Police have arrested protesters suspected of supporting the banned group Palestine Action outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
According to the protest organization Defend Our Juries, around 100 people gathered silently on Sunday, holding signs that read, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” The group reported dozens of arrests.
Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organization in July after claiming responsibility for damaging two planes at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire the previous month.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson confirmed that officers were present at a Defend Our Juries protest near The Wheel of Liverpool on Sunday, September 28. They stated that some attendees displayed materials supporting Palestine Action and that arrests were being made on suspicion of wearing or carrying items in support of a banned organization.
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said, “We are here to remind everyone that the Labour Party is failing in its duty under international law to prevent genocide. Instead, it cowardly banned the direct action group trying to stop genocide. Labour members and trade unions strongly oppose their party’s complicity in genocide and the ban on Palestine Action. Yet party officials have blocked all debates on these issues during their conference. Labour also broke Jack Straw’s promise that the Terrorism Act he introduced would never be used against a domestic protest group.”
Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that over 1,600 people have been arrested and 138 charged for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since the ban took effect on July 5. Under the Terrorism Act, membership in the group or inviting support for it is a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. This marks the first time a direct action protest group has been classified as a terrorist organization.
Keith Hackett, a 71-year-old protester and former Labour councillor in Liverpool, said, “I’m risking arrest under terrorism legislation because I am deeply ashamed of Labour’s actions. To regain lost support, they must end their complicity in genocide and lift the ban on Palestine Action.”
Tayo Aluko, a 63-year-old actor, writer, and singer from Liverpool, added, “This government, like authoritarian regimes, aims to instill fear in citizens so its allies can get away with genocide. I feel compelled to take a stand.”
Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s director of communications and campaigns, stated, “These arrests are unacceptable. It is absurd and disproportionate for police to target people quietly holding signs. The ban on Palestine Action raises serious human rights concerns and has had a chilling effect.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the arrest of Palestine Action protesters outside the Labour Party conference designed with clear questions and direct answers
Basic Information The Event
1 What happened outside the Labour Party conference
Police arrested dozens of protesters from a group called Palestine Action who were demonstrating outside the conference venue
2 Who is Palestine Action
Palestine Action is a directaction activist network in the UK that focuses on protesting companies it claims are complicit in Israeli military actions against Palestinians
3 Why were they protesting at the Labour conference
They were there to pressure the Labour Party to take a stronger stance against Israel and to end what they see as UK complicity often targeting the partys connections to certain arms companies
4 Why were the protesters arrested
The police stated the arrests were primarily for public order offenses This can include blocking roads obstructing the conference entrance potential breaches of the peace or failing to follow police instructions
Deeper Context Implications
5 What is a public order offense
Its a category of crime related to disruptive or violent behavior in public that causes alarm distress or harassment Examples include violent disorder affray or obstructing a highway
6 What was the Labour Partys response to the protests and arrests
The Labour Party typically acknowledges the right to peaceful protest but emphasizes the need for it to be lawful and not disrupt the democratic process of their conference They often do not comment directly on specific arrest decisions which are a police matter
7 Is this a common type of protest
Yes Direct action protests which involve acts like blockades sitins and targeted disruptions are a common tactic used by groups like Palestine Action Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil to draw immediate attention to their cause
8 What happens to the people who were arrested
They are typically taken to a police station processed and then released under investigation or on bail while the police decide whether to charge them In some cases they may be released with a conditional caution
9 What is the broader context of this protest
The protest is part of a longstanding and highly polarized international conflict between Israel and Palestine In the UK it reflects ongoing political debates about foreign policy arms exports and the positions of major political parties on the
