Elderly Protesters in Camping Chairs Among Nearly 100 Arrested at Palestine Action Demonstration in Central London
Nearly 100 protesters have been arrested at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action in central London, with many elderly participants using camping chairs during the event. Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square for the protest, which the Metropolitan Police described as 'likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest'. In a statement, police confirmed that as of 2.50 pm, 92 individuals had been arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization, with further arrests ongoing. Those detained ranged in age from 27 to 82 years old.
Scenes of Arrest and Protest in Trafalgar Square
Many of the demonstrators, predominantly elderly, sat on camping chairs and on the ground while holding up placards on Saturday. At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed with messages such as 'Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth' and 'Israel starves kids'. Police officers were seen carrying off several protesters, including a man and a woman with grey hair, away from the demonstration. As officers lifted a lady from the protest, bystanders chanted 'shame on you'. Additionally, police handcuffed a man and escorted an elderly protester with a walking stick to waiting vans.
One woman shouted during the arrests, 'Yeah she looks like a terrorist doesn't she mate.' Protesters accused police of dragging a woman out without supporting her shoulders, leading to her lying with eyes closed as officers and bystanders surrounded her. Others shouted that she needed medical attention. A protester made the peace sign while being removed, and another stated, 'Palestine Action is not a proscribed organization,' as she was led away by police.
Protest Details and Legal Context
Protesters, some carried by their ankles and under their arms by officers, were led to a fenced-off area at the side of Trafalgar Square. One woman smiled while holding up her hands in handcuffs, while others sat silently on the ground. Dozens of police officers stood nearby as more moved in to remove demonstrators. The protest group Defend Our Juries said the event, called Everyone Day, aimed to show that resistance to the ban on Palestine Action is 'stronger than ever'.
A 69-year-old female protester, who asked not to be named, shared her perspective: 'I've been arrested once before, but I wasn't prepared to do it today for various reasons. I have grandchildren to look after. I'm here to support.' When asked if being arrested deterred her from protesting, she responded, 'Of course not.' She added, 'It is the most important thing, 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. There is a massive genocide that has gone on for a really long time. They have a lust for murder, a lust for hanging. A lust for torture.'
Historical and Political Perspectives
Yael Kahn, who previously cared for female political prisoners in Gaza before moving to England, expressed solidarity with the protesters. She said, 'I wish, when my family was exterminated in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, I wish there were people protesting, like all of these lovely people here. I absolutely adore them.' Ms. Kahn stood at the edge of the protest with a ribbon reading 'free Palestine hostages'. She criticized the police, stating, 'The police are not arresting those people who actually, their hands, are full, covered in blood, of children, of women, of entire people in the Middle East or West Asia. They are not questioning them.'
In March, the Metropolitan Police announced that officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters as a High Court battle over the ban on the group continues. Police had paused arrests in February after the High Court ruled the Government's ban unlawful but decided to resume them pending an appeal expected to take several months. Defend Our Juries warned, 'This issue affects everyone. From striking workers to peaceful protesters, everyone fighting for any worthy cause is at risk. If left unopposed, what starts with an unlawful ban on one direct action group will lead on to the removal of everyone's rights and freedoms.'
Police Strategy and Broader Implications
Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu commented on the situation during a BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday. He noted, 'I think the difficulty is, when you've got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn't practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police. It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.' He added that arrest decisions are operational, based on intelligence regarding protester numbers and intentions.
Protesters have organized mass rallies where demonstrators hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action', aiming to overwhelm the criminal justice system with cases. Since Palestine Action was banned as a terrorist group last year, over 3,000 people have been arrested for allegedly expressing support, including more than 2,400 in London. Recent incidents include seven arrests at an RAF base in Suffolk during protests against the Iran war and 18 arrests after a demonstration outside New Scotland Yard in March. Trials for hundreds accused of holding placards are on hold pending the High Court case outcome. Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
