British politicians and journalists are outraged over the jailing of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong—but the state continues to jail Palestine and climate activists here
Taking Action in Bristol earlier this year (Pic: @Pal_action on X)
SOCIALIST WORKER
Wednesday 20 November 2024
Cops have raided and arrested ten more people linked to Palestine Action across Britain.
The house raids and arrests by counter-terrorism police are the latest in a series of attempts by the British state to clamp down on the Palestine movement.
They are linked to the Filton 10 case—which has seen police arrest and detain ten people since 6 August.
Palestine Action supporters broke into Israeli arms company Elbit Systems’ arms research and development hub in Filton, Bristol.
Police held the Filton 10 under terror laws, but they weren’t charged with terrorism-related offences.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said, “The British state is wielding counter-terrorism powers against those they accused of being engaged in direct action against Israel’s weapons trade.
“The only ‘terrorists’ here are those assisting and arming Israel’s genocide. Palestine Action will not bow to this repression.”
The British state is ramping up repression of Palestine activists, climate campaigners and others (see below). Palestine Action co-founder Richard Barnard is facing three charges for two speeches. He is accused of supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act and encouraging “criminal activity”.
Naila Ahmed, Head of Campaigns at Cage International, said, “The British government continues to build an infrastructure of authoritarian laws.
“This is beyond a question of complicity. The British police are now acting as an extension of a genocidal entity, abusing and exploiting any and every power at their disposal to intimidate and crush resistance to the mass killing of humans in Gaza.”
She added, “We stand in solidarity with Pal Action and all those who take a stance against genocide.”
Hong Kong crackdown hypocrisy
Authorities in Hong Kong have jailed dozens of pro-democracy campaigners—including one for ten years—in the Chinese territory’s largest national security trial. Police arrested the activists in 2021 on “conspiracy to commit subversion”.
The sentences have provoked outrage among British politicians and journalists who have rallied against a crackdown on political freedom. They seem shocked at a government sending down activists on conspiracy charges.
But those same commentators stay silent when the British state hounds climate campaigners and Palestine protesters.
The campaigners are being persecuted for telling the truth about the climate crisis.
Sinisterly, the British state has used repressive laws to detain and persecute activists before they have even taken any direct action. Extinction Rebellion founder Roger Hallam was sent down for five years for “conspiracy to cause a public nuisance”.
It’s hypocrisy for the British media to call out the repression in Hong Kong but fail to do the same against our own government.
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