By Daisy Yates, Senior Digital Editor and Cara Hene, News Digital Editor
Footage circulating on social media of the protest in Bristol shows a man being carried by four police officers into a police van. Nearby protestors chanted, ‘free, free Palestine’ and ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’
In total, over 100 arrests were made across the UK following simultaneous protests in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Truro, according to the BBC.
While recent demonstrations against the ban over the past two weekends have occurred in London, Cardiff and Manchester, Saturday's protest marks the first large-scale action since Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 on July 5.
The BBC reported that across the country, protesters held placards with the uniform phrase: ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.’
On July 17, the Met issued a warning cautioning that any attendees of Saturday's protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square ‘will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested’.
Palestine Action is a direct action network known for targeting arms companies linked to the Israeli military since the start of the war in Gaza. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the ban on June 23, three days after the group spray-painted two military planes red at an RAF base in Oxfordshire.
Resultantly, it is now an offence to be a member of Palestine Action, fundraise, or display signs or slogans that ‘arouse reasonable suspicion’ of support, as well as to express beliefs supportive of the proscribed organisation in a manner likely to encourage others.
Saturday’s protests were coordinated by Defend Our Juries as part of their campaign to de-proscribe the group. They preceded a High Court hearing on Monday 21 July, where the Claimant, Huda Ammori, will request permission to pursue a full judicial review of the ban, according to a Defend Our Juries press release.
In a statement to Epigram, Avon and Somerset Police said:
‘A total of 17 people were arrested during a protest in Bristol this afternoon (19 July).
‘Officers engaged with protesters on College Green, explaining that the recent proscription of the Palestine Action group by the government made it a criminal offence to express support for it under the Terrorism Act 2000.
‘Seventeen people were arrested under Section 13 of the act and several placards were seized.
‘A further three people will be invited to attend a voluntary interview at a future date.
Josh McClounnan
‘We will always aim to enable peaceful protest, however where criminal offences are committed, including those related to proscribed groups, we will intervene.’
Featured Image: Unsplash / Iryana Marienko
