logo
Pro-Palestine marchers brave rain in Edinburgh after Palestine Action ban

Pro-Palestine marchers brave rain in Edinburgh after Palestine Action ban

Daily Record3 days ago
Marches also took place in London, Manchester, Bristol and Truro today.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators braved rain to march through Edinburgh on Saturday, as part of a national campaign.

One veteran activist said the recent move to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws had not deterred people from showing their support to the wider movement.

A large group gathered outside St Giles' Cathedral in the early afternoon before marching down the Royal Mile, chanting while waving flags and banners.

The march stopped in front of the UK Government headquarters at Queen Elizabeth House, where speeches were given outside the building, before heading on to Bute House - the First Minister's official residence.
Other demonstrations took place in Manchester, Bristol, Truro and London - calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be reversed.

While there were dozens of arrests at the other events, Police Scotland said no arrests had been made in relation to the march in Edinburgh.
Mick Napier, founding member of the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said there was a large turnout in the Scottish capital because of outrage over Israel's plan for a "humanitarian city" in Rafah.
Speaking as the march set off down the Royal Mile, he told the PA news agency: "It's large, it's bigger than we've had for a very long time and it's entirely due to the building of the Israeli concentration camp in Rafah.

"They've called it a humanitarian city but people are utterly horrified, cumulatively, by what's happened during 22 months of genocide."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He said the ban on Palestine Action was "absurd" and police had been on a hair trigger, arresting people for placards and banners which contain the words Palestine and action.

Mr Napier said the ban had not deterred people from supporting the wider pro-Palestinian movement, saying: "I think people are enraged.
"I look back to previous campaigns against the war in Vietnam, when that issue became fused with the issue of free speech it rose to a higher level."
Earlier this week, three women were arrested under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the external fence of the Leonardo UK factory in Edinburgh.

The group Shut Down Leonardo claimed it was making components for F-35 fighter jets but the defence company says it does not directly supply equipment to Israel.
Asked if such actions worked against the pro-Palestinian movement, Mr Napier said: "I think in the past it may have put some people off, not any more."
Other activists at the march condemned the move to ban Palestine Action. Jane Ferrell, who travelled from Fife, said: "It's Palestine Action one day, what's it going to be in the end? Trade unionism, the Labour Party activists, who knows?"
Former MP Tommy Sheppard spoke to the crowd outside Queen Elizabeth house, saying: "Today in the Middle East a genocide is being prosecuted in real time and we are watching it on television play by play."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults
Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults

Read on for the story of an Iranian national who claimed to be 17 despite having grey hairs and black stubble MIGRANT 'KID' BLUNDERS Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SMALL boat migrants who claim to be children are being given the benefit of the doubt by immigration staff - despite more than half turning out to actually be adults. A report has found that workers show a 'lack of curiosity' about the real age of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task' Credit: Richard Townshend Photography AI tech is set to be rolled out in 2026 which can accurately assess how old a person really is. Currently, anyone who says they are under 18 are treated as minors unless they look 'significantly' older. In one case highlighted by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt, an Iranian national who had grey hairs was treated as a child despite assessors thinking he was probably around 22. In 2024, over half - 56 per cent - of the individuals who claimed on arrival to be children were either later assessed to be adults or admitted that they were 18 or over. READ MORE ON IMMIGRATION RULING FEARS Palestinian gran wins right to come to UK for medical treatment sparking fears The two-day training given to assessors 'instructs officers that they should always give the benefit of the doubt to the individual where they are not sure about someone's claimed age and do not judge them to be significantly over 18'. The report states that a Vietnamese national was 'initially given the benefit of the doubt' as a child because workers said he had a 'soft face'. Another officer then raised concerns about his age because of his 'developed shoulders', 'huge hands' and a 'tiny bit of stubble'. In other assessments 'arrogance' was used as a sign that a migrant was an adult. One Iranian national presented with some grey hairs and black stubble on his face and claimed to be 17. Despite being assessed as actually 22 years old, he was 'given the benefit of the doubt' and treated as a child pending further assessment. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown It is acknowledged by the report that it is not always possible to assess the age of a young person through their physical appearance or demeanour, because different life experiences can stunt growth or change behaviours. David Bolt made eight key recommendations to the Home Office on the age assessment process, including reviewing the training given to officers by the end of year. In response, the Government accepted all recommendations and pointed out that they are rolling out Facial Age Estimation technology next year pending a trial. It has been trained on millions of images where an individual's age is known. Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said in a written statement: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task, and the Home Office has spent a number of years analysing which scientific and technological methods would best assist the current process, including looking at the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can play. 'In a situation where those involved in the age assessment process are unsure whether an individual is aged over or under 18, or do not accept the age an individual is claiming to be, Facial Age Estimation offers a potentially rapid and simple means to test their judgements against the estimates produced by the technology.' A procurement process is currently underway with the new tech set to be integrated into the current system 'over the course of 2026'.

