Protesters against the British ban on Palestine Action arrested en masse

In a display of solidarity and opposition, approximately 1,500 people gathered in Parliament Square on a recent day, holding signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." Among the crowd was Anne Karpf, a Holocaust survivor's descendant, who stood near the protest with a banner reading "Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide."

The demonstration was organised to call on the new home secretary to immediately repeal the proscription of Palestine Action, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the British government in July 2025 due to sabotage acts on military aircraft. The organisers argue that the ban is unworkable and a gross misuse of anti-terror legislation.

Though mostly peaceful, the protest saw moments of chaos. Some protesters deliberately withheld personal information to overwhelm police processing systems and slow mass arrests. There were reports of a coordinated effort to prevent officers from carrying out their duties, and police alleged facing abuse, including punches, kicks, spitting, and objects being thrown.

However, organisers disputed these claims, accusing officers of violently targeting peaceful demonstrators, including elderly participants. One demonstrator was seen with blood on his face, and multiple people were knocked to the ground. Defend Our Juries shared video footage showing police shoving protesters to the ground.

Among the arrested was Judith Gradwell, an 80-year-old lifelong protester, who joined the demonstration carrying a packed lunch in preparation for potential arrest. Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind man who uses a wheelchair, also returned to protest after being arrested in a previous demonstration.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, citing a range of offenses including assault on a police officer and expressing support for a proscribed organization. Kerry Moscogiuri, the director of campaigns for Amnesty International, condemned the police response to the demonstration.

In total, more than 300 people were arrested during the largest demonstration against the UK government's proscription of the activist group Palestine Action. The protests continue to draw attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the group's designation as a terrorist organization.