At least 500 supporters of Palestine Action are set to stage
a mass sit-in protest in London, seeking to compel the UK government to lift a
recent ban on the group under anti-terrorism laws. The prohibition, described
by critics as draconian, has led to notable arrests and has intensified debate
about free expression, government policy, and the limits of lawful protest.
Hundreds to Challenge Palestine Action Ban With London Protest
A coalition of activists, campaigners and supporters plan to gather in central London on August 9 for what is expected to be the largest demonstration since the UK government declared Palestine Action a proscribed terror group. The action will see over 500 people hold signs stating,
“I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action”,
with many indicating their willingness
to remain for 60 minutes or “until arrest”. The organisers hope that such
a significant number of arrests will place immense pressure on the legal system
and force renewed public scrutiny of the government’s stance.
Why Has Palestine Action Been Banned by the UK Government?
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the outlawing of Palestine Action following what she characterised as
“a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action”
by the group, including episodes described as violent
and damaging to critical infrastructure. The government’s legal
intervention came in the aftermath of a high-profile break-in at RAF Brize
Norton, in which activists sprayed two aircraft with red paint, resulting in an
estimated £7million in damages, as detailed by reporting from Reuters and
others.
According to Sky News, Cooper said that through
“various assaults, Palestine Action has inflicted significant damage on property aimed at advancing its political agenda and swaying the government.”
The ban, which
passed Parliament in early July, makes it not only a crime to be a member of
Palestine Action, but also to express support for the group in public, with
penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
How Have Protesters and Civil Liberties Groups Responded?
As reported by the BBC, legal representatives for Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori argue that the ban is a disproportionate and authoritarian measure that effectively chills lawful dissent and threatens freedom of expression. Raza Husain KC, representing Ammori, directly told the High Court that the decision
“contradicts the principles of common law and violates the European Convention on Human Rights,”
and described the move as an
“abuse of power.”
Linneí Gála KC, also representing Ammori, added,
“Numerous individuals have been arrested for participating in peaceful, seated protests. Your role is to determine whether these restrictions are proportionate to the right of free speech”.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries, widely cited in reports by Times of Israel and Al Jazeera, condemned the arrests of peaceful supporters, highlighting episodes in which individuals—including a priest and healthcare workers—were detained for simply holding cardboard signs. In their public statement, the group said,
“We commend the Counter Terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it”.
What Happened During Recent Protests?
According to a report in The Standard, the first week
following the ban saw at least 29 people arrested in Parliament Square for
“offences under the Terrorism Act,” related to displaying support for Palestine
Action. A further 76 arrests were made across London, Manchester, Cardiff, and
Leeds as the protest movement quickly expanded nationwide.
Al Jazeera confirmed that on July 12, London Metropolitan
Police officers arrested at least 41 individuals, following earlier
detainments, bringing the total into the dozens for expressing support for the
group. The arrests have occurred amid peaceful rallies, some featuring
clergy, National Health Service professionals and prominent local activists.
Do Protesters Believe the Ban Will Deter Them?
As reported by Sky News, at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, Eleanor—a mother from Rotherhithe—remarked,
“If they brand Palestine Action a terrorist group then—oh my goodness—I'm one of them too. Whether I do something or not—I'm a terrorist.”
She added that despite concerns for her own
children, she would continue to support the group, even as she worried about
the consequences of prosecution.
Another protester, Frieda, told the media,
“They are scared of us. Now they will make our lives hell and I don't know how anyone in this country can stand for that”.
Defend Our Juries has explicitly called for a mass action of
500 or more people on August 9, stating that only by overwhelming the police
and judicial system can activists force a re-examination of the ban’s impact on
civil liberties.
What Is the Government’s Justification?
In a written statement published by Parliament, Yvette Cooper argued,
“This is not about protesting or campaigning, whether regarding Palestine or any other issue. Rather, it pertains to a specific organisation involved in a series of violent actions against national security targets, which have also resulted in injuries and intimidation”.
Home Office representatives have repeatedly insisted that legitimate protest remains legal and that the ban is a measured response to systematic criminal damage and threats to public safety. BBC journalists report that government lawyers likewise defended the ban, noting that
“any potential errors made by the police in arrests should not provide grounds to lift the ban”.
Legal Challenge
A challenge to the ban, mounted by Huda Ammori’s legal team,
went before Justice Martin Chamberlain in the High Court. As reported by BBC,
Ammori sought urgent judicial review and asked for the ban to be paused,
claiming it would criminalise legitimate activism and dissent. The court,
however, refused to grant a pause before July 30, and the ban remains in force
for now.
In the course of the legal proceedings, BBC News observed
that the government’s own Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre reportedly found that
most of Palestine Action’s activities did not meet the legal threshold for
terrorism, though “significant criminal damage” used to promote a cause remains
within the UK’s wide-reaching definition of terrorism under anti-terror law.
Broader Implications for Protests in the UK
Numerous media outlets, including Novara Media and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, have warned about the chilling effect on lawful protest and journalism. Novara Media relayed to a High Court judge that the ban has already “inhibited our journalism” and urged that the courts “must allow a judicial review”. Palestine Solidarity Campaign issued a statement declaring,
“The grotesque decision to proscribe Palestine Action as terrorists…threatens all of our freedoms”.
The Standard also reported that even some judges have questioned whether police are applying the ban correctly, with concerns that officers are
“getting the law wrong when shutting down legal pro-Palestine protests using terrorism laws”.
How Has the Community Mobilised?
Mass participation is at the heart of the movement’s new
strategy, with organisers hoping that overwhelming the system with peaceful
arrests will highlight “the absurdity and danger” of the new legislation.
According to Defend Our Juries, since July 5—when the ban took effect—over 100
arrests have taken place for actions as slight as holding placards. On August
9, as many as 500 are expected to accept arrest in intentional defiance.
What Is the Context of Palestine Action’s Previous Activities?
As detailed by the World Socialist Web Site, previous
large-scale protests have targeted factories linked to British arms exports to
Israel, including Forged Solutions in Sheffield. Activists, such as Alma and
James, have denounced their own unions and political parties for collaboration
with military suppliers, and described successive Labour and Conservative
governments as complicit in the war in Gaza.
Eddie, a protester from Leeds, remarked to WSWS,
“I think now more than ever, it’s important to come out and protest and show your face at events like these because of what’s been going on recently. You know, with the Freedom Flotilla, and the world falling into disarray. The people need to stop it”.
Next Steps: What Happens If 500 Are Arrested?
Supporters and campaigners are convinced that the looming
protest will mark a new chapter in British civil disobedience. Organisers have
pointed to past civil rights actions and mass arrests as effective tactics to
force change.
Defend Our Juries articulated:
“By refusing to give into fear and by standing together, we will face down this assault on us all. The objective of this campaign is to Lift the Ban on Palestine Action, i.e. for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed as a ‘terrorist organisation’”.
As stated by The Standard, activists believe
“making such a large number of arrests would overwhelm the criminal justice system”
and could
attract international attention to the wider debate about protest, human
rights, and government accountability in Britain.
When Will the High Court Decide?
Justice Chamberlain, presiding over the High Court
challenge, indicated he would deliver his ruling on July 30, determining
whether Palestine Action’s proscription will stand or if a further appeal may
proceed. As the date approaches, tensions escalate, with campaigners
determined to act and the government resolute in defence of its proscription.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for both
government policy and protest rights in the UK, as a historic mass action tests
the weight of newly imposed restrictions against the determination of hundreds
demanding the right to dissent.