Latest news with #IsraelGenocide
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Armed police threatened to arrest Kent protester for holding Palestinian flag
Armed police threatened a peaceful protester with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide', accusing her of supporting a proscribed organisation. Officers told Laura Murton, 42, that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, on Monday evening expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which was banned under terrorism legislation earlier this month. Murton said neither of her signs mentioned Palestine Action. When asked directly whether she supported any proscribed organisations, she replied: 'I do not.' In the encounter, which she filmed, one officer told her: 'Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.' He went on to say that the phrase 'Free Gaza' is 'supportive of Palestine Action', adding it was an offence 'to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act'. The officer told her she had committed that offence. The officers said they would arrest Murton unless she provided her name and address, which she reluctantly agreed to do. Speaking to the Guardian, Murton said: 'I don't see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group.' 'It's terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I've had in this country, being told that I'm committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.' 'I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don't think that was lawful at all.' The ban on Palestine Action, the first against a direct action protest group, came into force on 5 July after a high court judge refused to grant the group's co-founder Huda Ammori an injunction suspending it while legal action was pending. In written submissions, Raza Husain KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, representing Ammori, warned: 'Proscription of Palestine Action is highly likely to have a wide chilling effect on speech and assembly of those seeking to speak out against Israel's serious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in Gaza.' During an unsuccessful attempt to appeal against the decision, Ní Ghrálaigh told the court of appeal 'a vast number of individuals who wished to continue protesting would fall foul of the proscription regime due to its lack of clarity'. One of the police officers told Murton they were 'trying to be fair', adding: 'We could have jumped out, arrested you, dragged you off in a van.' Explaining her motivation for the protest, Murton, who lives in Canterbury, said: 'Day to day, people are getting killed, and I can't handle that. I can't handle sitting and doing nothing. Just showing up during rush hour to remind people that Palestine exists and that genocide is happening and try to keep it in the public consciousness – it wasn't motivated by anything other than that.' Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK's law and human rights director, described the footage as 'very concerning'. He added: 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. This video documents one aspect of exactly the kind of thing we were warning about.' A Kent police spokesperson said: 'Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Armed police threatened to arrest Kent protester for holding Palestinian flag
Armed police threatened a peaceful protester with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide', accusing her of supporting a proscribed organisation. Officers told Laura Murton, 42, that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, on Monday evening expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which was banned under terrorism legislation earlier this month. Murton said neither of her signs mentioned Palestine Action. When asked directly whether she supported any proscribed organisations, she replied: 'I do not.' In the encounter, which she filmed, one officer told her: 'Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.' He went on to say that the phrase 'Free Gaza' is 'supportive of Palestine Action', adding it was an offence 'to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act'. The officer told her she had committed that offence. The officers said they would arrest Murton unless she provided her name and address, which she reluctantly agreed to do. Speaking to the Guardian, Murton said: 'I don't see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group.' 'It's terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I've had in this country, being told that I'm committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.' 'I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don't think that was lawful at all.' The ban on Palestine Action, the first against a direct action protest group, came into force on 5 July after a high court judge refused to grant the group's co-founder Huda Ammori an injunction suspending it while legal action was pending. In written submissions, Raza Husain KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, representing Ammori, warned: 'Proscription of Palestine Action is highly likely to have a wide chilling effect on speech and assembly of those seeking to speak out against Israel's serious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in Gaza.' During an unsuccessful attempt to appeal against the decision, Ní Ghrálaigh told the court of appeal 'a vast number of individuals who wished to continue protesting would fall foul of the proscription regime due to its lack of clarity'. One of the police officers told Murton they were 'trying to be fair', adding: 'We could have jumped out, arrested you, dragged you off in a van.' Explaining her motivation for the protest, Murton, who lives in Canterbury, said: 'Day to day, people are getting killed, and I can't handle that. I can't handle sitting and doing nothing. Just showing up during rush hour to remind people that Palestine exists and that genocide is happening and try to keep it in the public consciousness – it wasn't motivated by anything other than that.' Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK's law and human rights director, described the footage as 'very concerning'. He added: 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. This video documents one aspect of exactly the kind of thing we were warning about.' A Kent police spokesperson said: 'Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.'
