London Police Arrest 139 at Palestine Action Ban Protest

British police arrested 139 demonstrators outside the United States embassy in Battersea, south London, on Saturday, October 31, as hundreds gathered to challenge the government's ban on Palestine Action. The demonstration, organized by Defend Our Juries, opposed the group's proscription and took place days before a Supreme Court appeal scheduled for November 4.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on X, saying the majority involved alleged expressions of support for a prohibited organization. The force had initially reported 48 arrests before increasing the figure to 139 later in the day.

The demonstration was the largest mass gathering against the prohibition since Andy Burnham became prime minister in July. Organizers estimated that approximately 400 people attended the London protest, while a separate solidarity vigil took place outside the US consulate in Edinburgh, where no arrests were reported.

The police had warned participants beforehand that attending the gathering could lead to arrest. Officers also cautioned that organizing the event, directing demonstrators or providing logistical assistance could constitute criminal offenses.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who supervised the policing operation, defended the force's position.

"All those intending on coming to this event know that supporting a proscribed organisation is unlawful – they are essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime."

Slonecki's comments reflected the police interpretation of the restrictions imposed on Palestine Action under UK counterterrorism legislation.

Defend Our Juries disputed the police response and said the latest arrests brought the cumulative number of detentions connected to opposition to the ban above 4,000 since July 2025.

"It is truly dystopian that there have now been over 4,000 arrests under terror laws for peaceful vigils silently expressing opposition to genocide and support for the protest group Palestine Action," a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said.

The spokesperson also criticized the political circumstances surrounding the prohibition.

"The ban on Palestine Action was straight out of [US President Donald] Trump's playbook, so it's fitting that this significant milestone has been reached on Halloween and outside the US embassy," the spokesperson said.

The organization further argued that the government's decision was connected to international political interests rather than security concerns.

"appeasing Trump and the Israeli weapons companies that Palestine Action disrupted, not about any kind of terrorist threat" was how the spokesperson described the government's motivation.

Another statement from the organization accused the police of excessive enforcement and criticized Britain's relationship with the United States.

"The Met police overzealous response outside the US embassy today only serves to further expose how far authorities in the UK will go to appease American interests. Israel's war crimes that have caused death and injury to thousands could not happen without the US's approval," the spokesperson said.

Among those arrested was Sue Morhall, a 79-year-old retiree who attended the demonstration holding a placard supporting Palestine Action. She explained that her participation reflected opposition to international military involvement in conflicts.

"The USA is complicit in most of the wars that are going on. I just feel the leaders of this world, including Trump, need to know that people are so against what's happening in Gaza," Morhall said.

Morhall also expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of Burnham reversing the prohibition.

"I think it's early days. I'm hopeful, though pigs might fly," she said.

She had previously been arrested several times at demonstrations and said she remained prepared to face detention again.

"It's the principle, and this is one that I feel very strongly about," Morhall said.

Another participant, Reverend Bill White, 72, criticized Britain's role in supplying military equipment to Israel. The religious leader said he had left the Labour Party following the decision to prohibit Palestine Action.

"I'm appalled that Britain is helping facilitate the genocide that is happening in Palestine. We supply weapons that are being used on Palestinians," White said.

White explained that his religious convictions influenced his decision to attend despite the possibility of arrest.

"This is the right thing to do. There's a bad law and it is wrong to criminalise people that are trying to prevent genocide," he said.

He also questioned whether remaining absent was compatible with his beliefs.

"How can I not be here?" White said.

Amnesty International UK also called for the government to reverse the ban. Felix Jakens, the organization's head of communications and campaigns, criticized the arrests and their implications for peaceful demonstrations.

"The sight yet again of grandparents, teenagers and everyone in between being hauled into police vans for peacefully holding placards is a disgraceful attack on freedom of speech," Jakens said.

He urged ministers to reconsider the restrictions and protect the right to demonstrate.

"It's past time for the government to drop the proscription of Palestine Action and reform our laws so that communities have more power to demonstrate on the issues they care about, not less," Jakens said.

Labour MP John McDonnell also challenged the legal basis for arresting people who oppose the government's decision. Responding to the police announcement, he argued that criticism of the prohibition should not automatically be treated as support for the organization.

McDonnell said opposition to the government's decision could not be "automatically interpreted" as support for Palestine Action. He also maintained that the government had "made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation".

The dispute has continued since the prohibition took effect in July 2025 under the previous government led by Keir Starmer. The designation placed Palestine Action alongside organizations including al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) on Britain's list of prohibited groups.

The policy has generated criticism from campaigners and other public figures who argue that its enforcement restricts peaceful political expression. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has maintained her support for the prohibition, despite mounting pressure on the new government to reconsider it.

Other controversies have emerged over public expressions of solidarity. Journalist and author Sarah Helm faced accusations of supporting the prohibited organization after posting on X, "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action." Her statement followed reports that Irish author Sally Rooney could no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for the group.

A demonstrator subsequently carried a placard adapting Helm's statement, replacing "authors" with "retirees". The Metropolitan Police arrested the woman, although officers ultimately assessed that Helm's original social media post "did not meet the criminal threshold".

In September, more than 160 people were arrested or reported for summons during another demonstration supporting Palestine Action outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The next major legal development is the Supreme Court appeal scheduled for November 4, which will challenge the organization's proscription.