Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Thanks to Calderdale Defend Our Juries for this news item
Palestine Action: Silent
Protest in Hebden Bridge
Should taking direct action against
a genocide be treated as terrorism?
Local people are being asked to "bring a sign, hope and love" to a silent protest in George's Square, Hebden Bridge on Saturday at 11am. They are protesting about the Appeal Court's decision on 15 June to uphold the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
The proscription has been controversial from the outset with many believing that the Government over-reached itself in making an organisation using direct action to call attention to the killing of thousands of people in Gaza, into a terrorist organisation. As lawyers for Palestine Action argued in the High Court, "the votes-for-women movement would have faced the same ban if today's laws had been in place more than 100 years ago".
Members of Palestine Action had conducted attacks against Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in Filton, Bristol (where drones were destroyed) and RAF Brize Norton (where paint was sprayed onto planes readied for Israeli use in Gaza).
In Britain, we are proud of having a democracy. But a healthy democracy depends on tolerance of free speech. Since the ban on Palestine Action on 25 July 2025, over 3,200 people have been arrested under terrorism legislation for sitting peacefully holding signs saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".
As one of the organisers of this local silent protest explained, "We are sitting together peacefully because we still hope to see the ban on Palestine Action lifted." Huda Amori, who has taken the legal action against the Government's proscription has vowed to continue the fight: "I will appeal to the Supreme Court and take it up to the European Court of Human Rights, if need be."
The protesters agree that the term 'terrorism' should be applied to actions or campaigns of violence against civilians. "But, surely," says an organiser, "it should not be extended to those trying to stop that violence by causing damage to the equipment and weapons being used against children and civilians. If this continues, then freedom of expression has gone and democracy is effectively dead."
As Defend our Juries, who oppose the proscription, says: "It is vital that this campaign succeeds – not just for Palestine Action but for democracy… If we let this go, the unions, climate and racial justice movements, or any other worthy cause will be next."
Thanks to Calderdale Defend Our Juries for this news item