Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the United States embassy in London on Saturday to protest the proscription of Palestine Action, a campaign group designated as a “terrorist” organisation under UK law. Police arrested at least 139 people during the demonstration, with the majority of arrests related to expressing support for the proscribed organisation. The Metropolitan Police had initially detained 48 individuals earlier in the day before the arrest total rose significantly by evening.
The ban on Palestine Action came into effect in July last year under the government of then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Saturday’s protest represents the first major demonstration against the proscription since Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office in July. A Supreme Court appeal challenging the organisation’s designation is scheduled for Wednesday.
The arrests have drawn criticism from various figures and organisations. Labour MP John McDonnell argued that protesting against the government’s decision to proscribe an organisation should not be automatically interpreted as support for that organisation, and stated his belief that the proscription was an incorrect decision. Amnesty International UK’s head of communications also condemned the arrests, characterising them as a “disgraceful attack on freedom of speech.”
Protest organisers Defend Our Juries reported that Saturday’s arrests brought the total number of people detained under the proscription to more than 4,000 since July 2025. Demonstrations also took place outside the US consulate in Edinburgh with no reported arrests. Critics of the ban argue it represents part of a broader effort to suppress pro-Palestine voices, with some suggesting the decision reflects alignment with US policy rather than legitimate counterterrorism concerns.
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