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Police make almost 500 arrests at Palestine Action protest in London (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 days ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Police have arrested almost 500 people in London at what organisers hoped would be the biggest demonstration so far against a ban on the proscribed organisation Palestine Action.

Officers began arresting demonstrators at the silent vigil in support of the group, which has been classed by the UK government as a terror organisation since July this year.

The first arrest took place shortly after 1pm as the seated protesters took out pens and wrote signs showing support for Palestine Action. Dozens of police were lined up to begin arresting members of the group, who were sitting silently on the pavement in the square.

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[–] Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com 34 points 2 days ago (2 children)

When simply being anti-genocide leads to you being arrested, your government is pro-genocide by definition.

[–] Garbagio@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

I want to see more discussion about his governments are pro-genocide, because ultimately I'm not sure which are pro-genocide, and which are just pro- western. Like on some level, yes, the US, UK, and German governments are historically so islamophobic that there are most assuredly elements that support the genocide of Palestinians as an ethnic group of the middle east. But ultimately, more perniciously I would argue, I feel that for the majority of western officials, they simply do not care beyond the benefits of supporting the genocide. Israel wants Palestinians dead. Period. But America? I think far more evilly, we have been happy to funnel trillions of dollars into the military industrial complex while giving them free-range to test their inventions en masse on the people of Palestine, and are more than happy to just let Israel close up our "lab" now that we've perfected shit like facial recognition powered turrets. The Israeli government, and a large portion of the west, see Palestinians as some great enemy worth nothing less than death and destruction. I would say worse, the ruling powers of the west never even saw them as human in the first place. And while the outcome is the same regardless, I feel that we need to maintain the distinction, because the latter are going to be the first to say they never meant it to go this far. And we need to remember when they do exactly how fucking evil they really are.

[+] hello_cruel_world@lemmy.world -14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

[deleted]

[–] galmuth@feddit.uk 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

These people are protesting about the genocide, but also protesting against the proscribing of Palestine Action, and shining a spotlight on the draconian laws which means that the government can proscribe any organisation they don't like, and arrest everyone who shows vague support for them.

They know they will get arrested doing this, but there's no legal way of protesting the proscribing.

[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They know they will get arrested doing this, but there’s no legal way of protesting the proscribing.

Technically yes their is. All the arrests I've seen openly state they support PA. That is the only crime. (A fucking unacceptable crime I'll agree.).

But it is not the only way to protest.

"I oppose genercide and governments proscribing any organisation for criminal damage"

"Criminal Damage is not terrorism"

Are just 2 out of many ,any ways to word the objection without stating you support the banned organisation.

Of course being arrested has its own value in a protest. But the statement their is no other choice is false.

[–] galmuth@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I guess you could protest the general concept without mentioning Palestine Action, but as soon as it's about Palestine Action, it would become illegal.

[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah. I'm in no way supporting the law.

And large numbers of arrests are in itself an effective protest. As it costs the government to do it.

But it is also important to make clear to those that are unable to be imprisoned. IE due to family obligations or other limitations.

That other options are very available. And dispite their obligations. Their protest involvement is very welcome.

[–] Flatworm7591@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Sure buddy, but for me anti genocide protestors of whatever affiliation are welcome, no matter what the pigs label them.

[–] FishFace@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

But you said "simply being anti-genocide" which is plain not what happened. People who wrote "I oppose genocide" without "I support Palestine action" did not get arrested.

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago

weird how starmer can do the same thing palestine action did but get named prime minister.

[–] PKscope@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

"They can't arrest us all!"

Well, actually....

Where the fuck do they take 500 people? How big is the London holding cells? Jesus Christ.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The Met have 30 custody suites, the BTP and Border Force have one apiece in London.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

Most of them were instantly released on bail.

[–] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Is that sustainable? Where are they keeping all these people? At what cost?

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 11 points 2 days ago

According to BBC News, about 200 of them had already been released on bail by the end of the night (which, for Americans reading, does not involve handing over any money in the UK). I imagine most of the rest will get the same within the next couple of days