Over 365 Arrested In London Supporting Proscribed Palestine Group

Police successful London person reported nan apprehension of astatine slightest 365 group who were illegally demonstrating successful London successful support of nan proscribed group Palestine Action, nan BBC reported.

Dozens of group simultaneously waved handwritten signs pinch nan connection “I reason genocide. I support Palestine Action” astatine nan protest, organised by Defend Our Juries astatine Westminster’s Parliament Square.

The UK authorities proscribed nan group successful July nether nan Terrorism Act of 2000, making rank of aliases support for it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years successful prison, nan BBC said.

Are either arrested aliases will be

Several news outlets said nan protests were still ongoing, while nan Metropolitan Police warned that each those waving placards successful support of nan proscribed group were “either arrested aliases successful nan process of being detained ·.

By nan day of Saturday, August 9th, hundreds of group had gathered successful Parliament Square for a objection organised by nan run group Defend Our Juries, who said “approximately 1,000 sign-holders” had turned up.

“The truth that unprecedented numbers came retired coming risking apprehension and imaginable imprisonment shows really repulsed and ashamed group are astir our government’s ongoing complicity successful a livestreamed genocide, and nan lengths group are prepared to spell to take sides this country’s ancient liberties,” said a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, according to nan Guardian.

Major embarrassment to Home Secretary

“The constabulary person only been capable to apprehension a fraction of those supposedly committing ‘terrorism’ offences, and astir of those person been fixed thoroughfare bail and allowed to spell home. This is simply a awesome embarrassment to Yvette Cooper, further undermining nan credibility of this wide bullied law.”

On Saturday evening, nan location caput thanked officers and reaffirmed nan government’s determination to prohibition Palestine Action.

“Many group whitethorn not yet cognize nan reality of this organisation, but nan assessments are very clear – this is not a nonviolent organisation. UK nationalist information and nationalist information must ever beryllium our apical priority,” Cooper said.

From 1 p.m. to 2 pm, demonstrators holding signs that publication “I reason genocide, I support Palestine Action” were silent.

Palestine Action was banned successful June, days aft activists from nan group collapsed into RAF Brize Norton and defaced 2 subject craft pinch spray paint, an action nan authorities deemed arsenic terrorism.

Claps and cheers while being arrested

“It’s each very sedate, serene and moving,” said Suzan Broom, who clapped and shouted for those being taken distant by police. “I’ve been pursuing them and saying convey you because I’m excessively scared.”

Two women taking portion successful nan action, 1 successful her mid-70s, were arrested by constabulary midway done their question and reply pinch nan Guardian. One said of nan turnout: “I deliberation it’s great, group are sick of seeing genocide connected their screens.”

She said nan vandalism of RAF craft by Palestine Action members was a “protest action, it’s not astatine each terrorism”.

Those UK planes are ‘killing children’

“Those planes are nan terrorists. They’re going complete and shooting and sidesplitting children,” she said.

Amnesty International said pinch nan Guardian arsenic well. They called nan wide arrests “deeply concerning”.

“The protesters successful Parliament Square were not inciting violence, and it is wholly disproportionate to nan constituent of absurdity to beryllium treating them arsenic terrorists,” said nan organisation’s main executive.

“We person agelong criticised UK coercion rule for being excessively wide and vaguely worded, and a threat to state of expression. These arrests show that our concerns were justified,” they added.