3 days ago
Palestine Action supporters claim they are the 'moral backbone' of the UK and that hundreds of them are ready to swarm police ahead of protests this weekend
Palestine Action supporters have boasted that they are the 'moral backbone' of Britain as hundreds prepare to swarm the police this weekend.
At least 500 activists are set to join a demonstration at Parliament Square this Saturday, in which they will hold signs saying 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action'.
It has fuelled fears of a 'mass arrest' event, with police and No 10 confirming this week that anyone who supported the newly proscribed terror group would be arrested.
But yesterday Tim Crosland, co-founder of Defender Our Juries, which is organising this weekend's protest, said he was 'proud' of those who had signed up to show support for Palestine Action, calling them 'the moral backbone of this country'.
He told Times Radio that arresting peaceful protesters was a waste of police time.
'I think the spectacle of police resources, a police service that's under immense pressure, that doesn't answer phone calls for burglaries, that they're dragging retired priests and teachers into police vans for holding up signs,' he said. 'It's an appalling waste of funds.'
Last week, Palestine Action won permission to challenge the ban after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case.
A judicial review will take place in November. Until then, the ban remains in place.
It means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
But Mr Crosland also told an online press conference yesterday afternoon that there would be continued demonstrations in support of the group until the judicial review had concluded.
He said he had been 'hearing from thousands of people wanting to take part in this action'.
'It feels like there's huge energy behind it,' he added.
'By November, we hope that this crazy law is struck down and we don't need to campaign against it anymore.'
The Met has said the protests had 'the intention of placing a strain on the police' - something organisers have denied.
But Mr Crosland claimed the police were in 'disarray' over the ban, with forces from across the country taking differing approaches to protesters, with some not taking action against peaceful demonstrations.
There have already been 200 arrests at protests organised by Defend Our Juries since the ban came into force last month.
However, Mr Crosland claimed no one had yet been charged, adding that there was 'a sense' that no one would be until the appeal had been heard.
The former government lawyer said Defend Our Juries had received legal advice that claims against the police 'for unlawful arrest and for trespass to people's property' could be possible if the High Court rules in Palestine Action's favour.
Mr Crosland said Defend Our Juries had written directly to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley ahead of this weekend's protests, but had yet to receive a response.
However, he said the group had received a 'nice letter' from Lord Hermer last October in relation to their Free Political Prisoners campaign, in which the Attorney General said he 'would love to meet'.
'Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the right time back then, and it seems still not to be quite the right time, but he did send us a nice letter,' Mr Crosland added.
Prison bosses have initiated emergency measures for a possible influx of arrested demonstrators this weekend amid concerns that some jails are close to full.
A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We are aware that the organisers of Saturday's planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system.
'The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests.
'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality.
'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription.
'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.'
The move to ban Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage '.
