On Monday, Lady Chief Justice Carr handed down the High Court’s decision on the government’s appeal against an earlier decision that the terrorist proscription of Palestine Action had been unlawful. Outside the court a large crowd gathered, including more than a hundred ‘sitters’ – supporters holding banners with the words “Saving lives is not terrorism – I support Palestine Action.”
Some cried and some jeered as the judgement was broadcast from an amplifier outside the court and it became clear the High Court was siding with the government, and in the eyes of many, against the people.
Following the news that the proscription stand, police began arresting sign-holders, adding to the more than 3000 people already arrested for demonstrating support for a proscribed organisation.
Below are the full speeches from outside the court, beginning with the reading of an immediate and defiant response statement sent by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.
After reading out Huda’s statement, British Syrian poet and activist Lisa Minerva Luxx gave her own reaction with some powerful and rousing words:
Palestinian filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky (a spokesperson for the Defend Our Juries campaign) pointed to the illegality of Elbit’s business, and the futility of the proscription in the face of widening resistance:
Human rights lawyer Tim Crosland is a co-founder of the Defend Our Juries campaign group which has organised the multiple Lift The Ban protests around the country and is escalating defiance in the face of Monday’s ruling.
Dr Clive Dolphin gave his first reaction to the court’s judgement in this interview and points to a glaring factual error at the heart of it – the laughable notion that the Sufragettes were non-violent.
On Wednesday evening, more than 600 people joined a hurriedly arranged open Zoom meeting to hear plans for a serious escalation in public defiance against the proscription. Instead of simply demonstrating support for the ‘proscribed organisation’, protesters are invited to make short videos for social media claiming membership of Palestine Action and encouraging others to join. This breaches sections 11 and 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and can attract a sentence of up to 14 years in prison and/or a large fine.
The full judgement is available here.
