31 arrested on College Green over Palestine Action placards

By Dana Datu, News Reporter

The City Centre protest, held November 29, was organised by the Defend Our Juries campaign, protesting the government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group in July.

At least 11 cities across England saw similar demonstrations yesterday, with 34 arrested in Manchester and 25 in Birmingham.

By 1:00 pm, around 30 protesters arrived at Bristol's College Green, the majority of them in their 60s and 70s.

17 arrested at pro-Palestine Action protest in Bristol

Yesterday afternoon, July 19, 17 individuals were arrested after a protest on College Green against the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, and a number of placards seized by the police.

EpigramDaisy Yates

By 1:30 pm, the first protester in line was arrested. 

Avon and Somerset police approached each participant and advised them that their support for Palestine Action was a criminal offence. If a protester did not take down their sign, they were arrested.

Arrests were made every five or ten minutes, including notable environmental campaigner and author Sir Jonathon Porritt.

This protest follows a thread of similar Palestine Action demonstrations in Bristol; in July, Epigram reported on the arrest of 17 individuals on College Green. 

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Non-compliant individuals were carried by at least four police officers. Every arrest was followed by fellow protesters cheering, clapping, and even ringing bells in support. 

The last arrest was made around 4:30 pm, bringing the protest to an end. 

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed 31 protesters were arrested, with 29 violating Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for ‘displaying articles in support of a proscribed organisation.’ 

The remaining two individuals were arrested for separate offences, including one woman detained ‘on suspicion of failing to provide details’, under the Police Reform Act 2002.

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One of those arrested was retired GP Diana Warner, who said to Bristol 24/7 that as a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, ‘I cannot stand by while my country and my government pay and aid and abet the genocide of the Gaza people.’

Defend Our Juries said on their website that between November 18 and 29, the group ‘launched the most widespread mass civil disobedience across the UK in modern British history.’

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Inspector Ben Spence said:

‘While we will always work to enable peaceful and lawful protest, we have always made it clear that we will intervene where criminal offences are committed.

‘The protest has now safely concluded, and the police operation has been stood down. I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding.’

Featured image: Epigram / Cara Hene