Protesters raise Scots 'police state' demos over 'Palestine support arrest'

The Herald Scotland

a day ago

A small group of up to a dozen protesters is expecting to be arrested in Glasgow over hardline verbal support for the Palestine Action - in the wake of a number of arrests in protests in England. It is expected to be followed by another demonstration will follow in Edinburgh which will focus on concerns over the arrest.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the government under the Terrorism Act of 2000 as of last Saturday, meaning membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence.
Both demonstrations will offer support for a man arrested under suspicion of a terror offence outside this year's TRNSMT festival in Glasgow at the weekend.
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A 55-year-old activist was arrested, cautioned and charged for wearing a t-shirt which Police Scotland said was alleged to be "wearing a t-shirt expressing support for a proscribed organisation".
But the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) has protested about the arrest saying that he had the t-shirt offered no support for Palestine Action and merely read: "Genocide in PALESTINE. Time to take ACTION."
Campaigners believe the arrest was wrongly made because the words 'Palestine' and 'Action' were the most prominent words and did not imply support for the terror group.
Forces in London, Cardiff and Manchester have all made arrests on suspicion of terrorism offences.
The Metropolitan Police in London made 41 arrests on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation, with one person also arrested for common assault, as demonstrators gathered in the capital for a second weekend.
A police officer stands in front of a protest in Parliament Square, London, to call for de-proscription of Palestine Action after a ban against the organisation was announced after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20. (Image: James Manning/PA) Two groups of protesters gathered in Parliament Square in the capital shortly on Saturday.
Some held placards bearing the words: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."
Demonstrators were also seen lying on top of each other while police officers searched bags, taking ID cards and handmade signs.
It is estimated there were over 70 arrests in total last weekend.
Action is now planned for Glasgow - with a group saying they were prepared to spend time behind bars in the name civil liberties and the classification of Palestine Action as a terror group.
Placards planned are expected to stay away from directly referencing Palestine Action but will say: "Genocide in PALESTINE... time to take ACTION."
One of the Glasgow protesters told The Herald that the action will act in solidarity with the arrested activist which they did not believe should have been arrested and would be a civil liberties demonstration.
"You should not be arrested for just supporting Palestine.
"We are prepared to be arrested and spend time in jail because we oppose Palestine Action being proscribed as a terrorist organisation as they are in reality a non violent protest group opposed to genocide in Gaza. They should be de-proscribed now.
"The British state is clearly on the slippery slope to becoming a police state by its actions and we believe that we in Scotland have got to stand up for the people of Palestine in demanding the end of the British state's complicity in their genocide through stopping the sending of arms to Israel and through imposing economic sanctions on Israel."
The demonstration is due to take place at noon Nelson Mandela Place, which was so named in 1986 as a show of solidarity with the legendary freedom fighter and the city's opposition to the apartheid system then in place in South Africa.
The location was chosen as a result of perceived support by Mandela for the Palestinian cause.
During his long years in jail as an African National Congress (ANC) prisoner, Mandela was embraced by the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as a fellow-fighter.
And in 1999, after his release Mandela urged Israel to withdraw from Palestine-rule Gaza
He said: "Israel should withdraw from all the areas which it won from the Arabs in 1967, and in particular Israel should withdraw completely from the Golan Heights, from south Lebanon and from the West Bank."
The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) has made its protest about the TRNSMT arrest which led to the t-shirt being confiscated.
But supporters say that the t-shirt did not reference Palestine Action. While a link on the t-shirt directs people to the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign website.
And there are now plans to have the t-shirts distributed at the Edinburgh protest at The Mound.
Demonstrators have been advised to say: "This t-shirt expresses my opposition to violence against civilians and what I believe is a humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
"It does not reference or support any proscribed organisation, including Palestine Action.
"The link on the shirt belongs to a legally operating advocacy group that is not banned.
"I fully support peaceful protest and free expression, and I do not support terrorism or any group involved in unlawful acts.
"If there's any confusion, I'm happy to clarify further.'
Supporters of the Glasgow demonstration had planned placards saying, "No genocide. I am Palestine Action", but have changed the text to test the law in the wake of the arrest of the activist over the t-shirt.
One of the protesters added: "It will be the first major demonstrations over Palestine Action being classed as a terror group.
"We expect to be arrested under the Terrorism Act. We are people of conscience who have decided that enough is enough. We know exactly what will happen.
"We believe the issue with the messaging on the t-shirt will be a test case in the law, because you cannot be arrested merely for stating support for Palestine."
Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza.
Police detain a person after they took part in a protest in Parliament Square, London, to call for de-proscription of Palestine Action at the weekend (Image: James Manning/PA) The move to proscribe the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were sprayed with paint by activists who broke into RAF Brize Norton in June - an incident for which the group claimed responsibility.
Four people have since been remanded into custody charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.
Another woman, previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released on bail, while a man was released without charge.
The incident also prompted a security review across UK military airbases.
In July, MPs voted to amend legislation to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the group had a "long history" of criminal damage.
"Its activity has increased in frequency and severity [since 2024]," she added.
"The UK's defence enterprise is vital to the nation's national security and this government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk."
But critics have accused the government of misusing the legislation, and have questioned whether Palestine Action should be considered a terrorist group.
A legal challenge attempting to temporarily block the proscription failed.
Raza Husain KC, barrister for Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori, told a court that banning the group would constitute an "authoritarian abuse" of power.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'A 55-year-old man was charged in connection with an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 for a wearing T-shirt expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.'
At the weekend, the SNP called on the UK Government to 'stop the excuses' and follow other European countries in recognising the state of Palestine.
The party's comments follow a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron during his recent state visit to the UK, in which he said recognising the state of Palestine was 'the only path to peace'.
The SNP also called on the UK Government to stop the sale of arms to Israel, saying that failure by the Government to 'use the power it has' to end the conflict in Gaza would make it 'totally complicit' in what it called a 'slaughter'.
SNP Middle East spokesman Brendan O'Hara MP said that if the UK Government 'could muster just a shred of conviction and courage they would have the power to act'.
He went on: 'After witnessing another week of slaughter, the Labour Party could, and should, begin this new week by taking two concrete steps,' he said.
'They should start this new week by finally stopping all arms sales to Israel and finally recognising the state of Palestine."