Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
I have said I'm not a fan of throwing paint over things - so I don't 'support' all their methods - but I do agree with the point they are making and admire their commitment and willingness to risk gaol time.

They are not the villains of the story. They are pointing a finger at the villains who commit their crimes with no consequences.

And the 'What are we supposed to do' question?

Who are 'we'?

But if you are placing yourself in the same place as the UK government, then the answer presumably is you try to prosecute them for criminal damage. Maybe a jury will agree? Maybe a 20 years younger Kier Starmer will have to explain the mitigations again and help to get them acquitted?

What you don't do is misuse the Terrorism Act to proscribe the organisation and its supporters - however much embarrassment is caused, however much you are lobbied by the Israeli Embassy and its echoes, and however much the laxness of RAF security is shown up. What Palestine Action did at Brize Norton was not terrorism or 'close to the line'. That is a very dangerous viewpoint.
But most groups on the proscribed lists most definitely have not caused £30m worth of damage to the British military. Not even close. In most cases its violent language and aims that seems to be the reasoning behind being proscribed. This group has acted it out. Not against people, that's true, and very important to state, but still acted it out.

As I said, I don't think it's cut and dried at all. I just find it interesting that others think that breaking in and purposely damaging the countries military equipment for your own political sins is somehow a million miles away from terrorism, and I'm not sure it is. What if the government don't agree with it? Will they do it again, damage more stuff?

I think they crossed a line tbh and clearly the govt do too.