Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, many holding placards that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
London police arrested nearly 900 people on Saturday during a major demonstration against the UK government’s ban on the activist group Palestine Action, which was recently designated a “terrorist organization.”
Rights groups described the mass arrests as a serious assault on free expression, calling it one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in modern British history.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, many holding placards that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
The protest went ahead despite warnings from police on Friday that anyone publicly supporting the movement risked arrest under counter-terrorism legislation.
🇵🇸 Thousands showed up in London’s Parliament Square to oppose the government’s ban on Palestine Action. pic.twitter.com/4q5m1s6ida
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) September 7, 2025
In a statement released on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said 890 people were arrested, including 857 for supporting Palestine Action and 33 others for offenses such as assault, with 17 cases involving violence against police officers.
Deputy Commissioner Claire Smart claimed officers encountered “unacceptable” levels of violence from a masked group allegedly intent on causing chaos.
Palestine Action was added to the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist organizations in July, following a series of direct action campaigns and acts of sabotage, including an attack on a Royal Air Force base that authorities say caused around $10 million in damages.
The government’s decision has drawn strong criticism from international rights groups. The United Nations, Greenpeace, and Amnesty International have all condemned the move, warning that it criminalizes peaceful protest and undermines fundamental freedoms.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International UK denounced Saturday’s arrests as a dangerous misuse of anti-terror laws:
“The staggering number of arrests at yesterday’s peaceful protest marks a new low for protest rights in this country.”
According to the human rights group, “It’s completely ridiculous for police to be targeting and arresting people for sitting down, quietly holding a sign.”
▶️ Clashes erupt as London Metropolitan police begins making arrests at pro-Palestine rally held in solidarity with Gaza and banned group ‘Palestine Action’. pic.twitter.com/jl6TyrJTdC
— Ammar Khan (@AmmarKh12669255) September 6, 2025
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. The scenes yesterday were a shocking demonstration of how the UK’s overly broad terrorism laws are being used to suppress free speech,” the statement added.
Amnesty observers who monitored the protest said the event was overwhelmingly peaceful, disputing police claims of coordinated violence. According to the group, police officers themselves were seen “violently shoving people away and pulling out batons” during arrests.
The UK government is expected to defend its decision to proscribe Palestine Action in the coming weeks as legal challenges move forward. Meanwhile, rights advocates warn that the crackdown represents a dangerous precedent for protest rights in Britain.
(PC, AJA)
Might I suggest that those in the uK protesting the UK’s crackdown on Palestine Action, read a book titled “Mau” Samoa’s Struggle for Freedom” by Michael J. Field. It contains an interesting incident where the Samoans left the Hew Zealand occupation police looking silly. London Police, I estimate, can arrest a few hundred without trouble. But arresting a hundred thousand?