A PEACE campaigner from Powys was one of 27 people, including a priest, an Emeritus Professor, a former government lawyer and a number of health professionals, to have been arrested in Parliament Square for offences under the Terrorism Act on Saturday.
They were arrested for sitting by the statue of Gandhi, holding signs, saying: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.
Had they done the same thing the day before, few would have noticed and it would have been lawful, but on Saturday the Government’s new order came into force, proscribing Palestine Action as a ‘terrorist’ organisation. Palestine Action is a non violent direct action group which aims to stop arms being trafficked from the UK to support the genocide in Gaza, including by using red spray paint to protest against the use of RAF planes in supporting the Israeli military.
It is now an offence under the Terrorism Act to express support for Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
The day before the action the group wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, to warn of their action.
The letter said: “We would like to alert you to the fact we may be committing offences under the Terrorism Act tomorrow, Saturday, July 5, in Parliament Square at about 1pm.
“We do not intend to cause you any alarm. We are committed to nonviolence and there is no risk whatsoever of anyone being harmed.”
Angie Zelter, 74, from Powys, is a peace, environmental and human rights campaigner with Jewish Israeli family living in Israel. She has twice been found not guilty by a jury after disarming military equipment – in one case parts for a nuclear submarine and in another case a BAE hawk jet being exported to support Indonesia’s genocide in East Timor.
On Saturday she and the 26 others were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which carries a maximum 6 months in jail. All have been released on conditional bail to await further action.
Ms Zelter said of her action: “We have to uphold the most important international law adopted into UK law – the Genocide Act. Peaceful, disruptive protest is essential to protect democracy.”
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “We commend the Counter Terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it.
“It’s a relief to know that Counter Terrorism police have nothing better to do.”
Further such actions are expected to follow shortly.
