Trafalgar Square became a scene of stark contrasts on Saturday, as hundreds gathered to voice support for Palestine Action, only to be met with a firm response from the Metropolitan Police. The air crackled with tension as officers moved to enforce a ban many demonstrators vehemently opposed.
By mid-afternoon, 92 people had been arrested, a number that continued to climb, on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization. The ages of those detained spanned generations, from 27 to 82, a testament to the breadth of feeling surrounding the issue.
The demonstration wasn’t characterized by aggressive confrontation, but by quiet defiance. Many protesters, predominantly elderly, occupied camping chairs and the pavement, their placards bearing messages like “Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth” and “Israel starves kids.”
Images from the square showed officers physically removing protesters, some with grey hair, carrying them away from the demonstration. A chorus of “shame on you” rose from the crowd as a woman was lifted and carried by police, her body limp as officers and onlookers formed a circle around her.
Concerns for the woman’s well-being quickly escalated, with shouts demanding medical attention. Another protester, as she was led away, declared, “Palestine Action is not a proscribed organisation,” while others offered a peace sign in silent protest.
The scene unfolded with a disturbing rhythm: protesters carried by their ankles and arms, deposited in a fenced-off area, some smiling even in handcuffs, others sitting in stunned silence. Dozens of officers stood guard, preparing for the next wave of removals.
The protest was organized by Defend Our Juries, who argued the ban on Palestine Action represented a dangerous erosion of fundamental rights. They believed the demonstration, dubbed “Everyone Day,” would demonstrate the strength of resistance to the ban.
A 69-year-old woman, a veteran of previous protests, explained her continued involvement despite the risk of arrest. “It is the most important thing,” she said, “and I’m old. In my lifetime, it’s huge. It’s a real takeover of the world and its resources. And it’s terrifying.”
Yael Kahn, who once cared for political prisoners in Gaza, drew a poignant parallel to her own family’s experience during the Holocaust. “I wish, when my family was exterminated… I wish there were people protesting, like all of these lovely people here.”
Kahn expressed outrage that authorities were targeting protesters while, in her view, those responsible for violence in the Middle East remained unscrutinized. “They are not arresting those people who actually, their hands, are full, covered in blood.”
The Metropolitan Police had initially paused arrests following a High Court ruling that deemed the government’s ban unlawful, but resumed them pending an appeal. This legal limbo fueled the protesters’ determination and the police’s resolve.
Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu acknowledged the operational challenges posed by a demonstration attracting individuals willing to be arrested. He warned the optics of the situation would be “very challenging” for the police.
Protesters had strategically planned mass rallies, intending to overwhelm the justice system with displays of support for Palestine Action. Over 3,000 arrests have been made since the group was proscribed, including over 2,400 in London alone.
The ban, enacted by the current government, carries severe penalties – up to 14 years in prison for belonging to or supporting the organization. This has raised concerns about the potential for widespread criminalization of dissent and the chilling effect on legitimate protest.
The events in Trafalgar Square underscored a deepening conflict between the right to protest and the government’s efforts to suppress support for a designated terrorist organization, leaving a trail of arrests and unanswered questions about the future of free expression.
