Latest news with #SeanClerkin
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Arrested Glasgow Palestine protester to appeal city centre ban
Sean Clerkin, 64, was arrested last Friday in Glasgow when he displayed a sign that said Genocide in Palestine Time to take Action with the words Palestine and Action in larger letters than the rest. Police said it showed support for Palestine Action, a group that is proscribed in the UK under the Terrorism Act, and he was arrested. He said given the number of arrests across the UK, he fears freedom of speech is under attack. READ NEXT:Man arrested in Glasgow for holding Palestine sign Mr Clerkin was given Police bail and he had to sign an undertaking not to enter the city centre until his court appearance later in the year. (Image: Gordon Terris) He has said it is 'draconian' and has engaged a solicitor to challenge it. The activist said: 'I can't enter the city centre but I can speak out against the ban.' The activist, who is campaign co-ordinator for the Scottish Tenants Organisation spoke to the Glasgow Times, at a location outside the zone he is excluded from, to tell of the impact it will have on his voluntary work and family life. Clerkin said: 'What I was doing was speaking out against genocide and the killing of children.' READ NEXT:Man 'banned' from Glasgow city centre after Palestine protest He also said he is not a supporter of Palestine Action or their methods but he said the group should be de-proscribed. The group was banned under the Terrorism Act after members broke into an RAF base in England, causing damage. Clerkin said: 'I qualified my support in saying I support de-proscription as a terrorist organisation but I don't support them doing criminal damage. I don't agree with the destruction of property. 'I am not a member of Palestine Action. I am not a supporter of Palestine Action.' Mr Clerkin, said there are wider implications for democracy in the UK following a number of arrests of people alleged to have shown support for the organisation. He said: 'This is a battle for freedom of speech. Civil liberties are being attacked. 'If this is not the start of the road to a politicised police state, I don't know what is.' He fears other groups will be targeted for the same treatment. He said: 'Where does it stop? 'This is Orwellian. It is 1984 in operation.' READ NEXT:Police update on Palestine Action protests during Donald Trump's visit The protester said he was 'treated very well' by the police when he was detained but he worries how the Police are being directed by the government. He added: 'This is policing like Soviet era, eastern European regime standards.' His exclusion zone extends from Charing Cross in the west to beyond Glasgow Cross in the east and from Renfrew Street in the north to the south of the River Clyde. He said it will have a disproportionate effect on his life. Mr Clerkin said: 'It is my daughter's birthday next week. To go and see her, I will need to think about how I can get there, as I can't even travel through the city centre on public transport. 'It could end up costing me a lot more than it should. 'I regularly met tenants and people with homelessness issues in the city centre and represent people at meetings and hearings.' If he is found guilty, he faces up to 14 years in jail. He said: 'I'm not guilty of any crime. All I did was hold a poster. I hope sanity will prevail and the rule of law will prevail. 'I want a jury trial. If the penalty can be a lengthy jail sentence, it should be on a verdict based on the judgment of my peers.'
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Woman, 70, arrested under terror law after Edinburgh Gaza march
The woman was arrested for "showing support for a proscribed organisation" at a demonstration in the capital on Saturday. The demonstration was held against the UK Government and the media's complicity in the genocide in Gaza. READ MORE: Led by Donkeys stage Gaza protest outside Labour Party HQ Officers were in attendance at the protest, but no arrests were made at the time. The woman is the third person to be arrested following the national demonstration at the weekend, after two men, aged 78 and 60, were arrested on Monday. A 58-year-old man was also arrested on Monday in the vicinity of the Scottish Parliament for displaying a sign allegedly "showing support for a proscribed organisation". A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 22 July, 2025, a 70-year-old woman, was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for a proscribed organisation at a protest in Edinburgh on Saturday, July 19, 2025. 'A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.' According to campaign group Defend Our Juries, nearly 200 people have been arrested within a fortnight in the UK under terror law since the proscription of Palestine Action came into effect. READ MORE: 'If not now, when?': Cabinet ministers pressure Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine Also in Scotland, an activist was arrested and charged under the Terrorism Act in Glasgow on Friday at a protest in support of Palestine Action. The 64-year-old man, Sean Clerkin, carried a sign which read: "Genocide in Palestine. Time to take action", with the words 'Palestine' and 'Action' enhanced. He has since been banned from Glasgow city centre. The designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was brought in by the Labour Government earlier this month. It means that membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- 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.'
