Several Cumbrians have been arrested at a Palestine Action protest in Lancaster.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries organised the action that took place yesterday at 1pm, Saturday November 29, outside Lancaster Castle, the UK’s oldest serving Crown Court.
A total of 26 people – 16 women and 10 men – from both Cumbria and Lancaster were arrested under the Terrorism Act at the protest.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “During the course of the protest in Lancaster, some of those present displayed material in support of Palestine Action, who are a proscribed terrorist organisation.
“This led to 26 people being arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“Those arrested were taken into police custody.”
Organisers of the action said they were protesting “against our Government’s complicity in genocide and against the ban on Palestine Action.”
One of the activists arrested was Bel Lloyd, from Penrith.
She said: “Peaceful protesters, legitimately campaigning to lift the ban, are being criminalised.”
Anne Haywood, from Staveley, who was also arrested, said: “I am doing this to protect the right to protest against genocide.”
Palestine Action is a domestic direct action group. Earlier this year, the group was proscribed under the Terrorism Act.
The action in Lancaster was one of several that have taken place across the UK over the past 10 days.
It coincides with activists opposing Palestine Action being proscribed under the Terrorism Act via judicial review.
