Dozens of Palestine Action supporters arrested after fresh wave of protests
Dozens of Palestine Action supporters were arrested across the country following a new wave of protests on Saturday against the group’s ban.
West Midlands Police said police arrested 25 people in Birmingham, where a Defend Our Juries demonstration was held in Chamberlain Square in the city centre. A further 30 people were arrested in Bristol and 10 in Norwich.
Defend Our Juries said 636 arrests were made in the 12-day ‘End the Ban’ campaign, which called on the UK government to revoke the designation of the Palestine Action protest group as a ‘terrorist organisation’.
The group held demonstrations in 10 British towns and cities on Saturday afternoon, protesting “our government’s complicity in genocide and the ban on Palestine Action”.
The group claimed Saturday’s arrests were “the most widespread wave of civil disobedience in modern UK history”.
It was stated that 2,717 people holding “Lifting the Ban” banners have been arrested since Palestine Action was banned in July.
The group said police in Edinburgh and Exeter chose not to arrest protesters.
The group shared a video of
He asked: “Is there anything I or my colleagues could reasonably say or do that would get you to cooperate with us in removing these signs?” and a man shouted “come join us”.
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said in a statement: “The ban has again proven unenforceable, with police forces in Belfast, Derry, Edinburgh, Totnes and now Exeter choosing not to arrest peaceful sign holders under ‘terrorism’ laws, while other forces have given up on arrests halfway through.”
West Midlands Police said it arrested 25 people at the protest in Birmingham, where “a number of people held banners expressing support for Palestine Action”.
Chief Inspector James Littlehales said: “We fully recognize people’s right to demonstrate peacefully and many people continue to protest in support of Palestine without breaking the law.
“However, we will take appropriate action if people violate the law by showing support for banned organisations.”
Officers said ten people were arrested on suspicion of displaying an item supporting a proscribed organisation, and were being held for questioning at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre.
At 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Norfolk Police Service joined the group gathering at the Haymarket in the city centre. Authorities said the “incident was resolved” around 15:00.
Inspector Terry Lordan said: “Our role as a police force is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community. Today this included arresting people committing offenses under the Terrorism Act.
“The actions of this group were unlawful and officers used their authority accordingly.”
Nearly 100,000 people attended a separate march organized by the Palestine Coalition in London, according to organisers.
The Metropolitan Police said one person was arrested for affray during the protest, while four others were “detained on suspicion of Public Order Act offenses and investigations are ongoing.”
Labor MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy told demonstrators in London that “the UK must stop allowing violence”.
Addressing protesters in Whitehall, Ms Ribeiro-Addy said: “We are here because we know that the genocide in Gaza continues in real time even as political leaders congratulate themselves on this so-called ceasefire.”
Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begüm said that the demonstrators will not give up the march until a “free and independent Palestine” is formed.
