Met Police officers have arrested ‘at least 90’ protesters in central London during demonstrations against the Government’s decision to ban activist group Palestine Action.
Crowds gathered in Tavistock Square on Saturday, with many sitting on the grass holding signs reading: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.’
Officers were seen carrying individuals out of the square, including one woman whose feet dragged across the ground as she was removed. Surrounding demonstrators clapped and thanked those being led away.
Under government legislation Palestine Action has been designated a terrorist organisation, making expressing support for it, even peacefully, a criminal offence.
More than three hours after the protest got underway at 1pm on Saturday, a Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Officers made at least 90 arrests at this afternoon’s protest organised by Defend Our Juries. The protest has concluded and those involved have left the area.’
They had previously said arrests were underway on suspicion of ‘expressing support for proscribed terror organisation Palestine Action’.
The group behind the campaign, Defend Our Juries, has vowed nationwide civil disobedience following Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s announcement that police will be given stronger powers to curb protests by taking into account the ‘cumulative impact’ of repeated disruption.
The demonstration follows a major operation earlier this week in which a further 120 people were charged for supporting the banned organisation, bringing the total number to 254. It is thought more than 2,000 people have been arrested since the organisation was proscribed.
Today’s demonstration is one of a series of actions taking place in 18 towns and cities between November 18 and 29.
Among those protesting in Tavistock Square was Carolyn Gelenter, 67, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, who said she felt unable to be a bystander.
Ms Gelenter, who is from Australia but lives in London, said she has been arrested once before for supporting the banned group.
She said: ‘I wasn’t sure I wanted to get arrested again… As a Jew, and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I just feel I cannot stand by and watch this happening.’
She was later arrested and carried away by police.
Gil Murray, from Norwich, was arrested on Saturday for the sixth time for supporting Palestine Action.
Before being carried off, the 68-year-old said: ‘People are now increasingly in politics calling other people traitors or terrorists but for the Government to call people terrorists when they’re not, and we all know that holding a placard is not terrorism, is quite another matter.
‘We all know genocide is wrong.
‘In the Second World War, we fought a war against this sort of thing and the guys who were invading other countries and committing genocide were the bad guys and now they seem to be the good guys.
‘I just cannot believe how attitudes have changed.
‘I think we are losing the peace. We are losing what we fought for in the Second World War.’
A protest is also taking place in Belfast today.
A crowd of around 60 to 80 activists and supporters gathered on a pedestrianised area close to the city’s main court buildings at 1pm, with between 15-20 of them holding placards carrying the statement ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action’.
Four Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers maintained a low-key presence as they observed the hour-long demonstration from a short distance away.
The officers did not intervene during the event and the crowd dispersed shortly after 2pm.
Another similar demonstration is planned in Londonderry later on Saturday.
It comes after 120 people were charged earlier this week under counter-terror legislation after being arrested after a demonstration on August 9 when activists swarmed Parliament Square carrying placards and flags.
Metropolitan Police officials said officers had to be drafted in from other forces to maintain a ‘significant policing presence’ across a busy weekend of protests and clashes in central London.
The protests come after Palestine Action was formally proscribed in July following alleged attacks on an Israel-linked defence company’s UK site and two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton.
The ban makes membership of, or open support for, the group a criminal offence, carrying a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Counter-terrorism detectives say those charged will begin appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court between November 29 and December 9.
Offences can lead to a prison term of up to six months and leave defendants with a terrorism conviction on their record.
In August, more than 500 people gathered in support of the outlawed group, holding placards with messages such as ‘I am on duty to stop genocide’ and ‘Our right to non-violent protest.’
Police arrested men and women of all ages, and witnesses reported scuffles breaking out between rival groups.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said at the time: ‘The Met is very experienced at dealing with large-scale protests, including where the activity crosses into criminality and requires arrests.
‘While we won’t go into operational details, the public can be assured we have the resources and processes to respond to any eventuality.
‘Anyone showing support for Palestine Action can expect to be arrested. I would urge people to consider the seriousness of that outcome.
‘An arrest under the Terrorism Act can have long-term implications – for travel, employment and finances – and as we have seen this week, it is very likely to lead to a charge.’
Among those demonstrating in Parliament Square was Martin Drummond, 76, a retired research scientist from Norwich. He said he was willing to risk arrest because he was ‘outraged’ by what he sees as an attack on free speech.
‘I’m here to protect our free speech – it’s absolutely crucial,’ he said. ‘Our forefathers fought for it and I’m bloody well going to defend it.’
However, he admitted he was ‘unenthusiastic’ about the prospect of spending the night in custody.
‘I’d like to go home today,’ he said. ‘I’m not regarding it as a badge of honour. I’ve never supported anything like this before.’
