To wonder why so many pensioners are supporting Palestine Action, even willing to risk prison for it ?

[PrincessSophieFrederike]

Palestine Action showed their true colours a long time ago. I strongly oppose a lot of Netanyahu's actions- I don't object to a protest for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That wasn't Palestine Action's agenda, though.

I would've thought people 60+ would have, on average, accumulated more wisdom. Young people have often been swept up into radical movements with dangerous agendas (look at 60s protestors who thought Castro & co.were nice etc). It's no excuse..but is a BIT easier to see why young people (student age) might fall for this kind of stuff. Also people now seem to have less media literacy, esp SM.

But why are 60+ year olds getting caught up in it?? Willing to go to prison? What is going on? This hasn't happened before with stuff like BLM or Extinction Rebellion, so what us going on now?

I totally condemn what Hamas did on October 7th. But I don’t automatically condemn all those who are labelled “terrorists” because it depends who has labelled them as such, and why. Remember Nelson Mandela was called a terrorist.

If the court case is in November and the decision is being reviewed, then what the bloody hell are these pensioners getting arrested for?

I guess because the current designation is that PA are terrorists ??

Exactly- it's like that police officer being horrible to the autistic girl who called her 'lesbian nana', when 'lesbian' isn't an insult & wasn't used that way. Being elderly is not an insult & I wasn't using it as one.

I have a LOT of respect for elderly people. My grandmother (in her 90s now) was basically my second parent. My post was asking why THESE elderly people apparently have lost all critical thinking skills and risk arrest for PA despite their open support for Hamas. I used to believe older people generally gained life wisdom.

I knew a lot of elderly people via my grandmother & none seemed so naive.. Obviously some will be, but I think it shows that generalisations about age groups are increasingly being proved wrong. Eg. Millenial generation are still quite left wing overall due to benefiting less from capitalism. And clearly 60s left wingers are not getting more conservative, at least in these cases!

So firstly it’s not people on this thread as people is plural

Your pp was wrong there

Its a person whom you consider to be in support of designated terrorist groups ie Hamas and the IRA

@beachcitygirl has not stated support for any.

Here’s all of their posts

Yeah but so? “I don’t agree with the decision” “ok we will review it” “I don’t care”

what exactly is their desired outcome? Apparently not for the decision to be reviewed.

And as I said before “I support Palestine Action” means “I support attacks on our military bases and putting police officers in hospital”. They’re hardly a righteous cause.

Because they are stupid enough to go out and protest/make a nuisance of themselves rather than letting the law take it's course.

They must be short of daytime soaps to watch 🙄

Agree
conveniently accusing an organisation to one’s own political ends and to demonise the other

No
because they are maintaining their right to free speech upheld in this country and are keeping the unlawful designation live.

think this post answers your last one too @noblegiraffe

Isn’t the designation for the courts to decide as unlawful, not pensioners? Or do we have mob rule?

They aren’t a mob

Yes it is for the courts but what is wrong with making your thoughts known before a case

Haven't you noticed all the trans rights protests and GC protests prior to the SC ruling
People do demonstrate up to and whilst court procedures are going ahead

It’s everyone right

How many is so many? Pensioners aren't dead they still have their political and moral stand points also some have a lot of free time to support whatever it is they want to support. Not sure what % have been involved in these demonstrations, probably no bigger a % than the rest of the population.

They’re not just protesting, are they? They are deliberately trying to de-proscribe Palestine Action by making policing the proscription so expensive and so much of a pain the arse that the police and government essentially give up. Overwhelming the police with admin may not be overwhelming them with violence but it is certainly still trying to circumvent the normal legal process.

Oooh those dangerous mobs of pensioners sitting there peacefully on the pavement holding their placards! Terrifying they are!
”Mob rule” 😂

They would say that Palestine Action is not a terrorist group. It doesn't have a history of killing or maiming civilians. It has not planted bombs. It has caused a fair amount of inconvenience and has damaged a number of expensive planes which were going to be used on missions in the area.
This is the group that British citizens are being arrested simply for expressing an interest in or sympathy for their aims, which is to free Palestinian civilians from genocide. According to Save The Children, two hundred THOUSAND innocent children have been killed in Gaza in the last two years. Isn't that more like terrorism? PA have been targeting weapons and systems that are exporting to Israel to be used in the genocide, in particular at Elbit Systems. This has had some success because Elbit Systems have closed some of their factories.
No doubt there are other groups deserving of support, but Palestine Action is unusual in the ways I've just described, and the one that is getting the most publicity and the one that our citizens are being arrested for supporting. That is why pensioners are willing to get a criminal record to show their solidarity.

They can’t de proscribe the group. They’re not stupid

They are protesting and claiming support
Well don’t them

Not quite,

From BBC News

The Met said officers had been subjected to "an exceptional level of abuse" at the rally, including "punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse".
The force said there had been a "coordinated effort to prevent officers carrying out their duties" and that anyone who assaulted an officer would be prosecuted "to the full extent of the law".

Puzzledtoday
According to Save The Children, two hundred THOUSAND innocent children have been killed in Gaza in the last two years

I think they said 20,000 (twenty thousand).

Yes, I believe in legal process.

I'm not involved in the Palestine Action protests. I was commenting on the OPs bewildering belief that suddenly lots of old people have become swivel eyed revolutionaries when lots of us grew up in various protest movements.

Do you think that it’s the bit where Palestine Action put a police officer in hospital that they particularly admire?

Or the bit where the co-founder applauded the October 7th attacks?

Or the bit where they claimed that the planes they attacked were used to refuel Israeli bombers, which they are not?

Or where they attacked a Jewish business claiming it had links to Elbit when it did not?

What is it out of that that you particularly admire and want more of?

Ignoring these comments of yours noble because you are prone to real someone in and throw inappropriate comments out and demean the conversation

Been here on CEM for years now

The sneering and patronising comments from pro Israel posters on this board are getting tiresome.

No idea what that is supposed to mean.

Those things listed are things that Palestine Action have done, are they not?

You say 'well done them' to the pensioners who are supporting Palestine Action. Why do you think that given that list it is a laudable thing to do?

Alexei Sayle wrote a brilliant short story about a group of OAPs who took up being hitmen in retirement. Whilst (ironically) the work kept them busy and active, the bonus was very little to worry about if they were caught.

I think it’s Countdown they’re keenest on.