Several people have been arrested outside Parliament for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action.
Around ten people were held by Metropolitan Police Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which read: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.’
Those held were of mixed ages, from their 20s to 60s and many said they had jobs and had been arrested before.
One protester, an architect called Steve, 59, said: ‘In terrified. But some things in this world are bigger than fear of arrest. I will do whatever it takes to highlight this problem.
‘They (the police) can do whatever they want. I don’t care.’
This Saturday is the second weekend Palestine Action supporters have protested and been arrested.
A small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square for the demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, shortly after 1pm and received a brief applause.
The individuals then wrote the message ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action’ with black markers on pieces of cardboard and silently held the signs aloft, surrounded by Metropolitan Police officers, who formed a cordon, and members of the media.
Several people been arrested outside Parliament for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action
Around ten people were held by a group of Met Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which said: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.’
the small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue shortly after 1pm in a silent protest
A number of demonstrators were carried away by police by their legs and arms after refusing to walk.
An elderly man – believed to be in his 70s – looked visibly unwell as he was taken into the back of a police van.
A woman in her 40s was also taken away.
A spokesperson for the Met police said: ‘We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests.’
This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week.
Last Saturday police arrested almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square also holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect.
Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation.
They held signs saying: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.’
The protesters held signs reading: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’ whcih were taken off them by officers
A protestor being led away by a Met Police officer after protesting outside Parliament today
The group was surrounded by Met Police officers who formed a cordon around them
This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week
Police presence was heavy in the area with the force warning of several events going on around the city today
Demonstrators were stopped by police with some later carried away by their arms and legs (two protestors being handcuffed by police)
Shortly after their arrival, police officers could be seen engaging with the protesters and the Met said it had began making arrests. Several people were seen being carried away by officers.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
‘The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.’
They later added: ‘A total of 29 arrests were made during this afternoon’s protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. They remain in custody.’
It comes after the Home Office today last week the ban on Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid.
Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21.
The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos.
Police carry demonstrators bags and signs after arresting them for supporting Palestine action
Police speak to people after they took part in a protest in Parliament Square, London
Last Saturday Reverend Sue Parfitt, 83, was arrested for joining the protest in support of Palestine Action in Westminsterafter the Met said: The law doesn’t have an age limit’
Around two dozen people, including a professor and an emergency care worker were arrested
Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience.
Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 – when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country.
One of those protesting last week is former government lawyer Tim Crosland. He said: ‘There are already 18 Palestine Actionists held in UK prisons without a trial, following lobbying by the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the leading supplier of the machinery of genocide.
‘If we cannot speak freely about the genocide of Palestinians, if we cannot condemn those who enable it and praise those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.’
