Arrests began on Saturday at what was described as the first mass demonstration opposing the proscription of Palestine Action since the group’s ban was ruled unlawful by the high court.
People were seen being carried off by officers as the Metropolitan police responded to the protest in central London. The demonstration took place in Trafalgar Square, where protesters gathered in large numbers during the afternoon.
Many of those taking part sat on camping chairs or on the ground while holding placards. Some of the signs displayed the message: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
The protest marks a significant public showing of opposition to the ban, coming after the high court ruled the group’s proscription unlawful. Saturday’s event was presented by participants as a direct response to that decision.
Photographs from the scene showed a dense crowd in the square, with demonstrators remaining seated as officers moved in to make arrests. The atmosphere was one of organised sit-down protest rather than a march, with people gathering in place and holding signs aloft.
Palestine Action has been at the centre of a legal and political dispute over its status, and the ruling from the high court changed the context for further demonstrations. Saturday’s protest appears to be the first major public test of that ruling, with police action beginning shortly after the crowd assembled.
The gathering in Trafalgar Square also highlighted the continuing scale of opposition among supporters of the group. Hundreds of people were present, according to the scene described, indicating that the issue remains capable of drawing a substantial turnout in central London.
As the demonstration continued, officers were seen removing some protesters from the area. The arrests took place during the afternoon, as the crowd held its position and maintained the display of placards.
The protest is likely to draw further attention because it comes after a court ruling that had already altered the legal standing of the ban. For now, Saturday’s demonstration stands as the first major rally against the proscription since that development, and the police response began quickly once the protest got under way.
