‘Palestine Action’ marchers - arrests today.

Tbh I think the government has made a huge mistake with this decision. In common with most I'm more than happy to see people who commit criminal damage being arrested but people should be allowed to protest peacefully. The police need to focus on arresting the people who do real damage to our society by whipping up support with lies and distortions of the truth.

I SO agree, FGT.
There was an interesting article in the paper yesterday about the disinformation Hamas is spreading, swallowed whole by the general population. Goebels would beproud!

There is imo sufficient laws to protect various groups against rhetoric that pushes hate etc.

I think that there is an issue (apart from the odd exception) in bringing the law to bear on this rhetoric.

Yes I know what they are. Many of us are well aware of them.
In terms of the government I am afraid this government has a tendency to be authoritarian around the issues of speech and protest. Lots of people cheered that on. 'Hate speech' , 'offensive', etc. The trouble is when you do that at some point it will be 'your' speech which is deemed hateful.

Quote Galaxy Mon 11-Aug-25 07:31:07
Garden court chambers were at the centre of a discrimination case which they lost brought by one of their employees. It was about the right to hold certain beliefs. The irony that they are now fighting for freedom to protest/free speech is just delightful.

Thank you Galaxy

They are lawyers - it is their trade.

Garden court chambers were at the centre of a discrimination case which they lost brought by one of their employees. It was about the right to hold certain beliefs. The irony that they are now fighting for freedom to protest/free speech is just delightful.

I think whole issue has begun to focus more on how much democratic freedom is being lost by the criminalisation of peaceful protest.

There are countless examples of peaceful protest in support of all sorts of proscribed groups in our recent history, but governments/police were sensible enough to allow them to go ahead - satisfy the protesters and usually job done, the issue gradually went away.

But in this case I think the government/police has got themselves in a real pickle (although they will of course try to hold the line).

The nonsense of arresting over 500 people - the majority of whom grew up in the time when freedom to protest meant exactly that - will solve absolutely nothing. Indeed it assaults our democratic freedoms which we have (naively) taken for granted all our lives.

Before anyone starts chuntering on about terrorists etc, this post is not about that, but in my view if people knowingly commit criminal damage, they should pay the price before the law - as undoubtedly they expect to do.

Galaxy

Garden court chambers. I mean seriously.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

🙄

Garden court chambers. I mean seriously.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

ayse

50% of those arrested today were 60+. Finally people with a conscience coming forward. I would if I could but currently health does not allow.

There were demonstrations near me last weekend both pro and anti migrations. When I’m better I’m going to join in with the pro-immigrants

Me too, asap.

There is a Gaza one locally every Friday a silent one (banners only), but in the town centre, difficult to manage.

Proscription came into force on 5 July 2025. On Wednesday 20 July, the High Court granted permission to challenge that decision

Mr Justice Chamberlain granted permission on two grounds. First, that proscription of Palestine Action is a disproportionate interference with Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 11 (freedom of assembly) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Claimant raised important points about the significant chilling effect on free speech that would result from the order, particularly during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Second, permission was granted on the ground that the Home Secretary should have consulted with Palestine Action before making her decision to proscribe

Since the proscription came into force, hundreds of individuals have been stopped and searched and arrested under counter-terror legislation at protests across the country – some for merely wearing badges, carrying the Palestine flag or calling for deproscription

Permission to intervene in the case was granted to Professor Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights. His mandate created by the United Nations Human Rights Council includes: “concerns over the misuse of legislation and policies to combat terrorism or alleged terrorism, and the growing adverse impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

A number of other organisations, including the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), and Netpol, have provided evidence in support of the Claimant’s challenge. Mr Justice Chamberlain’s judgment on permission can be found here. The initial interim relief application ruling can be found here, and the Court of Appeal decision here

The full judicial review claim will be heard over three days in late 2025
Garden Court Chambers

Thanks AGAA4. You are so right about the need to understand why the government decided to proscribe.
Of course the majority are appalled about Gaza. That in no way excuses us from taking a calmer more well informed view point

Palestine Action are known for violence as well as causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
I have read the Hansard report and it is damning.
People need to look into what they do and not blindly follow. They can protest peacefully without fear of arrest with other pro Palestine groups.

Much as I am distressed by the actions of the Netanyahu government and uneasy about proscribing , I’m willing to believe Yvette Cooper was persuaded by the security services of the risk posed

Yes - I can agree with that in the main. However those being arrested are as far from terrorists as one could get. The way the law is working or being interpreted is misfiring!
These were not rioters putting the lives of asylum seekers at risk, or trashing people's homes and cars and places of worship. They were communicating that the government isn't doing enough to support Palestinians - so they were showing their support.

