Police officers get ready to arrest protesters in Trafalgar Square during the demonstration.<\/span> Photograph: Vuk Valcic\/Zuma Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nZuhrah said: \u201cAs former prisoners and hunger strikers, one of the main reasons of today is to defeat the exact purpose of the state for locking us up for 15 months and to make sure that we are never in these streets again. That\u2019s why were here fighting, showing them that despite everything they put us through, we never forsake our cause.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThis British government is hellbent on establishing that the ones that create the weapons are not the terrorists but the ones that destroy the weapons are the terrorists, which is insane.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that the ones that create the weapons and use them to bomb children, mothers, women and men that only dream of freedom, they are the terrorists. The ones raging a regional genocide are the terrorists,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kamran Ahmed, <\/em>who was on hunger strike for more than 60 days, said: \u201c<\/em>I\u2019m here to support righteous people taking righteous action against the government.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Metropolitan police said the ages of those arrested range from 27 to 82.<\/span> Photograph: Tolga Akmen\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAlly, 72, a sculptor taking part in the demonstration, called the group\u2019s proscription \u201cblatantly absurd\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just fed up with it but we just keep going until they stop it,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about Palestinian Action, so much about protest is being shut down now. It\u2019s getting really scary about what this government is doing about free speech and the right to protest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government hasn\u2019t got support for this one. It\u2019s a rather stupid proscription,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Andy Simons, 73, a retired British Library curator, was there to support those taking part. He wore a sign around his neck with an image of a man peering through prison bars. The sign read: \u201cFree, free speech.\u201d.<\/p>\n
Simons said: \u201cFree speech, as long as it\u2019s not violent or anything like that, is something we should have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also among the demonstrators, the Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja sat with an \u201cI Support Palestine Action\u201d sign despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his music career.<\/p>\n
He told the Press Association: \u201cBeing a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas.<\/p>\n\u201cBut I thought: \u2018This is ridiculous,\u2019 and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous. So I\u2019m going to hold a sign today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say: \u2018This was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I don\u2019t accept it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic, because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much more patriotic can you be than that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Shabana Mahmood was given permission to appeal against the high court\u2019s decision. Initially, the Metropolitan police said it would immediately stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act but would gather evidence for potential future prosecutions.<\/p>\n
But after the home secretary was given permission to appeal against the decision the force said it had \u201crevised\u201d its enforcement approach, describing the statement made immediately after the high court\u2019s decision as an \u201cinterim position\u201d.<\/p>\nShabana Mahmood\u2019s appeal to the high court\u2019s ruling is to be heard later this month.<\/span> Photograph: Stefan Rousseau\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn February, the high court said the government\u2019s proscription of the direct action group was \u201cdisproportionate and unlawful\u201d and that most of their activities had not reached the level, scale and persistence to be defined as terrorism.<\/p>\n
Mahmood\u2019s appeal to the high court is due to be heard on 28 and 29 April.<\/p>\n
Before the demonstration, the Met commander Claire Smart said: \u201cThose attending should be aware that showing support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt previous events linked to this group we have seen coordinated attempts to disrupt police activity, including obstructing officers and, at times, verbal or physical abuse. Our officers are trained to deal with these situations proportionately and effectively, and we are confident we have the plans and resources in place to respond appropriately, including making arrests where necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, Defend Our Juries said on X: \u201cMore Met lies. There has not been a single instance of prosecution among our supporter base relating to \u2018obstructing officers\u2019 or \u2018verbal or physical abuse\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur actions are peaceful, dignified (from our side, at least) and completely nonviolent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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