London police have arrested at least 139 people after demonstrators ignored warnings and attended a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action. The group is classified as a terrorist organisation under United Kingdom law.
Protest Outside US Embassy
Hundreds of individuals assembled outside the United States embassy on Saturday to protest the ban, which took effect in July of last year during the administration of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The demonstration took place ahead of a Supreme Court appeal scheduled for Wednesday that challenges the campaign group’s proscribed status.
In an evening update on X, the Metropolitan Police of London announced the arrest total had climbed to 139 people, increasing from an earlier figure of 48 detentions. The police stated that most arrests occurred because individuals expressed support for a proscribed organisation.
Labour Party MP John McDonnell responded on X by arguing that participating in a protest against a government proscription decision should not be automatically interpreted as supporting the organisation or committing an arrestable offence. He added his view that the government made an incorrect decision by designating Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Saturday’s event marked the first mass demonstration against the ban since Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office in July.
Wider Backlash and Criticism
The designation of the group as a terrorist organisation has caused widespread anger among parts of British society, with critics stating the move forms part of a broader effort to silence pro-Palestine voices. The proscription places Palestine Action on a banned list alongside groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIL.
Additional protesters gathered at the US consulate in Edinburgh, though no arrests were reported in the Scottish capital. Participants in both London and Edinburgh carried signs with the message stating they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.
Defend Our Juries, the organisation behind the rallies, stated that the weekend arrests pushed the cumulative total of detained individuals past 4,000 since July 2025. A spokesperson for the group, as reported by the Press Association, described the situation as dystopian, noting that over 4,000 arrests under terror laws occurred for peaceful vigils. The spokesperson claimed the ban mirrored policies from US President Donald Trump and aimed to appease Trump and Israeli weapons companies targeted by Palestine Action rather than counter any terrorist threat.
Felix Jakens, head of communications and campaigns at Amnesty International UK, urged the government to overturn the proscription. Jakens described the detention of grandparents and teenagers for holding placards as a disgraceful assault on freedom of speech and called for legal reforms to protect community demonstration rights.
