Dozens arrested around the UK at protests to support proscribed group Palestine Action

LONDON AP British police arrested dozens of people for supporting a banned Palestinian rights organization on Saturday as protests over the ruling body s decision to outlaw the group continued for a third weekend Waving placards reading I oppose genocide I assistance Palestine Action demonstrators gathered in London Manchester Edinburgh Bristol Londonderry and Truro The establishment moved to ban Palestine Action after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June to protest British military encouragement for Israel s war with Hamas The activists sprayed red paint into the jet engines of two huge tanker planes and caused further damage with crowbars Parliament passed provision earlier this month designating Palestine Action as a terrorist organization meaning membership in the group or backing for its actions are now punishable by up to years in prison Police communicated an increased presence in central London ahead of the protests saying they would protect the right to peaceful protest but would act swiftly if demonstrators violated the law Those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing sponsorship for Palestine Action whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest will likely be committing an offense and will very likely be arrested Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan mentioned in a declaration distributed Thursday Supporters of Palestine Action are challenging the ban with the High Court in London scheduled to consider the incident on Monday according to the campaign group Defend Our Juries which organized Saturday s protests Almost protesters were arrested around the country on Saturday including in London Defend Our Juries explained in a report In London police officers surrounded demonstrators who had gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi that stands in a park across the street from the Houses of Parliament Officers confiscated placards and searched the bags of those arrested Video posted online exhibited police carrying an elderly man away from the demonstration in the Cornish city of Truro as he shouted I oppose genocide Source