Do the people being arrested for Palestine Action not know about the sledgehammer attack?

[noblegiraffe]

With 500-odd people having been arrested for expressing support for proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action, I'm just baffled as to why they are willing to get a criminal record which could bar them from travel to the USA and work in education for an organisation whose members attacked police officers with a sledgehammer.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/disturbing-sledgehammer-attack-police-during-9463071

Regardless of whether this group should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation, surely no one should look at that and think 'yeah, that's a group I think should be allowed to continue to do its thing, attack a few more police officers with sledgehammers, that's the hill I'm willing to die on.'

Wouldn't you think 'I'm not sure if they should be proscribed as terrorists, but given the sledgehammer attack, I'm not going to turn up with banners in support and be arrested for them, I'll just get on with protesting the genocide instead because that's a better cause'.

So do they not know about the violence? Or do they not care and are willing to support violent organisations?

(note this is not a thread for debating Gaza, I want to talk about British people who are absolutely legally allowed to protest genocide but aren't allowed to support proscribed terrorist organisations - which is also not allowed on MN).

Will people please go to the CITME section if they want to discuss Gaza/Israel.

Thanks Noble

Have you googled 'offensive weapon' yet?

It's something which is carried with the intent of causing injury. The article that you posted detailed a sledgehammer used as an offensive weapon.

The labour government just want people to stfu because they have to support israel and don't want people to demonstrate, thus drawing attention to the horrors of Gaza.

They'll be coming for people in the night next.

I’m not understanding it personally. Can’t they just cut the bottom off the signs so it reads ‘I support Palestine’ ; rather than ‘I support Palestine action’

Thanks. That tells me what I need to know. And to be honest, it should have been obvious to me that you would give this response.

If they wanted to stop demonstrations, wouldn't they ban demonstrations? This makes no sense.

They probably feel aggrieved at being told what to do by a weak, incompetent government so have decided to push back.

This is what I don’t get. Whether the group should have been proscribed or not is almost irrelevant. It has been, so support Action for Palestine instead if you need a group name 🤦🏻‍♀️

Are Palestine Action good terrorists and Hitler a bad terrorist in your eyes?

What other terrorist groups do you consider to be good? Al Shabab? Boko Haram? Hezbollah?

I’m keen to understand what level of terrorism is acceptable to you.

But they are deliberately supporting Palestine Action, that's the point! The purpose of the protest was to illegally show support for Palestine Action and invite arrest.

Wouldn't they have to introduce a law banning demonstrations then? I don't think they can just do it. We do still have a few rights left in spite of the government not liking it.

PA are terrorists? Why?

Clearly there’s a difference between PA and the Nazis that killed 6 million Jews. Regardless of whether you support them or don’t, think they should have been proscribed, or not, I think that’s a fairly basic thing people could agree on

This is dated August 2024
What has the inflammatory stuff about spitting on police, looting shops got to do with what’s going on now.

Your text under the link is irrelevant

Perhaps it's on their bucket list to get arrested. Perhaps they're sick of the police and want to give them extra work and loads of grief.

Well perhaps. But one might suggest that it is less bother to the police to arrest someone than it is to have a charge under the terrorism act on your police record.

I don’t know about you Small but I think we have our own brains don’t we.

I don’t take much notice of Starmer who thinks women have willies.

This Government is becoming very Dictatorial and quite frankly stupid.

What ever happened to the art of critical thinking

I don't think it's going to bother the pensioners at least.

Perhaps not, but I wonder if the younger ones were fully aware of the consequences.

If they hadn't even googled Palestine Action to find out that they are violent, then I'm not convinced that they were.

Yes of course the tiny minority of people who have done physical harm to people and things need to be put through the court system and serve time. They would be a disgrace to any cause. Most causes have their dangerous members - the Catholic Church for example, the education system, the nhs but most folk are ethical and moral. Its absolutely an infringement on U.K. liberties for peaceful protestors to be dragged through the same system.

I totally agree with wider opinion that this is a misuse of the terrorism act and U.K. citizens freedom of speech. I’m not a political person, I don’t attend protests and I don’t pass comment on forums but certainly feel this is an unacceptable infringement of liberty.

Pensioners of today were the pioneering hippies of the past.
I love that they’re not bowing down to the crap our Government pumps out. I’m sure they can see our democratic rights crumbling before their very eyes.

The loss so very supported by some on here.

I agree.

I learned a new word last week. Anarcho Tyranny. It's not an official term, but it sums up very nicely what's currently happening throughout the UK.

It's when the authorities harass and pressurise normal, law abiding people for relatively minor infractions, but allow the real criminals to get away with all kinds. A gardener was arrested last week for carrying some gardening tools back home after visiting his allotment.

People need to value their freedom. I have friends who grew up terrified under communism. It starts with small things then get worse and worse. Freedom of expression is a valuable thing.

This government is pushing its luck and people are pushing back.

Seems a bit counterproductive if their main aim is to protest what’s happening in Gaza. I guess unless they realise this gets additional coverage and believe ‘no publicity is bad publicity’, which remains to be seen really.

Jail them for a minimum of 5 years. That should test their resolve and see who the genuine terrorism sympathisers are.