Why 117 people were arrested at a Palestine Action protest in London
Crowds gathered outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in support of Palestine Action, which remains a proscribed organisation under UK law.
Police carried away several elderly supporters of the Defend Our Juries campaign during a "Lift the Ban" protest. Some demonstrators were escorted to police vans, while others were lifted from the ground. One 75-year-old protester told officers, "These cuffs are too tight."
One demonstrator said the protest was against the UK government's position on Gaza.
"I'm here protesting the government's complicity in genocide. The UK is signatories to the Genocide Convention, and as such we have a duty to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. Yet these guys are crushing the dissent against our government's complicity. So as far as I can see, they're complicity too."
Another protester said: "I remember Anne Frank and Hind Rajab, two children who were Nazis of then and the Nazis of now: Germany and Israel."
A demonstrator who said police had previously raided their home said they would continue supporting the group.
"I won't be deterred. Their goal is to intimidate everyone here today, as it was when I was raided. We're still here until we get a free Palestine."
The Metropolitan Police said 117 people were arrested on suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed organisation, an offence under the Terrorism Act.
The proscription order against Palestine Action took effect on July 5, 2025. In February, the High Court ruled the decision unlawful, but the order remained in force while the government appealed. The Court of Appeal later overturned that ruling and found the proscription lawful.
The UK Supreme Court has granted the group's co-founder permission, in part, to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling. An expedited hearing is due later this year.
According to Palestine Action, more than 3,500 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in connection with demonstrations supporting the group.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
