The Placard and the Proscription

There is a particular tension that arises when a government declares an organization unlawful and citizens continue to support it—not with violence, but with signs, with presence, with the quiet insistence that their voices matter. In Liverpool, that tension found its expression in a sit-down protest, and the response was handcuffs.

More than 50 protesters were arrested outside the Labour Party conference on Sunday after holding placards reading "I support Palestine Action." The group was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK government in July 2025 following incidents including a break-in at an airbase where military aircraft were sprayed with red paint. A London court upheld the ban in June 2026, acknowledging it was "very controversial" but stating that Palestine Action "openly promotes unlawful violence amounting to terrorism" .

The protest, organized by Defend Our Juries, drew approximately 250 people outside the conference center. Many carried homemade banners. Police warned them that displaying support for a proscribed organization was an offense, and when they continued, arrests began under the Terrorism Act .

Among those arrested was Margaret Owen, a 94-year-old human rights barrister, and Robert Del Naja, singer of the band Massive Attack . Demonstrators cheered each time someone was led away, chanting "free, free Palestine." The arrests continued for hours, with some protesters held in a police kettle for more than thirteen hours .

Amnesty International UK condemned the police action. "The arrests of grandparents, teenagers and everyone in between for holding placards outside the Labour Party conference are a truly shameful attack on freedom of speech," said Kerry Moscogiuri, chief executive of Amnesty International UK. She called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reform the laws "so that communities are protected in coming together and demonstrating on the issues they care about" .

Defend Our Juries argued that the ban on Palestine Action is "illogical, unsustainable and immoral," and that continuing to enforce it diverts resources while punishing peaceful protest. A spokesperson said hundreds of people from professions including teaching, healthcare, and pensioners were willing to be arrested to send a message to the Prime Minister .

Merseyside Police stated that they "respect everyone's rights to protest lawfully" while also aiming to "keep the peace and ensure the public are safe." The force confirmed that more than 50 people were arrested on suspicion of wearing or carrying an article supporting a proscribed organization .

The ban on Palestine Action remains subject to review by the Supreme Court. For now, the arrests have added another layer to an ongoing debate about where the line between security and free expression should be drawn—and who gets to decide.

AI Image Disclaimer: All visuals accompanying this article are AI-generated and do not depict the actual protesters or locations.

Sources: NOS, London Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Roya News