Three hundred individuals detained by UK authorities during Palestine Action demonstration
In the heart of London, over 300 people gathered in front of the UK parliament to voice their opposition to the ban on Palestine Action, a group prohibited under the Terrorism Act of 2000. The ban, imposed in July, has been met with criticism from various quarters, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and Nigel, a 62-year-old CEO of a recycling company, who participated in the protest.
Nigel, along with other protesters, expressed their belief that the ban was inappropriate. A 74-year-old retiree named Polly Smith was among them, echoing the sentiment that the ban must be lifted. However, the Metropolitan Police force warned that it would arrest anyone explicitly expressing support for the prohibited group.
Skirmishes occurred between officers and demonstrators who tried to prevent arrests. Nigel was one of those arrested during the protest, with protesters chanting "Shame on you!" at the police. As of now, more than 800 people have already been arrested, with 138 charged with supporting or encouraging support for a proscribed organization.
The government has been granted permission to appeal an earlier ruling which allowed Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori to challenge the ban. The search results do not mention the name of any person authorized by the British government to defend the ban on Palestine Action.
The protest was not the only pro-Palestinian demonstration in London that day. A separate event saw several thousand people take to the streets elsewhere in the city as Israel launched new strikes on Gaza. The stated aim of Israel's new strikes was to seize Gaza City to defeat the militant group Hamas.
Protesters in both demonstrations held placards that read: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." The events highlight a continued public interest and concern over the situation in Palestine and the actions taken by the British government regarding Palestine Action.
