Palestine Action Arrests Condemned as 'Deeply Alarming' While British Press Remains Silent
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The arrest of seven leading activists from the 'Lift the Ban' campaign against the proscription of pro-Gaza group Palestine Action - now designated a 'terror' organisation - has been damned as 'chilling' by the Liberal Democrats and the human rights group Amnesty International.
Speaking to Byline Times, the Lib Dems called for a review of the controversial law which outlawed the direct action group, members of which are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June this year to sabotage aircraft they believed were destined to assist Israel's war on Gaza.
The alleged participants were arrested under existing laws, but Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rushed out the designation of Palestine Action as a 'terrorist' group shortly after, meaning supporters of the organisation can now land over a decade in prison.
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The Liberal Democrats have now added their calls to warnings from Amnesty International after counter-terrorism police arrested seven of the 'Lift the Ban' campaign's key spokespeople in 'dawn raids' in London, Cumbria and Yorkshire on Tuesday morning, over Lift the Ban protests, under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Today the Daily Mail and The Sun both have front pages dedicated to attacking an alleged assault on free speech in the UK, focusing on the arrest of Father Ted writer and anti-trans activist Graham Lineham over allegations of inciting violence. The Mail claims Britain is becoming "North Korea" while The Sun says the UK is "f*cked". But they do not mention the arrests of pro-Gaza campaigners.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is in the US, seemingly calling for sanctions on the UK by Donald Trump to push Keir Starmer to repeal the Online Safety Act, which he claims is undermining free speech.
The Lift the Ban campaign is being spearheaded by Defend Our Juries, a group initially set up to defend climate campaigners from the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil facing criminal action.
DoJ founder Tim Crosland was arrested just hours before he was due to hold a press conference announcing that the mass action against 'terror' ban on Palestine Action will proceed in Parliament Square on Saturday 6 September from 1pm. At least 1,000 people have now pledged to hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' this weekend, according to the group.
Over 700 people have now been arrested opposing the Palestine Action ban, including 500 at the last demonstration outside Parliament Square. More than 100 of them have now been formally charged for peaceful protests shortly after the ban came into force. The vast majority of attendees were sitting down holding cardboard signs. Defend Our Juries hopes to make the ban on PA untenable given the scale of potential arrests.
EXCLUSIVE
Palestine Campaign Group Says It Has Been 'De-Banked' by Virgin Money With '£10,000 Trapped'
EXCLUSIVE: Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine says their account was frozen without explanation days after Palestine Action was proscribed, preventing aid donations from reaching Gaza
Josiah Mortimer
Defend Our Juries has said its 'mass action' will go ahead on Saturday despite the 'targeted arrest' of key spokespeople.
The arrests include young law student Paddy Friend, who was due to speak at the press conference alongside Tim Crosland. You can see a video of his arrest here.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Lisa Smart, told Byline Times: "The arrest of these campaigners under terror laws, following hundreds of arrests under the same powers last month, is deeply alarming. If charged, they could face up to 14 years in prison simply for expressing support for Palestine Action.
"The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy - this sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilli...
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
The arrest of seven leading activists from the 'Lift the Ban' campaign against the proscription of pro-Gaza group Palestine Action - now designated a 'terror' organisation - has been damned as 'chilling' by the Liberal Democrats and the human rights group Amnesty International.
Speaking to Byline Times, the Lib Dems called for a review of the controversial law which outlawed the direct action group, members of which are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June this year to sabotage aircraft they believed were destined to assist Israel's war on Gaza.
The alleged participants were arrested under existing laws, but Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rushed out the designation of Palestine Action as a 'terrorist' group shortly after, meaning supporters of the organisation can now land over a decade in prison.
Don't miss a story
SIGN UP TO EMAIL UPDATES
The Liberal Democrats have now added their calls to warnings from Amnesty International after counter-terrorism police arrested seven of the 'Lift the Ban' campaign's key spokespeople in 'dawn raids' in London, Cumbria and Yorkshire on Tuesday morning, over Lift the Ban protests, under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Today the Daily Mail and The Sun both have front pages dedicated to attacking an alleged assault on free speech in the UK, focusing on the arrest of Father Ted writer and anti-trans activist Graham Lineham over allegations of inciting violence. The Mail claims Britain is becoming "North Korea" while The Sun says the UK is "f*cked". But they do not mention the arrests of pro-Gaza campaigners.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is in the US, seemingly calling for sanctions on the UK by Donald Trump to push Keir Starmer to repeal the Online Safety Act, which he claims is undermining free speech.
The Lift the Ban campaign is being spearheaded by Defend Our Juries, a group initially set up to defend climate campaigners from the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil facing criminal action.
DoJ founder Tim Crosland was arrested just hours before he was due to hold a press conference announcing that the mass action against 'terror' ban on Palestine Action will proceed in Parliament Square on Saturday 6 September from 1pm. At least 1,000 people have now pledged to hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' this weekend, according to the group.
Over 700 people have now been arrested opposing the Palestine Action ban, including 500 at the last demonstration outside Parliament Square. More than 100 of them have now been formally charged for peaceful protests shortly after the ban came into force. The vast majority of attendees were sitting down holding cardboard signs. Defend Our Juries hopes to make the ban on PA untenable given the scale of potential arrests.
EXCLUSIVE
Palestine Campaign Group Says It Has Been 'De-Banked' by Virgin Money With '£10,000 Trapped'
EXCLUSIVE: Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine says their account was frozen without explanation days after Palestine Action was proscribed, preventing aid donations from reaching Gaza
Josiah Mortimer
Defend Our Juries has said its 'mass action' will go ahead on Saturday despite the 'targeted arrest' of key spokespeople.
The arrests include young law student Paddy Friend, who was due to speak at the press conference alongside Tim Crosland. You can see a video of his arrest here.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Lisa Smart, told Byline Times: "The arrest of these campaigners under terror laws, following hundreds of arrests under the same powers last month, is deeply alarming. If charged, they could face up to 14 years in prison simply for expressing support for Palestine Action.
"The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy - this sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilli...
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