London police detained more than 500 pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a rally in support of the banned organization Palestine Action on Saturday. The protest took place in Trafalgar Square, where officers removed activists to applause and cheers from fellow demonstrators participating in the sit-in event.
Protesters displayed placards endorsing Palestine Action, which led to their arrests under the group’s proscription. The Metropolitan Police announced just before midnight that 523 individuals, ranging in age from 18 to 87, had been taken into custody. Palestine Action was officially designated a terrorist organization in July, making any association or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
In a significant development, the High Court in London overturned the ban in mid-February, ruling that it infringed upon freedom of speech rights. However, the government has secured permission to appeal this decision. Following the High Court ruling, the Metropolitan Police temporarily halted arrests but resumed them in late March.
Freya, a 28-year-old environmental organization manager attending the protest, emphasized the importance of continued activism. She stated, “It’s crucial that we keep showing up to oppose genocide. The government’s legal stance may shift, but the convictions of those here remain steadfast.”
Since the ban’s implementation, nearly 3,000 arrests have been made, mostly related to carrying placards supporting Palestine Action, with hundreds now facing charges. Denis MacDermot, a 73-year-old protester from Edinburgh, expressed no hesitation in participating again despite previous arrests, affirming his support for the movement and suggesting that a definitive court ruling would eliminate the need for ongoing protests.
Organizers from Defend Our Juries reported that hundreds joined Saturday’s demonstration to protest the UK Government’s alleged complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza and to oppose what they described as a misguided crackdown on peaceful protest domestically. They criticized police for continuing arrests despite the High Court ruling deeming the ban unlawful and warnings from legal experts that such arrests could be illegal.
Amnesty UK condemned the mass arrests as a serious infringement on civil liberties. Highlighting the return to previous policing tactics, they noted that the Metropolitan Police had initially ceased arrests but reverted to detaining individuals holding placards, including an elderly woman using walking sticks.
The ban on Palestine Action, which groups it alongside Palestinian militant Hamas and the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah, has provoked significant backlash. A judge has suspended all trials related to charges of supporting Palestine Action, scheduling a comprehensive review of cases for July 30.
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action’s stated mission on its now-blocked website was to halt global involvement in what it described as Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime. The group has primarily targeted weapons factories, notably those linked to the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems.