Tram power lines shutdown after demonstrators 'ignore safety issues'
Tram power lines shutdown after demonstrators 'ignore safety issues'

STV News

time2 hours ago

  • STV News

Tram power lines shutdown after demonstrators 'ignore safety issues'

A pro-Palestinian demonstration is set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line, after an emergency shutdown of power lines was needed at a march over the weekend. Police Scotland expressed concerns over the August 9 march after a demonstration on Saturday saw 'frantic calls' to get the power to the trams cut off over electrocution concerns. They said that the rally's route was changed two days before it started, which made policing it more difficult and led to road closures not being in place in time. The August 9 march, which is estimated to have 500 participants, is set to be held on the same day as a major Orange walk, which will see 1,500 participants descend on the city centre at the height of the festival. The city's licensing sub-committee considered two pro-Palestine demonstrations from the organisers of Saturday's march on Monday, with one set to run on August 2 and the other on August 9. Police sergeant Grant Robinson said: 'Our assessment was that serious safety issues were frankly ignored by participants and stewards. 'Many presented waving high flags and banners on approach to the Edinburgh Tram line. 'This resulted in an emergency shutdown of the overhead power cables, as if the flags or banners touched or came near these items, the electricity would have arced, causing serious injury or worse. 'It's essential that we have agreed routes with sufficient notice, so that safety measures can be put in place in advance, as this caused frantic calls between police and Edinburgh Trams to enable the shutdown.' A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams confirmed that the power lines were shut down for 15 minutes on Saturday over safety concerns. Sergeant Robinson also said the 'number, ability and knowledge' of the protest stewards was concerning to the police service. He said Police Scotland was willing to arrange third-party free training sessions to 'upskill' stewards. The organisers of the event were not present, having asked if the council sub-committee meeting could be delayed so they could attend. Council officers proposed that the routes of the pro-Palestine rally on August 2 be swapped with one on the 9th, in order to space out the demonstrations happening on that day. Councillors elected not to swap the routes, but modified the route of the march on the 9th to keep it away from the Edinburgh Trams infrastructure. Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked if the organisers could be sanctioned for not attending the sub-committee meeting or for amending the routes of past demonstrations. Council officer Max Mitchell replied: 'This is not a license application, notification of parades. There is no sanction for not attending the committee. 'What the act simply says is that if the council makes an order, and the organiser departs from the terms of that order, that would potentially become a matter for Police Scotland, and would become a statutory offence under the act.' Sergeant Robinson said the police would only charge organisers as a last resort, continuing to say: 'We are very practical. We take an informed, reasonable approach. 'We're looking to do the, you know, engage encourage educate, before we really go down that route. 'I very much stress that we do not want to charge people for exercising their right [to protest], but it is a qualified right.' Addressing the request by council officers to swap the routes of the two marches, Conservative councillor and sub-committee convener Joanna Mowat said: 'I would be mindful not to alter their fundamental structure, as in, they want to go up to the American consulate. 'I don't know why they want to go on the second of August, but that's not relevant for us. 'I would be minded, because we are going to have to do something on the 9th, which is quite a big change that we're going to have to make to their routes, that I wouldn't alter the dates. 'I think public safety has asked us to do that, but I'm not sure we have justification to do that.' For the march on the 9th, committee agreed a new route intended to keep protesters away from the trams, which would run from Waverley Bridge and up Market Street, turning left at the Mound. The previous route had an ambiguous staging area of the Mound itself, which could take protesters close to the tramway at the junction with Princes Street. Cllr Mowat said: 'They shouldn't be going anywhere near tram lines with their banners at that point. 'I mean, obviously that's going to be a conversation public safety is going to have to have with them, because the next thing we're going to have to say is that there will be a no-banners march if they're going anywhere near the tram line.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Police update on Palestine Action protest during Trump visit
Police update on Palestine Action protest during Trump visit

Glasgow Times

time3 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Police update on Palestine Action protest during Trump visit

Police are preparing for protests at locations where the US President visits and in city centres, including Glasgow. Protests against Israel's offensive in Gaza are likely given the US support for Israel. (Image: AP) READ NEXT:Trump visit will be biggest police operation since Queen's funeral A number of people have been arrested in the last week for showing support for the group Palestine Action, which is proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Last Friday in Glasgow, activist Sean Clerkin was arrested under the act after he displayed a sign stating Genocide in Palestine Time for Action with the words Palestine and action in larger letters. He has been bailed under the condition he doesn't enter the city centre until his court date. Police preparing for the President's visit said the law will be applied to anyone showing support for the group. READ NEXT:Police prepared for Glasgow protests during Donald Trumps visit to Scotland Assistant Chief Constable, Emma Bond, Gold Commander for the police operation during the President's visit said assessments will be made by officers. (Image: Colin Mearns) She said: 'We will make decisions. Any support for Palestine Action, be that in terms of clothes worn, be that in terms of banners held, is now an offence under the Terrorism Act and people are liable to arrest for those offences. 'There is a requirement create that link in terms of showing support, so we will arrest at that stage to enable the further gathering of evidence to enable a case to be put forward to the Crown Office but I couldn't be specifically prescriptive. 'It is down to what we assess on the ground and not everything is as clear cut as it necessarily might be in some circumstances. 'We have had some cases where individuals have worn a t-shirt saying 'I support Palestine Action'. 'Those things are far clearer than we might face in other circumstances, so I couldn't be prescriptive but again, the responsibility will be on us to show the actions demonstrate support for Palestine action if there are arrests made.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store