Palestine Action protesters arrested outside UK Labour Party conference | Censorship News
Protests Erupt in Liverpool Against UK Government’s Classification of Palestine Action as Terrorist Organization
LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom — Police arrested more than 50 individuals Sunday during a protest supporting the banned group Palestine Action outside the Labour Party’s annual conference in the northwestern city of Liverpool. The local Merseyside Police confirmed the arrests in a statement issued shortly after the demonstration began.
The protest, organized by Defend Our Juries, included participants displaying banners and materials supporting Palestine Action, which has been designated as a “terrorist” organization by the Labour government under the Terrorism Act since July 2025.
While the police acknowledged the right of individuals to protest peacefully, they emphasized the need to maintain public safety. Officers approached demonstrators and informed them that their arrests were made under the Terrorism Act.
More than 250 protesters gathered outside the conference center, holding signs that supported Palestine Action before police began to make arrests. A police officer was seen speaking with demonstrators as tensions escalated.
Al Jazeera correspondent Milena Veselinovic reported that participants aimed to elevate the issue of Palestine Action’s proscription within the agenda of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, marking the opening day of the conference.
One protester stated, “Being arrested is nothing in comparison to what the people in Gaza are going through, and it’s also worth it, because this is about our right to free speech.” Another added remarks highlighting the diversity of the protest’s supporters, including healthcare workers and religious leaders.
Kerry Moscogiuri, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, expressed concerns about the arrests, indicating that protesting is a crucial means for citizens to convey their messages to government leaders. “This is a truly shameful attack on freedom of speech,” she said. Moscogiuri called on the Prime Minister to reform laws to better protect communities’ rights to demonstrate.
In a related incident, activists confronted Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband inside a local restaurant, demanding an end to the ban on Palestine Action and a declaration of genocide regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. The activists left after Miliband reportedly declined to engage in dialogue.
Since the proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025, a civil disobedience campaign has gained traction, resulting in the arrest of over 3,600 individuals for demonstrating support for the group, often using signs that state, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
