Defend our Juries have sent the following press release.
Protesters from Sheffield and the surrounding area will be joining a UK-wide wave of actions around the Judicial Review of the government’s proscription of Palestine Action as “a terrorist organisation”. Protests are planned in 18 towns and cities across every nation in the UK from 18–29 November, in what the group describes as “the most widespread civil disobedience campaign in modern British history.”
In Sheffield on Saturday 29th November people will sit quietly from 1.00pm on Cathedral Square, Church Street holding signs saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
To date over 2,000 people have been arrested under terrorism legislation for taking part in these ‘Lift the Ban’ actions. Around 170 have so far been charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an offence which carries a maximum six months prison sentence.
The latest wave of actions also coincides with the Prisoners for Palestine rolling hunger strike, launched on 2 November, with six prisoners so far refusing food in protest against prolonged imprisonment without trial.
Chorus of condemnation against the ban continues to grow
The actions come in the wake of mounting legal and political momentum last week against the proscription of Palestine Action, both nationally and internationally. Last week UN experts published a letter sent to the UK government, describing the ban as “not justified”, “unnecessary” and in violation of human rights in a way more common in authoritarian states.
Campaigners are calling on South Yorkshire Police to follow the examples of police forces in Derry, Edinburgh, Totnes, Norwich and Kendal and choose not to arrest these peaceful protests respecting their fundamental right to protest and to freedom of expression.
Rachel, who will be taking action on Saturday said:
“I find it incredible that we have Israeli weapons companies on UK soil that are manufacturing weapons being used in the genocide of the Palestinian people. The people who are trying to shut down these factories are not terrorists – they are the best of humanity and I have a duty to speak out.”
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries who are organising the Lift The Ban protests said:
“The chorus of condemnation against the ban continues to grow as does the number of principled people standing up against the government’s authoritarian overreach.
“These historic mobilisations will honour those already imprisoned for risking everything to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel. The Filton 24 and Brize Norton 5 must be granted immediate bail and full access to the evidence they need to defend themselves.
“These actions will also, once again, be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Both Conservative and Labour governments have been shamefully complicit in the horrors continuing to unfold in Palestine and the use of counter-terrorism legislation to silence their critics must end now.”
Context:
In October, the UN published a draft report titled “Gaza Genocide: A Collective Crime”, detailing UK complicity in Israel’s actions, including the continued supply of arms and surveillance support.
Notes:
Actions in cities all across the UK and hunger strike announced in “most widespread mass civil disobedience in modern UK history”:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/157JnI3zwjFno3IUPZyuPB9PffCycnSLgtKhqx8Vj8Lg/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0
Five UN Special Rapporteurs write to the UK Government, calling the ban disproportionate:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sv6lyC-HKt1ZFNF5Il7QK8MepQIJRB4H-9_A8gVJk8U/edit?tab=t.0
Independent commission of legal experts and politicians criticise process used in the proscription of the group:
Advisers told ministers banning Palestine Action could be seen as an overstep:
‘Terror’ arrests for peaceful protest underway outside Home Office ahead of Judicial Review Wednesday
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LvKzxFTbVVEA4CfDove5pcD0CfwNGQczxWAUXUR03kA/mobilebasic?pli=1
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