hatred and prejudice.

“It couldn’t be clearer that tomorrow’s action – which is in Trafalgar Square and not near any synagogue – is about defying the government’s absurdly authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action and the government’s complicity in the genocide being committed by the Israeli government.

Cancelling peaceful protests lets terror win. It’s more important than ever to defend our democracy, including our fundamental rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech, and to take a stand tomorrow against killing and against oppression, and for peace and justice for all.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...08d534bcbb5b8c

I think the Government's opportunist attempt to cancel this march entirely vindicates your comments in another thread Jon.

[jon1959]

Re: Palestine Action

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/13/kent-police-apologise-palestine-protester-laura-murton

A protester who was threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestine flag and signs saying “free Gaza” and “Israel is committing genocide” has received an apology from police, including for “unlawful false imprisonment”.

Kent police have also agreed to pay damages and legal costs to Laura Murton, 43, in connection with the 14 July incident in Canterbury in which armed officers told her her demonstration expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which had been banned earlier that month.

-

Her lawyer said it was the first time a chief constable had apologised and paid damages for unlawful policing arising from the proscription of Palestine Action.

In the encounter, which Murton filmed, an officer told her: “Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.”

He claimed the phrase “free Gaza” was “supportive of Palestine Action” and that “to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action, is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act”. The officer told her she had committed that offence.

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