Palestine Action supporters planning to ‘flood' streets

Times

8 hours ago

Pro-Palestine protesters have made plans to deliberately flout the new proscription of Palestine Action by overwhelming the criminal justice system through a massive pressure campaign.
The plot would call on thousands of demonstrators to flood towns and cities across the UK and go against the ban on Palestine Action by declaring their support for the organisation.
Plans revealed by The Telegraph showed a co-ordinated effort coming from groups including Cage International and Defend Our Juries. At a meeting hosted by Cage International last week, activists called for people to join in an act of mass public disobedience.
Speaking at the meeting was Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who received an out-of-court settlement from the British government after a lawsuit alleging the government's complicity in alleged abuse and torture while in US custody.
He said: 'I would urge everybody to join the action of the 9th of August. That is the first step to take for the resistance. Those from the Muslim community, we have a massive presence in this city, and we must engage our leaders, our imams, our habibs, those in positions of power, to join, there is strength in numbers, stop being a coward, cowards never win battles.'
The event has been described by Shezana Hafiz, a representative of Cage International, as an opportunity to 'discuss crucial matters that pertain to our movement — a movement to liberate Palestine, to crush Zionism and see an end to the genocide in Gaza.'
Angie Zelter, from Defend Our Juries, also urged people to join. 'Together we can and must face down the rising tide of fascism in Britain'.
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A document written by Defend Our Juries, which was seen by The Telegraph, read: 'It would be practically and politically difficult for the state to respond to an action on this scale … an action on this scale could be enough for the ban to be lifted.'
Activists were told to bring their own placard to write: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.'
Graham Wettone, a retired Metropolitan Police officer, warned it would create problems for forces across the country. He said: 'There are a limited number of custody cell spaces available in London … Simply put, they will not be able to arrest and process everyone.'