In the most recent round of detentions of its supporters since the government declared the pro-Palestinian organization a “terrorist” organization, police in the United Kingdom have detained about 425 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action.
According to the Organizing Campaign, approximately 1,500 people showed up at the Saturday demonstration in London dressed up in placards proclaiming “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
As soon as police began detentions, people began chanting “Met Police, pick a side, justice or genocide” and “Shame on you.” As officers removed resistent protesters who became passive during the arrest, the confrontation intensified.
Authorities confirmed more than 425 arrests following the eight-hour demonstration, with at least 25 of whom facing charges of assaulting officers or violating public order. The rest were detained under the Terrorism Act.
According to the UK-based PA Media, police reportedly drew their batons during the altercations, and a protester was seen with blood streaming down his face behind a barrier after being arrested.
Additionally, according to the report, police reportedly had verbal altercations with demonstrators, and that they were thrown water and plastic bottles at them while several protesters eventually fell over in a crush.
Our officers have been punched, kicked, spat on, and had objects thrown at them by protesters, according to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart. She called the treatment “intolerable” and “intolerable.”
Defend Our Juries refuted the narrative, claiming that police were the ones who started the violence and calling police’s claims “frankly absurd”
More than 700 arrests were made as a result of earlier, related demonstrations, of which 138 were charged under the Terrorism Act.
A 62-year-old blind wheelchair user who was previously detained at a protest came back to demonstrate on Saturday.
“And I’m a terrorist,” you say? That’s the joke,” he claimed. “I’ve already been detained under the Terrorism Act, and I’m going to be,” he said.
“Of course, I’ll keep coming back,” the statement read. What options are there for me?
The British government’s approach, according to the UN’s human rights chief, “misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism.”
Volker Turk expressed grave concerns that the designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization “raises the possibility that the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms in the UK is being hampered by the application of counterterrorism laws that are being applied to conduct that is not terrorist in nature.”
He added that terrorist “acts should be limited to crimes like those that are intended to result in hostages’ deaths or serious injuries,” according to international standards.
The government’s ban, according to Huda Ammori, was “catastrophic” for civil liberties, “creating a much wider chilling effect on freedom of speech,” according to Huda Ammori, cofounder of Palestine Action.
Famous cultural figures, including bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney, who stated she planned to continue supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide, have supported the organization.
Despite numerous nations, human rights organizations, and academics confirming that it is killing Palestinians in Gaza, Israel categorically rejects the accusations of genocide.
The government argued that other lawful organizations, including pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel voices, are not affected by labeling Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organization.
Source: Aljazeera
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