Police have started making arrests at the first mass demonstration under Andy Burnham’s premiership opposing the proscription of Palestine Action.
More than 100 people gathered outside the US embassy in Battersea, south London, holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Another demonstration was scheduled for the US consulate near Holyrood in Edinburgh.
Ahead of the London gathering, the Metropolitan police warned those taking part “that they face arrest as part of a robust policing operation”.
Commander Adam Slonecki, who is leading the policing operation, said: “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.
He added that “anyone officers consider to be playing a key role in organising the event, giving instructions to others and/or providing logistical support will very likely be committing an offence and face enforcement action”.
Defend Our Juries, the group behind the demonstrations, said the Met were “terrified of facilitating US embarrassment”.
