In brief
Hundreds gathered outside the U.S. embassy in London to protest the ban on *Palestine Action*, a group classified as a terrorist organization, and police arrested 139 people for supporting the proscribed group. Labour MP John McDonnell criticised the enforcement as an overreach, arguing that protesting the ban does not automatically mean supporting the organization. The demonstration marked the first mass protest against the ban since the new government took office.
London police arrested 139 people after hundreds gathered outside the U.S. embassy on Saturday to protest the ban on the pro‑Palestinian group *Palestine Action*.
The demonstration, held on the same day a Supreme Court appeal was set for Wednesday, drew a crowd that shouted slogans such as “I oppose genocide. I support *Palestine Action*.”
Metropolitan Police released a statement on X later that evening, saying “139 people have now been arrested”, up from the 48 it had already detained earlier. They added that “the majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation.”
Labour Party MP John McDonnell replied to the police post, saying someone protesting against the government’s decision to proscribe an organisation cannot be “automatically interpreted” as supporting that organisation and therefore committing an arrestable offence.
He added that he believes the government “made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.”
The ban, which took effect in July last year under the administration of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, places *Palestine Action* on a list shared with groups such as al‑Qaeda and ISIS.
Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland, but police reported no arrests there.
The protest represented the first mass demonstration against the proscription since Prime Minister Andy Burnham assumed office.
Supporters of the ban argue it is a lawful measure to prevent extremist ideology, while critics claim it is a political over‑reach that stifles free speech and silences pro‑Palestine voices in Britain.
Police say the arrests were based on evidence of individuals supporting a proscribed organisation rather than simply opposing the ban.
The Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, where the legality of the proscription will be challenged.
Both sides of the debate highlight the tension between national security measures and civil liberties amid rising global discourse on the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict.
As the court proceedings unfold, observers expect further scrutiny of the UK’s approach to proscribing political and social groups, especially those viewed as linked to activist causes in contested regions.
Meanwhile, the protest at the U.S. embassy in London underscores the continued demand among some British citizens for clearer visibility of pro‑Palestine support and the right to express dissent without fear of arrest under the current legal framework.
