Sally Rooney vows to use BBC royalties to support Palestine Action
Rooney announced her plan in the Dublin-based Irish Times rather than a UK newspaper because, although she would 'happily publish' her support for Palestine Action in a British publication, 'that would now be illegal' since the group was added to the list of proscribed organisations in the Terrorism Act on July 5.
She wrote: 'I feel obliged to state once more that — like the hundreds of protesters arrested last weekend — I too support Palestine Action. If this makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it.
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones starred in the BBC's adaptation of Normal People
ENDA BOWE/BBC/PA
'My books, at least for now, are still published in Britain, and are widely available in bookshops and even supermarkets. In recent years the UK's state broadcaster has also televised two fine adaptations of my novels, and therefore regularly pays me residual fees. I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can.
Rooney challenged the UK government to investigate the 'shady organisations' that promote her work, such as WH Smith and the BBC, over her comments.
On Sunday Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, defended the ban of Palestine Action in an article for The Observer. She wrote that the group had claimed responsibility for — and promoted on its website — attacks that have led to those allegedly involved being charged with violent disorder, grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, criminal damage and aggravated burglary.
She also said that the group has an 'underground manual' that encourages the creation of cells, provides practical guidance on how to identify targets to attack and how to evade law enforcement.
• I started protesting at 83 — Palestine Action is just my latest arrest
Demonstrations in support of Palestine Action took place last weekend on Parliament Square
ALAMY
NATASHA QUARMBY/ALAMYLIVENEWS
'For a home secretary to ignore all those security assessments, advice and recommendations would be irresponsible', Cooper wrote. 'In a democracy, lawful protest is a fundamental right but violent criminality is not.'
The civil liberties movement Defend Our Juries has written to Lord Hermer KC, the attorney-general, to complain that Cooper's article amounted to a contempt of court, arguing that her comments would prevent a fair trial of those accused of supporting Palestine Action.
The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that a further 60 people would be prosecuted for showing support for the group.
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