"Vandalism of RAF planes is not enough of an explanation".

I think you need to read up on what else they have done and who they are. As has been said already, there are other protest marches these people could join

I'm reasonably well read on the issue - but the damage to RAF planes is the reason being pushed by the media. It needs to be explained further. There is clearly more to spell out.

As I said earlier - I wish the protesters just carried a sign saying I support Palestine - the message would be understood. As it is many wanted to challenge what they feel is a one sided 'fight'.

Apparently Lord Hermer will be given the final say over whether to prosecute the 532 protesters arrested for supporting Palestine Action.

The Attorney General has the power to approve or block further action against the demonstrators under the Terrorism Act after they were caught carrying placards in support of a proscribed group.

Magenta, much as I understand your concerns, share them, I don’t agree that our govt supports the Israelis and thinks what they’re doing is ok.
Have you listened to Starmer or Lammy who are speaking out clearly criticising

This is such a dreadful situation. It’s so emotive many of us are polarised.

Further on the Aberporth Airport - it's a firm called QinetiQ that is based there that is supplying weapons to the Israeli Government. They make military drones. The chair of this company has directorships of several Israeli Government companies, continues to offer the services required to use them and the communications systems to target their slaughter as far down as individual homes. They have 9 contracts with the IDF.

Allira

Magenta8

Daubing a few RAF planes pales into insignificance against committing genocide by bombing, murdering, blocking aid and starving thousands of innocent men women and children on the Gaza Strip.

I'm with you Farzanah. Sometimes I despair at the certain horrible sentiments expressed on GN.

There are plenty of pro Palestine marches and protests to join without supporting this group.

That is not a horrible sentiment, it's just common sense.

Allira Please point out the bit in my post where I said your post was a horrible sentiment. I was not using a straw man argument as I was not justifying or condoning the daubing of planes by comparing it with Israeli war crimes. I was commenting on the fact that our present government appears to support the Israelis and thinks what they are doing are doing is OK but have chosen to take a hard line on the Palestine Action demonstrators.

I have just read that only one arrest was made at yesterday's Nuneaton protest march where racist chants and placards were the order of the day. A young man aged 17 was arrested because he threatened to commit criminal damage.

Iam64

Much as I am distressed by the actions of the Netanyahu government and uneasy about proscribing , I’m willing to believe Yvette Cooper was persuaded by the security services of the risk posed.

I agree with Allira, it’s like the just stop oil protesters. People agree there’s a big problem, that protest is needed but not civil disobedience.

The govt is well aware of the growing anger amongst the majority towards Netanyahu. This kind of criminal damage is just wrong

Well put, Iam64

This is an enormous tragedy and the actions of this group are, in fact, detracting from the message and a distraction for the Government top.

Is one of the founders really concerned about Gaza or is he someone who will find the latest cause and change his colours accordingly?

valdavi

I thought we had stopped supplying arms to Israel? I am appalled if this isn't the case.
I'll write to my MP if we still are, marches seem to be futile as marchers get labelled as troublemakers and ignored.

Why can't we have a big "Not in my name" march like there was when Tony Blair helped Bush invade Iraq? I know the country isn't a direct combatant this time, but we're doing precious little to rein Israel in or influence the USA's pro-Israel viewpoint.

Nope......far from it.

The Aberporth "airport" in Ceredigion, Wales, is very much still supplying arms to the Israeli Government.

eazybee

A wicked waste of time and money engineered by a crowd of political activists and virtue-signallers deliberately and unnecessarily breaking the law, when the police, and later the courts, should be been investigating real crime and violence.

Now some of us would say the "waste of time and money" applies to protecting migrant hotels. They could avoid all that expense - and the expense of paying those hotels if they stopped making them available for these illegals.

Much as I am distressed by the actions of the Netanyahu government and uneasy about proscribing , I’m willing to believe Yvette Cooper was persuaded by the security services of the risk posed.

I agree with Allira, it’s like the just stop oil protesters. People agree there’s a big problem, that protest is needed but not civil disobedience.

The govt is well aware of the growing anger amongst the majority towards Netanyahu. This kind of criminal damage is just wrong

50% of those arrested today were 60+. Finally people with a conscience coming forward. I would if I could but currently health does not allow.

There were demonstrations near me last weekend both pro and anti migrations. When I’m better I’m going to join in with the pro-immigrants