More than 100 folks have been arrested throughout the UK in reference to demonstrations associated to the proscribed group Palestine Action, as protests proceed into a 3rd week because the group was designated a terrorist group by the UK authorities.
Protests are being held in a number of cities throughout the nation because the crackdown on help for the banned group intensifies.
The Metropolitan Police stated Saturday that 55 arrests had been made in Parliament Square below the 2000 Terrorism Act after they allegedly displayed indicators supporting Palestine Action.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who’s main the Met’s policing operation this weekend, stated in a press release: “Nobody might be committing an offence by merely supporting the Palestinian trigger, collaborating within the march or carrying flags, banners or different indicators offering they do not stray into hate speech or different offences.
“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.”
Police officers had been seen surrounding demonstrators close to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, the place indicators had been held studying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Officers confiscated indicators, searched luggage, and led some people away in handcuffs. Others had been carried from the scene.
‘DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES’
“We have said before that whether chants cross the line from free speech to a potential criminal offence depends on the specific circumstances,” Adelekan added.
“For example, there will be words that when chanted in the middle of the Palestine Coalition march, and not directed at individuals who might be caused harassment, alarm or distress as a result, might not lead an officer to reasonably suspect an offence has been committed,” he famous.
“But directing the same words at a group of people for whom the words would very likely cause harassment, alarm or distress, could well give rise to grounds for arrest.”
Demonstrations occurred on Saturday in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Truro as a part of a marketing campaign coordinated by the group Defend Our Juries.
Greater Manchester Police stated 16 folks had been arrested and stay in custody for questioning, whereas Avon and Somerset Police confirmed 17 arrests throughout a protest in Bristol.
In Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police stated eight folks had been arrested at a protest held inside Truro Cathedral.
About 30 protesters had gathered for what the drive described as a “peaceful” Defend Our Juries demonstration.
“A number of placards which were contrary to the law remained on display despite police advice,” the drive stated. “Eight people, two men and six women, were arrested on suspicion of offences under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They remain in police custody.”
Police Scotland stated a person was arrested in Glasgow on Friday “for displaying a sign expressing support for a proscribed organization.”
More than 70 folks had been arrested at related demonstrations throughout the UK final week, the place references to Palestine Action had been allegedly made.
On X, Defend Our Juries stated: “The UK government is complicit in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. They are attempting to silence those who expose this complicity.”
PALESTINE ACTION BAN
The protest got here amid renewed scrutiny of the federal government’s choice to ban Palestine Action, which was formally outlawed as a terrorist group on July 5.
The group, recognized for its direct motion campaigns concentrating on corporations linked to the arms commerce and Israel’s army, had not too long ago made headlines after activists broke into the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton and defaced army plane with spray paint.
Human rights teams have warned that the ban dangers criminalizing peaceable protest and silencing dissent, whereas supporters of the ban argue that the group’s strategies quantity to illegal and harmful exercise.
A authorized problem to the ban is anticipated on Monday, when the group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, will ask the High Court for permission to contest it.
Human rights teams, cultural figures, and a whole bunch of legal professionals have criticized the ban as draconian, warning it units a harmful precedent by conflating protest with terrorism.