Roger Waters faces prosecution for Palestine Action support
The 81-year-old released a video on X in which he described the group as a 'great organisation' and praised the Bob Vylan rapper who led a chant of 'death, death to the IDF' at the Glastonbury festival.
He posted the video just hours after the Government outlawed Palestine Action, meaning support or membership of the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Posting to his 673,000 followers after the ban came into place, Waters said: 'I support Palestine Action. It's a great organisation. They are non-violent, they are absolutely non-terrorist in any way.'
Following the release of the video, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) would seek to bring a private prosecution if he was not charged.
'I support Palestine Action'
In a video that has been viewed almost 400,000 times, Waters said: 'This is independence day, July 5 2025. I declare my independence from the Government of the UK who has just designated Palestine Action a proscribed terrorist organisation.
'For the record 5th of July. I support Palestine Action. It's a great organisation. They are non-violent, they are absolutely non-terrorist in any way.
'They are a non-violent protest organisation protesting the presence in the UK of Elbit systems, who are an Israeli arms manufacturing organisation.
'I support Palestine Action and I always will because that is the right thing to do… we will not be rolled over by this appalling Labour government in the United Kingdom.
'Palestine Action is not a terrorist organisation so they are lying and they have put their lies into the law of the land.
'Independence. We must support our brothers and sisters in Palestine and support them no matter what so good on you [Bob] Vylan and the rest of you who are standing up to be counted, I love you.'
He also displayed a handwritten note that read: 'Roger Waters supports Palestine Action 5 July 2025. Parliament has been corrupted by agents of a genocidal foreign power. Stand up and be counted. It's now.'
Responding to the posting of the video, a spokesman for the CAA said they were now preparing to bring a private prosecution.
The spokesman said: 'Last night, former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters published a video across multiple social media platforms in which he declared his support of proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action.
'Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 states that 'A person commits an offence if the person expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, and in doing so is reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation.
'Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2006 makes that criminal offence apply worldwide, stating that 'If a person does anything outside the United Kingdom, and his action, if done in a part of the United Kingdom, would constitute an offence falling within [section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000], he shall be guilty in that part of the United Kingdom of the offence.'
'Campaign Against Antisemitism is preparing a criminal prosecution, which would require the consent of the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson.'
Activists arrested
It comes after 29 people, including an 83-year-old retired priest, were arrested outside Parliament for expressing support for the newly banned group.
Several dozen activists held up signs or wore t-shirts that read: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.'
The Government banned Palestine Action after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on two voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Four people have since appeared in court accused of causing £7 million worth of damage to the aircraft.
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