I don’t know what Jack Straw, the home secretary who was responsible for the Terrorism Act of 2000, thinks about the arrest of 522 people (many of them of pensionable age) in London last weekend for demonstrating support for Palestine Action – a proscribed terrorist organisation – but I can’t believe that he thinks this large-scale police action against peaceful protesters is what the act was designed for.
This was the biggest such exercise in the Met’s history. Of those arrested at the weekend, more than half were more than 60 years of age. For the vast majority, their “crime” was nothing more than silently holding up a hand-made sign that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”. A former adviser to Prince Charles, an 81-year-old with Parkinson’s disease, and a blind man in a wheelchair were among those who had their collars felt. Meanwhile, a man holding up a cartoon from Private Eye was arrested in Leeds for the same “offence”.
But should Palestine Action be banned in the first place? The organisation, established in 2020, accuses the British arms industry of being complicit in the military offensive in Gaza and aims to disrupt its activities through direct action, including breaking and entering, and vandalism.
square KATE MALTBY Let's set the record straight on Sally Rooney and Palestine Action
Read More
These are illegal acts, all right, but there are laws already in place to deal with them. Whether they constitute terrorism is moot, at best. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, gave a veiled caution that some of us don’t know “the full nature” of Palestine Action and that “it is not a non-violent organisation”. Court restrictions prevent her from revealing more details, she says. Even if we take her at her word, it’s difficult to establish a case that this is a group whose activities the Terrorism Act was meant to curb.
This is the thin end of a very dangerous wedge, one that puts the state and its agents in direct opposition with the people. And what’s the prize, anyway? Stopping peaceful protest? Curbing our freedom to disagree with others? Criminalising citizens who have strong beliefs? It’s madness. An over-reaction of scandalous proportions. And it must end.
Hence then, the article about where is the anger over the outrageous arrests at palestine action protests was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Where is the anger over the outrageous arrests at Palestine Action protests? )
Also on site :