Nearly 140 people have been arrested during a large demonstration outside the US embassy in south London opposing the proscription of Palestine Action. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Battersea carrying signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” while a separate vigil was held outside the US consulate in Edinburgh.
Police Operation and Arrests
Prior to the London gathering, the Metropolitan police warned participants that they would face arrest during a robust policing operation. Authorities stated that individuals playing key roles in organizing the event, giving instructions, or providing logistical support would likely commit an offense.
In a statement posted on X, the Metropolitan police announced that 139 people had been arrested, with officers remaining at the scene to continue making arrests. Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, stated that participants knew supporting a proscribed organization is unlawful and that they were essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime.
Defend Our Juries, the group that organized the demonstrations, estimated that approximately 400 people attended the London event. The group reported that more than 4,000 arrests have been made for supporting Palestine Action since the ban took effect, accounting for the vast majority of terror arrests since last July.
Demonstrator Perspectives
Sue Morhall, a 79-year-old retiree participating in the protest, said the United States is complicit in ongoing wars and that world leaders, including Donald Trump, need to know people oppose the situation in Gaza. Morhall, who has been arrested multiple times at previous demonstrations, expressed hope that the ban could eventually be rescinded.
The Rev Bill White, a 72-year-old faith leader who resigned from the Labour party after Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist group, stated that Britain is helping facilitate genocide by supplying weapons. He argued that it is wrong to criminalize individuals trying to prevent genocide.
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries accused the Metropolitan police of an overzealous response designed to appease American interests, asserting that Israel’s actions could not occur without US approval.
Broader Political Pressure
The protests precede an upcoming appeal at the UK supreme court scheduled for November 4 against the designation of Palestine Action as a terror group. Last month, more than 160 people were arrested or reported for summons at a similar demonstration outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool.
The government faces ongoing pressure to rescind the ban, although Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has maintained support for the proscription. Recently, journalist and author Sarah Helm faced accusations of supporting Palestine Action after posting on social media regarding restrictions on the Irish author Sally Rooney, though the Metropolitan police ultimately assessed that Helm’s post did not meet the criminal threshold.
During the Labour party conference, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was also confronted by activists at a restaurant regarding the arrests and urged to de-proscribe Palestine Action, telling the protesters he was willing to discuss the issue at another time.