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
3 men, 78, 60, 58, arrested for 'Palestine Action support' in Edinburgh
The men, aged 78, 60, and 58, were all arrested in Edinburgh. The 78-year-old is known to have worn a T-shirt reading, "Genocide in Palestine, time to take action" at a protest on Saturday, and the 58-year-old held a sign near the Scottish Parliament on Monday. At Saturday's national demonstration in Edinburgh against the UK Government and the media's complicity in the genocide in Gaza, a group of activists wore T-shirts stating "Genocide in Palestine, time to take action" at the end of the rally. READ MORE: 'Time to take action': What it was like at the national Palestine demo in Edinburgh Officers were in attendance, but no arrests were made at the time. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Monday, 21 July 2025, two men, aged 78 and 60 years, were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for a proscribed organisation at a protest in [[Edinburgh]] on Saturday, 19 July 2025 .' A later update states: "Three men have been arrested in Edinburgh under the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for a proscribed organisation. "Around 1.30pm on Monday, 21 July 2025, a 58-year-old man was arrested by officers in the vicinity of the Scottish Parliament for displaying a sign showing support for a proscribed organisation. "Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal." According to Defend Our Juries, the total of arrests to have taken place in the aftermath of the proscription of Palestine Action to nearly 200 within a fortnight in the UK and about 280 altogether, including the 80 arrested as part of a solidarity action in the Hague on July 5. Last year, the total number of terrorism related arrests in the UK was 248. There have also been 14 raids of sign-holders' private homes in Cardiff, Leeds, and Bradford. In Scotland, Sean Clerkin, 64, was arrested and has been charged under the Terrorism Act, after he displayed a placard stating "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action". A 55-year-old man was also charged in Glasgow last week under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for Palestine Action.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Police Scotland investigating national Palestine demo in Edinburgh
At Saturday's national demonstration in Edinburgh against the UK Government and the media's complicity in the genocide in Gaza, a group of activists wore T-shirts stating "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action" at the end of the rally. Officers were in attendance, but no arrests were made. An earlier protest at 11am by campaign group Defend Our Juries also saw activists hold signs which stated: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action'. Again, no arrests where made while nearly 100 more people across the UK were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for holding the signs on Saturday. At each protest, officers were informed ahead of time. READ MORE: RECAP: Activists defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts in Edinburgh Now, Police Scotland have issued a statement, clarifying the stance of the force and investigations taking place. Addressing the Defend Our Juries protest outside St Giles Cathedral, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 1.30pm on Saturday, 19 July, 2025, we were made aware of images circulating online showing individuals displaying signs expressing support for a proscribed organisation in the Parliament Square area of Edinburgh. "Officers attended, however no one was present. "Enquiries are ongoing." Campaigners from Defend Our Juries in Edinburgh (Image: Defend Our Juries) The Edinburgh march is also under investigation with the counter-terrorism unit supporting Police Scotland. The spokesperson said: "We are aware of participants of a march wearing t-shirts and holding banners expressing support for a proscribed organisation in Edinburgh, on Saturday, 19 July, 2025. "Extensive enquiries are ongoing and the conduct and actions of those involved is being assessed and investigated. "Officers from the local division are being supported by colleagues from Police Scotland's Counter Terrorism Unit." According to Defend Our Juries, the total of arrests to have taken place in the aftermath of the proscription of Palestine Action to nearly 200 within a fortnight in the UK and about 280 altogether, including the 80 arrested as part of a solidarity action in the Hague on July 5. Last year, the total number of terrorism related arrests in the UK was 248. There have also been 14 raids of sign-holders' private homes in Cardiff, Leeds, and Bradford. In Scotland, Sean Clerkin, 64, was arrested and has been charged under the Terrorism Act, after he displayed a placard stating "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action". A 55-year-old man was also charged in Glasgow last week under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for Palestine Action.