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Fontaines DC display words ‘Israel is committing genocide' on screen at London gig
DUBAI: Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC played a sold-out concert in London's Finsbury Park on Saturday night during which the words 'Free Palestine' and 'Israel is committing genocide' were projected onto screens. Lead singer Grian Chatten performed in front of the 45,000-strong crowd dressed in a kilt and a Sinead O'Connor t-shirt, the Independent reported. A post shared by Fontaines D.C. (@fontainesband) A piece of music equipment on the north London stage was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and 'Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice' came up on the screens after the last song. The show comes after multiple artists voiced support for the people of Palestine at the Glastonbury music festival in June. Last week, the US revoked entry visas for members of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan following their Glastonbury Festival set, during which frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in a controversial chant against Israel's military. Performing on the festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday, the artist shouted 'Free, free Palestine' before encouraging the audience to chant, 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).' Video of the moment quickly spread online, sparking backlash. Meanwhile, Irish rap group Kneecap drew one of the festival's largest crowds at the West Holts Stage. Dozens of Palestinian flags flew in the crowd as the show opened with an audio montage of news clips referring to the band's critics and legal woes. Between high-energy numbers that had fans forming a large mosh pit, the band members — sporting keffiyehs — led the audience in chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara.' They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn't think it was 'appropriate' for Kneecap to play Glastonbury. One member wore a T-shirt emblazoned with 'We Are All Palestine Action,' referencing the direct-action network that targets arms factories supplying Israel.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fontaines DC display words ‘Israel is committing genocide' on screen at sell-out gig
The phrases "Free Palestine" and "Israel is committing genocide" were projected onto screens during Fontaines DC's sold-out London concert on Saturday night. The Irish post-punk band's lead singer, Grian Chatten, captivated the 45,000-strong crowd with his commanding stage presence. Dressed in a kilt and a Sinead O'Connor t-shirt, Chatten energised the audience, at times carrying the microphone by the pole or performing empty-handed, as he moved along the gangway above the vast crowd. He rarely broke the music to speak, but dedicated one song to his 'little girl' and briefly echoed a chant of 'free Palestine' that was started by the audience. Grainy live recordings of the Finsbury Park performance and crowd played on large screens on either side of the stage. Both screens cut from the vintage-style footage to 'Free Palestine' written in the gothic font of the band's logo, as Chatten sang the I Love You lyrics: 'Selling genocide and half-cut pride, I understand. I had to be there from the start, I had to be the f****** man'. A piece of music equipment on the north London stage was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and onlookers also waved them in the crowd. Ecstatic fans of the five-person Brit award-winning band descended into mosh pits for several songs, including upbeat Here's the Thing. Their slower track Romance was preceded by a minutes-long montage of surreal clips, including a pig and a crying heart-shaped head in different snow globes. The last song finished and 'Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice' came up on the screens. Chatten closed the set with simply 'cheers London, thank you very much' and a wave. Prior to the performance, Chatten joined Kneecap, who were supporting, to perform their collaboration Better Way To Live. Wearing a silver jacket and glasses, he embraced and sang with the trio and shouted 'free Palestine'. Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers also warmed up for the band. Next month will see 'the second time Kneecap have beat the British Government in court', the Irish rap trio said at the gig. The crowd watched them walk on in front of a screen that said 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people'. People echoed the Belfast group's chants when they repeated the 'f*** Keir Starmer' and 'you're just a s*** Jeremy Corbyn' comments made at Glastonbury the previous weekend. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month charged with a terror offence and will return next month. Fellow member Naoise O Caireallain, who uses the stage name Moglai Bap, said 'if anyone's free on the 20th of August, you wanna go to the court and support Mo Chara' before shouting 'free Mo Chara, free, free Mo Chara'. Wearing a keffiyeh, O hAnnaidh responded: 'I appreciate it, the 20th of August is going to be the second time Kneecap have beat the British Government in court – in their own court, on their own terms, and we're going to beat them for the second time. 'I tell you what, there is nothing like embarrassing the British Government.'
The Independent
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fontaines DC display words ‘Israel is committing genocide' on screen at sell-out gig
The phrases "Free Palestine" and "Israel is committing genocide" were projected onto screens during Fontaines DC's sold-out London concert on Saturday night. The Irish post-punk band's lead singer, Grian Chatten, captivated the 45,000-strong crowd with his commanding stage presence. Dressed in a kilt and a Sinead O'Connor t-shirt, Chatten energised the audience, at times carrying the microphone by the pole or performing empty-handed, as he moved along the gangway above the vast crowd. He rarely broke the music to speak, but dedicated one song to his 'little girl' and briefly echoed a chant of 'free Palestine' that was started by the audience. Grainy live recordings of the Finsbury Park performance and crowd played on large screens on either side of the stage. Both screens cut from the vintage-style footage to 'Free Palestine' written in the gothic font of the band's logo, as Chatten sang the I Love You lyrics: 'Selling genocide and half-cut pride, I understand. I had to be there from the start, I had to be the f****** man'. A piece of music equipment on the north London stage was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and onlookers also waved them in the crowd. Ecstatic fans of the five-person Brit award-winning band descended into mosh pits for several songs, including upbeat Here's the Thing. Their slower track Romance was preceded by a minutes-long montage of surreal clips, including a pig and a crying heart-shaped head in different snow globes. The last song finished and 'Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice' came up on the screens. Chatten closed the set with simply 'cheers London, thank you very much' and a wave. Prior to the performance, Chatten joined Kneecap, who were supporting, to perform their collaboration Better Way To Live. Wearing a silver jacket and glasses, he embraced and sang with the trio and shouted 'free Palestine'. Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers also warmed up for the band. Next month will see 'the second time Kneecap have beat the British Government in court', the Irish rap trio said at the gig. The crowd watched them walk on in front of a screen that said 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people'. People echoed the Belfast group's chants when they repeated the 'f*** Keir Starmer' and 'you're just a s*** Jeremy Corbyn' comments made at Glastonbury the previous weekend. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month charged with a terror offence and will return next month. Fellow member Naoise O Caireallain, who uses the stage name Moglai Bap, said 'if anyone's free on the 20th of August, you wanna go to the court and support Mo Chara' before shouting 'free Mo Chara, free, free Mo Chara'. Wearing a keffiyeh, O hAnnaidh responded: 'I appreciate it, the 20th of August is going to be the second time Kneecap have beat the British Government in court – in their own court, on their own terms, and we're going to beat them for the second time. 'I tell you what, there is nothing like embarrassing the British Government.'
