Cumbrians arrested at Palestine Action protest

Several people from Cumbria were among those arrested during a Palestine Action–related protest in Lancaster. The demonstration, organised by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, took place outside Lancaster Castle at around 1pm on Saturday, November 29. The castle is home to the UK’s oldest functioning Crown Court.
Police confirmed that 26 individuals — 16 women and 10 men from both Cumbria and Lancaster — were arrested under the Terrorism Act. According to Lancashire Police, some protesters displayed material showing support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation. As a result, the group was detained on suspicion of supporting a banned organisation under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and taken into custody.
Organisers said the demonstration was held in response to what they described as the Government’s “complicity in genocide” and to challenge the ban placed on Palestine Action.
Among those arrested was Bel Lloyd from Penrith, who stated that peaceful campaigners trying to overturn the ban were being criminalised. Another arrested protester, Anne Haywood from Staveley, said she took part to defend the right to protest.
Palestine Action is a domestic direct-action group that was officially banned earlier this year. The Lancaster protest was one of several similar actions held across the UK in the last 10 days, coinciding with ongoing legal efforts challenging the proscription through judicial review.