A Dangerous Precedent for Direct Action Groups

This is a worrying escalation of how the Government treats protest groups and uses terrorism powers – and we don’t think it’s proportionate. Proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist group may also have huge implications for thousands of people who campaign for Palestine. Anyone showing support for Palestine Action, for example wearing a logo or sharing something on social media, could fall foul of the law. The police and Government already have expansive powers to deal with the actions of individuals and groups when they cross the line into criminality – for example around trespass and criminal damage – without labelling a whole group as a terrorist organisation. 

That’s why we are writing to the Home Secretary and strongly urging MPs to consider the necessity and proportionality of this move. What we need now is transparency around whether the impact on the many people who will get caught up in this has been considered. 

This move from the Home Secretary sets a dangerous precedent for protest groups and our democracy. 

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