300 Arrested in London Protest Supporting Banned Palestine Action Group

The Metropolitan Police arrested 300 demonstrators on Saturday for expressing support for Palestine Action, a group banned in the UK under the Terrorism Act. The protest, organized by Defend Our Juries, took place outside the U.S. Embassy in London.

Demonstrators held signs that read "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." The Metropolitan Police stated that expressing support for the proscribed organization is an offense. Officers moved in to make arrests after the signs were unveiled. By Saturday evening, 300 arrests had been made, with more anticipated as the demonstration continued.

Defend Our Juries stated that the protest was timed to precede a UK Supreme Court hearing concerning the ban on Palestine Action. The U.S. government had previously announced sanctions against Palestine Action in August, designating it a terror group. The Met Police noted that protests related to Palestine Action consume significant resources.

Among the protesters was 86-year-old David Polden, a retired Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament activist, who held a satirical sign. He stated he opposes genocide and the British government's support for it, adding that he supports Palestine Action's efforts to stop genocide. Polden claimed he had previously been arrested for holding signs in support of the group and is awaiting a court hearing.

Christopher Williams, 65, a retired lecturer, described it as his first arrest, stating he was prepared and felt a sense of shared culpability if action is not taken.

Ahead of the protest, the Met Police had warned that anyone holding a sign supporting Palestine Action, or playing a key organizing role, could face arrest. Met Commander Adam Slonecki emphasized that the action was about addressing criminality, not preventing the expression of views, while also highlighting the drain on police resources.

Defend Our Juries criticized the arrests, accusing the Met of "significant escalation" and "double standards" in enforcing the ban. The group also raised concerns about the safety of elderly and disabled participants who required support. The organization argued that the ban on Palestine Action represents an attack on freedom of expression.

In June, the UK Court of Appeal upheld the ban on Palestine Action as a terror group, deeming it a "justified and proportionate" interference with freedom of expression rights. This decision overturned a High Court ruling from February that had found the ban unlawful.