At long last the police are cracking down on hard marches

[mids2019]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6mjg13dz6o

I think it's great that the police are starting to take supporting terrorists seriously and are now using anti terror legislation to start making the arrests that should have happened some time ago. As predicted as the Gaza conflict has ground on there are more and more pro Palestine looks prepared to flirt with proscribed groups.

Maybe some halal time or fines will make these people think a bit more.

The focus should be stopping the war crimes being committed by Netanyahu. His disgusting his actions on the Palestinians is horrific not only for the people of Gaza but by the long term impact on Jewish people around the world as Zionism and Judaism won't be separated by many.

I agree it’s good that the police are using anti terror legislation to arrest anyone demonstrating for Palestine Action.

They are classified as a terrorist group in the UK. No public support for terrorist groups in the UK should be tolerated as that is against our values ( & law).

Very good news. I strongly suspect that these people don't realise that they're being useful fools, however, some of them must know that they are supporting fascism, antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia and nihilism.

So are protests only ok if you agree with what is being protested about or the protesters themselves?

How anyone could celebrate living in a country where peaceful protest leads to arrest is beyond me. This is so far from the British values I admire.

They're ok if your protest group has aims, objectives and actions which remain within the law.

Not at all.

Maybe you are unaware that Palestine Action are a proscribed terrorist group in the UK like Hamas.

Would you say it’s ok for people to march in London or another UK city in support of Hamas?

...and all done under a Labour Government.

Shameful, any damage caused should be dealt with under criminal damage laws, not branding anyone who don't agree with Israel's actions as a "Terrorist"

Partner has just had a memo sent round to all employees to be mindful of what they say and post as this could lead to a 14 year prison sentence.

Yet we take in people from HK because they are risk being arrested for protesting.....

British values means we take a stand against terrorist organisations of which Palestine Action is one.

TBF the law was changed to name them a terrorist organisation, would you agree with Starmer if he changed the law to say the IDF is one too?

No you wouldn't.

This ⬆️

Absolutely nobody with any critical thinking capacity believes PA comes anywhere close to being what is typically considered a "terrorist" organisation.

This is purely and simply an exercise in the UK government abusing the law to silence and repress people drawing attention to it's complicity in a genocide. State censorship, repression, and abuse of power. Straight out of the despot handbook.

If "British values" mean taking a stand against terrorism, then we ought to have cut relations with Israel years ago and should be seeking to put members of Likud and the IDF up for trial in the Hague, instead of arresting 80'odd year old vicars and grandads for holding placards. Understandably the police look utterly mortified at having to participate in this complete nonsense.

If that is what constitutes "British values" then I'm glad I don't identify as British.

I suggest anyone celebrating these arrests of peaceful protesters goes to live in Trump's America or perhaps even Russia, I think you might enjoy it.

I wouldn’t agree with Starmer but neither would I break the law by going on protests about it.

No thanks I’m very happy living in the UK with British values & law.

Sometimes what looks like a warm coat to protect you from the elements is actually a straitjacket.

I’m glad I do identify as British and that I respect UK laws & values.

These protests don't have anything to do with helping people in Gaza. It's a cult now, and the motivation behind it is bringing down Israel. If they were about helping people on Gaza they'd be full of people saying to return hostages, get rid of Hamas and so on. Not going on about "zionists" and the "Israel lobby". They got away with far too much for far too long.

If you "don't identify as British" then presumably you don't really share British values?

Against a background of stabbings, car rammings and bombings, personally I think it's understandable to be nervous about an organisation that meets covertly to plan and carry out attacks on military sites, government buildings and Jewish businesses. I don't want to live in a country that turns a blind eye to another Kristallnacht.

With your highly refined critical thinking hat on, perhaps do some research into the accepted meaning of "genocide" and the threat Israel faces from countries that want to wipe it and Jewish people off the face of the Earth.

I am British but I have zero respect for any laws made by this current government. Slowly bit by bit they are chipping away at our rights and the public are like nodding dogs letting them do it.

100% this.

I think the law is just in that the government can see the direction of travel of pro Palestinian activism and wants to send a clear message about how it views terrorism. The gradual hardening of the tactics of pro Palestinian groups causes concern to many and breaking into a military facility for instance is an action that needs to be prevented with full force of law.

We haven't seen death of severe physical harm to Jews (yet) and this is partly due to the government and security forces having to be strong on this issue.

This is a process of law. It's not "Starmer" , it's gone through parliament. This is not going to stop peaceful protests by moderate groups. It's to stop this particular organisation which has crossed the boundaries of the Anti Terrorism Act 2000.
Some people support Tommy Robinson and other fascist groups. That's their choice, but it's right that their actions are curtailed to remain within the law and not romanticised.

Did you have more respect for the Tories?

Or are you someone that doesn't respect laws passed by any British government?

I feel like I have lots of rights under British law. I don't face discrimination for being a woman, as just one example. I can go on protest marches if I want as long as they are not for a proscribed terrorist group.

What a revolting inflammatory post.