UK
Direct action groups vow to defy government plans to proscribe them as ‘extremist’
MRNONG STAR
DIRECT-ACTION groups Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action have vowed to defy government plans to proscribe them as “extremist” as part of its continuing crackdown on the right to protest.
The proposals would rank the groups alongside terrorist organisations, though under different proposed legislation, and include a ban on meetings and ability to raise funds.
Both named organisations immediately said that they would defy any such laws.
The proposals come from the government’s “independent” adviser on “political violence and disruption” Lord Walney, previously Barrow-in-Furness Labour MP John Woodcock. He was chair of Labour Friends of Israel from 2013 to 2015.
Lord Walney’s report states: “Militant groups like Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil are using criminal tactics.
“Banning terror groups has made it harder for their activists to plan crimes — that approach should be extended to extremist groups too.”
Ministers have confirmed that they are considering the proposals.
Palestine Action was founded in 2020 with the aim of targeting five weapons factories run by Israeli-owned Elbit in Britain.
Elbit’s main products are attack drones and pilotless aircraft used by the Israeli military against Palestine, including in Israel’s current assault on Gaza.
Palestine Action has mounted rooftop occupations, which have halted production at the factories.
Autonomous Palestine Action groups have also wrecked manufacturing equipment and defaced Elbit offices.
An Elbit factory in Oldham in Greater Manchester closed permanently in 2022 after an 18-month campaign of rooftop occupations by Palestine Action, supported by blockades and demonstrations outside the factory by hundreds Palestine supporters from Greater Manchester and Oldham.
Companies which supply Elbit with support services — such as renting Elbit premises and providing maintenance services — have also been targeted.
Responding to the proposed new restrictions, a Palestine Action statement said: “During our nearly four-year direct-action campaign, we’ve faced arrests, raids, imprisonment, beatings, convictions and more by a state desperate to protect the zionist war machine over the freedom of their own citizens.
“Despite this, our movement’s determination and resilience has resulted in Elbit permanently closing two weapons factories, being dropped by several partners and losing hundreds of millions of pounds in contracts with the Ministry of Defence.
“We are seven months into the Gaza genocide, and Walney thinks this scare tactic is going to make us surrender? He couldn't be more wrong.”
The group also said its actions were in line with most of the British public, who want an arms embargo between Britain and Israel.
On Friday night another weapons firm supplying Israel, Teledyne Cumbernauld in Scotland, was targeted by a group who said they were acting “in solidarity” with Palestine Action.
Teledyne produces parts for F-35 fighter-bombers and for missiles used by Israel. A Teledyne factory in Shipley in West Yorkshire has also been subject to occupations and protests.
Just Stop Oil, whose protests have included blocking roads and slow marches, said the government were the “dangerous radicals that are endangering all of us” through their climate policies.
Israel has warned thousands more Palestinians in Rafah in Gaza to evacuate in advance of a renewed attack.
Thousands of Palestine solidarity supporters across Britain continued their seven-month campaign of protests and demonstrations on Saturday.
Activist group Youth Demand blocked Waterloo Bridge in London on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to British arms sales to Israel.
Other protests included those in Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Palestine supporters will stage another national demonstration in London on Saturday, assembling at the BBC in Portland Place at noon and marching to Whitehall.
No comments:
Post a Comment