The Metropolitan Police arrested 25 people after a demonstration in central London, according to multiple reports. Of those arrested, 18 were detained for supporting Palestine Action, two for climbing the National Gallery’s columns, and five for other reasons, multiple reports indicate. A demonstration organized by the Together Alliance took place in central London, with organizers saying as many as 500,000 people attended. A separate march organized by the Palestine Coalition took place, merging with the Together Alliance route before both groups came together in Whitehall. A demonstration organized by right-wing activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people, according to multiple reports. About 5,000 people were involved in an anti-racism counter-demonstration, multiple reports indicate.
The Metropolitan Police have announced a change in their approach to handling protests supporting Palestine Action. The force announced on Wednesday that arrests would recommence as the appeal against the ruling is expected to take months, according to multiple reports. This follows a pause last month after the High Court ruled the government’s ban on Palestine Action unlawful. The force had indicated that officers would be unlikely to make arrests after the High Court ruling, research indicates. The Met revised its enforcement approach from its earlier 'interim position', according to the Metropolitan Police.
The High Court ruled that the government's decision to outlaw Palestine Action was unlawful, research indicates. Judges indicated that the scale and nature of Palestine Action's activities did not meet the threshold required for proscription as a terrorist organization, according to research. In the High Court ruling, three senior judges ruled that while Palestine Action had used criminality to promote its aims, its activities had not crossed the very high bar to make it a terrorist organisation, research indicates. The ban remains in effect pending a government appeal, according to research. The High Court confirmed the impact of its judgment will not take effect until the government's appeal has been considered, which could take many months, research indicates.
Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the government as a terrorist organization, according to research. Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Actions attributed to Palestine Action include activists entering RAF Brize Norton and damaging military aircraft with paint, research indicates. Protesters have arranged mass rallies where demonstrators hold up signs saying 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action'. 522 protesters were arrested for holding placards stating 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action', according to research. Arrests were often made under laws related to supporting a proscribed organization, research indicates.
Nearly 500 arrests occurred in central London at another event, according to research. Arrest numbers rose to 890 at a demonstration against the ban, research indicates. A further protest resulted in at least 532 arrests, according to research. The scale of arrests necessitated significant police resources, with thousands of officer shifts dedicated to policing protests, research indicates. More than 2,700 people have been arrested for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned as a terrorist group last year.
The trials of hundreds of people accused of holding up placards supporting Palestine Action have been put on hold while the legal battle over the ban continues. Earlier this month, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said the cases would be delayed until after the High Court appeal over the ban is heard.
The turnout today is the largest anti-racist march that I have seen in my lifetime, and you should all be proud of yourselves for coming out in such numbers today.
Specific protest actions included 18 people holding a protest outside New Scotland Yard in support of Palestine Action, according to multiple reports. Speakers at the Together Alliance event included former Labour MP Diane Abbott, now an independent in Parliament, multiple reports indicate. UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown delivered a speech at the Together Alliance event, according to multiple reports. Arrests at the Al Quds Day protest earlier this month included for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, research indicates.
The police will now focus on gathering evidence rather than making immediate arrests for expressing support for Palestine Action, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The specific criteria or evidence the Metropolitan Police will use to decide between gathering evidence and making immediate arrests for supporting Palestine Action has not been detailed. It is also unknown how many of the 25 arrests in London were directly linked to the Together Alliance or Palestine Coalition marches versus other protests. The exact timeline for the government's appeal against the High Court ruling on Palestine Action's proscription remains unspecified, though it could take many months.
The ruling has been hailed by supporters and civil liberties advocates as a victory for fundamental freedoms.
The status of previous arrests is uncertain, including how many of the over 2,700 arrests for supporting Palestine Action have led to charges or convictions. The current status of the trials for the hundreds of people accused of holding placards supporting Palestine Action, beyond being put on hold, is also not publicly confirmed.
Reactions to the legal and enforcement changes have been mixed. According to Daily Express - UK News, Kevin Courtney, a rally co-organizer and chairman of the coalition, described the anti-racism demonstration as potentially the biggest ever against the far right. According to Daily Express - UK News, Diane Abbott described the turnout as the largest anti-racist march she has seen in her lifetime. According to newsletter.tf, supporters of Palestine Action and civil liberties advocates described the High Court ruling as a victory for fundamental freedoms. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman of the Metropolitan Police stated that while the High Court has found the proscription of Palestine Action to be unlawful, it has confirmed the impact of that judgment will not take effect until the Government’s appeal has been considered which could take many months. He added that it is still a criminal offence to support Palestine Action, and police must enforce the law as it is at the time, not as it might be at a future date, consistently and without fear or favour. Harman noted that the High Court decided on February 25 to grant the Home Secretary permission to appeal and to leave the proscription in place pending the outcome of that appeal, and having considered the position, police have determined that while Palestine Action remains proscribed, they must continue to enforce the law, likely involving arrests of those committing offences. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was disappointed by the ruling and the government would appeal.
The implications of these developments are significant for protest rights and counter-terrorism enforcement in the UK. The legal limbo created by the High Court ruling and pending appeal affects thousands of individuals facing arrest or trial. Police resources continue to be strained by large-scale protests, with enforcement strategies evolving in response to judicial decisions. The outcome of the government's appeal will ultimately determine the legality of Palestine Action's proscription and the fate of related prosecutions.