400 protesters gathered as police arrest demonstrators at US embassy
The first major demonstrations under Prime Minister Andy Burnham opposed the ban on Palestine Action, with organizers estimating 400 attendees in London.
By Lina Lewis ·
Police made arrests outside the US embassy in Battersea, south London, as hundreds of people protested against the proscription of Palestine Action. This gathering marked the first mass demonstration held under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s premiership. Organizers, the group Defend Our Juries, estimated that approximately 400 people took part in the event.
The Metropolitan Police issued warnings to attendees before the protest, stating that participants faced arrest as part of a robust policing operation. Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the operation, said that supporting a proscribed organization is unlawful. He described the gathering as people meeting to purposefully commit a crime. Slonecki noted that those organizing the event or providing logistical support were very likely committing an offense and would face enforcement action.
Defend Our Juries criticized the police response, claiming the Met was terrified of facilitating US embarrassment. A spokesperson for the group stated that the overzealous response exposed how far UK authorities would go to appease American interests. The group argued that Israel’s war crimes, which caused death and injury to thousands, could not happen without US approval.
Sue Morhall, a 79-year-old retiree, held a sign outside the embassy expressing support for Palestine Action. She said the United States is complicit in most ongoing wars and that world leaders, including Donald Trump, need to know public opposition to the situation in Gaza. Morhall has been arrested five or six times at previous demonstrations. She expressed hope that Burnham might rescind the proscription, though she noted that it is early days and that he might wait until the American midterm elections.
The Rev Bill White, 72, also participated in the protest, holding a sign that read, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” White said he was appalled that Britain helps facilitate the genocide in Palestine by supplying weapons used on Palestinians. He resigned from the Labour Party after Palestine Action was designated a terrorist group. As a faith leader, White said there was no choice but to take part, arguing that it is wrong to criminalize people trying to prevent genocide.
One woman was arrested in London for holding a sign similar to a social media post by Sarah Helm. Helm is the wife of Prime Minister’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell. The Met ultimately assessed that Helm’s post did not meet the criminal threshold. The post came after news that Irish author Sally Rooney can no longer sell her books in the UK due to her support for the group.
The protests occur ahead of a supreme court appeal against Palestine Action’s terror group designation scheduled for 4 November. Last month, more than 160 people were arrested or reported for summons at a similar demonstration in Liverpool outside the Labour Party conference. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has remained in post despite pressure to rescind the ban, standing firm in favor of the group’s proscription.
During the Labour Party conference, two activists confronted Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband at a Pizza Express in the city center. They challenged him about the arrests, with one protester urging him to declare a genocide in Gaza and de-proscribe Palestine Action. Miliband said he was happy to discuss the issue but asked to do so at another time before the protesters were ushered out.
