Tootfinder

Many arrests, as predicted.
I'm curious about this part of the BBC's write-up:
"A Home Office spokesperson said the decision to proscribe the group [i.e. Palestine Action] was based on "strong security advice" following "serious attacks the group had committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage"."
What is this "violence" and "significant injuries"? I don't remember reading about that. The only thing I've seen reported is damage to property.
#protest #London #PalestineAction

The cops and the government suggest that tomorrow's protest against the proscription of Palestine Action should be postponed because a crazy person done some murders.
The home secretary says
“If the point of protest is to stand up for something and persuade other people that you are right, then I think this is entirely the wrong way to go about it, but that is on their conscience.”
That is not the point of the protest. The point of the protest is to show that the proscription of a non violent protest organization under terrorism laws is ridiculous and unenforceable as well as being a massive waste of police and court time.
Delaying the protest would harm that demonstration. The police are over stretched and can't enforce this stupid counter-productive proscription without compromising their duty elsewhere.
Demonstrating that is the point of the protest, and police saying "We are too stretched to arrest all these demonstrators" just reinforces that point all the more.
You know what police and government? You could just not persecute non violent protestors as terrorists. That'd solve your over-stretched police resources problem in one stroke!
#palestineAction #ukpol #protest

“I’ve been a very law-abiding citizen and very respectful of authority all my life but I knew I had to do this and it was my duty to do this.”
- Deborah Hinton, 81
“The focus shouldn’t be on Palestine Action. The focus should be on what the government isn’t doing for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.”
- Father John McGowan, 75
“As a former officer in the British army, I am horrified that the government is misusing our armed forces to be complicit in the genocide rather than to end it.”
- Chris Romberg, 75
“Palestine Action’s methods sit very uneasily with me. It’s difficult to accept that vandalism is the only way to go. However, I feel we have to do something and I support their stand against genocide.”
- Richard Whitmore-Jones, 74
“The policeman said: ‘You’re a bit heavy.’ He had to call one of his friends over to help carry me. I thought that was a bit of a liberty.”
- Trevelyan Evans, 64
#PalestineAction #protests #UKLaw #Gaza #Palestine #Israel

521 arrests yesterday "for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action at Westminster's Parliament Square".
Bad for the reputation of the law, bad for the country.
Also, preposterous to contend that this is a good use of police time. Go and retrieve some stolen bikes!
#UKLaw #UKPol #London #police #PalestineAction

I said already that the Palestine Action proscription was bringing the law into disrepute.
Now we see how it's bringing the law into disrepute even with police officers charged with enforcing it.
“I was told to help in the arrest of a disabled person for holding up the sign stating they opposed genocide and supported Palestine Action, which I did.
“I did it knowing it had nothing to do with upholding justice or our professional values, just to protect my job and livelihood. My father was an officer, and the reason I came into the police. I know he would be ashamed and turning in his grave if he saw what I did. ...
“Instead of catching real criminals and terrorists, we are arresting pensioners and disabled people calling for the saving of children’s lives ... It makes me question why I’m even in this career anymore.”
- police officer
People in the Crown Prosecution Service not happy about it either apparently. Interesting article.
(I don't like that they used "mad" in the headline though. I realise it was a quote, but I bet there were some other quotable words they could've chosen.)
#PalestineAction #police #CPS #UKLaw #UKPol