In an escalating crackdown on political dissent, 29 activists were arrested in central London on Saturday for holding signs referencing the recently proscribed group Palestine Action, just a day after the UK government officially designated the group a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The arrests took place during a peaceful protest organized by Defend Our Juries, a civil liberties campaign group. The demonstration occurred near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, with participants, among them clergy, academics, and healthcare professionals, holding placards that appeared to show support for Palestine Action.

Around 1:40 pm local time, Metropolitan Police officers began arresting individuals, citing suspicion of offenses related to supporting a proscribed group, a charge now punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

By Saturday evening, police confirmed that 29 people remained in custody. The Metropolitan Police, in a statement posted on X, asserted, “Palestine Action is a proscribed group and officers will act where criminal offences are committed.”

Palestine Action has led direct action campaigns targeting companies linked to the Israeli occupation's arms industry, particularly Elbit Systems, a major weapons manufacturer. The group's methods have included protests and property defacement, tactics the UK government has now reframed as terrorism.

Civil liberties groups sound alarm

Defend Our Juries issued a sharp rebuke of the police operation, accusing authorities of weaponizing anti-terror laws to silence peaceful protest. A spokesperson for the group condemned the response as disproportionate and draconian.

“We commend the counter-terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it,” the group said sarcastically.

The group had reportedly informed Met Commissioner Mark Rowley in advance of the demonstration, underscoring the nonviolent nature of the action.

Among those arrested was Tim Crosland, a human rights lawyer and member of Defend Our Juries.  Crosland told The Guardian, “What we’re doing here as a group of priests, teachers, health workers, human rights lawyers [is] we’re refusing to be silenced... We oppose genocide – I didn’t think that was that controversial – and we support the people who resist genocide.”

He added pointedly, “In theory we are now terrorist supporters and can go to prison for 14 years, which is kind of crazy.”

Fears of a democratic "red line"

Prominent environmental campaigner Donnachadh McCarthy warned that the government's move sets a dangerous precedent for civil liberties, saying, “To proscribe an organisation of peaceful direct action as terrorists is a huge red line for our democracy.”

McCarthy further warned that redefining nonviolent property damage as terrorism risks criminalizing decades-old traditions of civil resistance, from anti-apartheid actions to climate activism.

He called out Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for failing to oppose the move, describing her stance as “an outrageous betrayal of democracy, liberalism, and what is in my view a step towards fascism.”

"We are losing our civil liberties"

Retired priest Sue Parfitt, 83, also among the demonstrators, described the ban as an existential threat to democratic freedoms.

“This is a very dangerous move that has to be challenged... We are losing our civil liberties, and we must stop that—for everybody’s sake. Whatever you want to protest about.” 

Her words echoed a growing concern among legal experts and activists that the Palestine Action proscription is being used as a test case to further restrict public protest and dissent, especially around issues linked to "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.

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