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UK protest over Palestine action ban aims to double turnout
Organisers of protests supporting the banned group Palestine Action have announced plans for a larger demonstration in London on 6 September, aiming to recruit 1,000 participants—double the previous turnout. Last Saturday, 532 people were arrested at Parliament Square for holding placards opposing genocide and supporting Palestine Action.
Defend Our Juries, the pressure group behind the protests, believes a significant turnout could put enough pressure on the government to lift the ban. The arrests, many involving older participants, have raised questions about the proportionality of the proscription and the strain on the UK’s criminal justice system.
Government officials, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, claimed protesters were unaware of any violent tendencies within Palestine Action. However, supporters point to intelligence assessments indicating that the group primarily engages in minor property damage and non-violent direct action tactics such as graffiti and occupations.
Defend Our Juries argues that even if a minor incident of violence occurred, it should not label the entire organisation as terrorist. Public support for the protests has been strong, with organisers stating that turnout of 1,000 could be sufficient to influence government decisions, while 5,000 could potentially see the ban lifted entirely.
Former Cabinet Minister Peter Hain criticised the government for equating peaceful protesters with terrorist organisations, warning that the approach could backfire politically.