Jurors have a right to acquit a defendant according to their conscience, irrespective of a Judge’s directions. Every defendant deserves access to fair justice. We are a UK-based campaign to ensure fair justice in UK courtrooms. www.defendourjuries.org
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A spokesperson for DOJ said the arrests were "scandalous" as they vowed to press ahead with a protest in London at the weekend. Kerry Moscogiuri at Amnesty UK, said the arrest of five lead spokespeople for the campaign group is “incredibly concerning”. www.thenational.scot/news/2543519...
A campaign group has said five of its spokespeople have been arrested by counter-terror police today. Defend Our Juries said it still expected more than 1,000 protesters to gather with signs declaring "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action". www.bbc.com/news/article...
Counterterrorism police arrested five members of a campaign group calling for the UK government to lift its ban on Palestine Action. DOJ reported that five of its “key spokespeople” had been rounded up in dawn raids and arrested under the Terrorism Act. www.middleeasteye.net/news/campaig...
Tuesday’s press conference was set to feature speakers including author Sally Rooney. Hours before the conference was due to start, DOJ reported that five of its “key spokespeople” had been rounded up in dawn raids and arrested under the Terrorism Act. www.middleeasteye.net/news/campaig...
No one has been arrested for attending Open Calls. No raids have taken place in London for sign-holding. The action will go ahead on Saturday as planned. Lift the Ban. Free Palestine. Stop the Genocide. Sign up for action at: wedonotcomply.org
Tim Crosland was arrested just hours before he was due to hold a press conference announcing that the mass action will proceed in Parliament Square on Saturday 6 September from 1pm. The arrests include young law student Paddy Friend, who was also due to speak.
🚨 BREAKING: September 6th Action to go ahead as 1,000+ pledge to hold signs in defiance of Labour’s authoritarian ban Join the 1000+ by signing up at wedonotcomply.org This announcement comes after counter-terrorism police arrested five spokespeople in dawn raids today.
Police Arrest Key Members of Protest Group Defying Palestine Action Ban After Dawn Raids A ‘dystopian crackdown’. Those arrested include Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer and DOJ co-founder, and Paddy Friend, a law student and DOJ spokesperson. novaramedia.com/2025/09/02/p...
Our Open Calls will still take place this week, Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30pm. No arrests have taken place for attending an open call, and none of today’s arrests relate to holding signs. Nobody has been raided for holding a sign in London. Sign up: wedonotcomply.org
The raids come just hours before an important press conference was due to take place, where the Lift The Ban campaign were to confirm over 1,000 commitments have been made and that Saturday’s action will go ahead. The opposition to the ban on Palestine Action is unstoppable.
🚨 BREAKING - FIVE Lift The Ban key spokespeople arrested in dawn raids. Arrested for addressing Open Calls during which legal information on the risks of opposing Labour’s absurd ban on Palestine Action have been shared. Video: Paddy Friend, a law student, arrested at home.
An 81-year-old woman is among 47 more people charged for allegedly showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action during protests this summer. More than half of those charged today are over 60. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... Sign up: wedonotcomply.org
An 81-year-old woman is among 47 more people charged for allegedly showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action during protests this summer. More than half of those charged today are over 60. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... Sign up: wedonotcomply.org
Jonathan Hall KC, independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, discussing how law applies to everyone equally: “Whether you look like a sort of - if you like, I use the phrase a hairy foreigner, or you're some nice white old lady sitting in the road.” www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2025...
Humza Yousaf calls on peaceful support of Palestine Action to be decriminalised by Lord Advocate While you’re at it, de-proscribe the group altogether. They’re not terrorists. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic... Sign up for action: wedonotcomply.org
Juliet Stevenson: ‘Arresting peaceful protesters is an astonishing abuse of police power’ ‘Why are we investing money and resources and support in arresting elderly Quakers and priests sitting peacefully… protesting the deaths of thousands of people…’ www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/08/2...
SMOKE & MIRRORS UK bans Israeli officials from flagship defence show "Israeli defence companies, such as Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI and Uvision, will be able to attend." Shut them all down. End relationships. Stop the Genocide. www.theguardian.com/politics/202... www.wedonotcomply.org
Government accused of ‘cynical media campaign’ in Palestine Action legal battle Hundreds of arrests have been made since a ban on the group came into force in July, with nearly 70 people charged. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim... Sign up: wedonotcomply.org
An 86-year-old woman is among more than 60 people charged with showing support for the terrorist group Palestine Action. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said 64 people had now been charged under the Terrorism Act. Sign up: wedonotcomply.org www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08...
Palestine Action lawyers accuse Yvette Cooper of ‘cynical media campaign’ Exclusive: Home secretary ‘breaching duty to court’ by making claims about reason for group’s ban that she has not disclosed in legal case www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
People from across Scotland are to gather in Edinburgh for a test of the ban on PalestineAction. Ross Greer (Scottish Greens) has called on the First Minister and Lord Advocate to explore legal mechanisms to stop prosecutions of people expressing support www.heraldscotland.com/news/2542424...
Activists in Scotland are expected to defy the ban of Palestine Action in Edinburgh. Campaigners have said they will stand in solidarity with the Defend Our Juries campaign and their activists who will be taking "peaceful and courageous action” in London www.thenational.scot/news/2542367...
Proscribing direct action groups is a major assault on democracy and freedom of expression. Labour has sided with Israel’s genocide. Over 700 people have been arrested since Yvette Cooper & the UK Government brought in the ban on Palestine Action. info: www.defendourjuries.net/lift-the-ban
BREAKING - SCOTLAND ACTION In addition to London’s September 6th action, Defend Our Juries and Scottish PSC are calling on people to join a Lift The Ban action in Edinburgh on September 6th outside Queen Elizabeth House. Go to wedonotcomply.org for info and signup.
The Times, it seems.
Paul Laverty, who wrote the award-winning screenplays for 'I, Daniel Blake,' 'Sweet Sixteen' and 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley,' was charged over wearing a t-shirt which stated: “Genocide in Palestine, time to take Action”. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...
Palestine Action poster in window is legal, police say. A police officer said: “As I’m sure you’re aware, there is no offence with it because it’s in a private dwelling…” The Jewish Board of Deputies said “if the police say it’s fine, it’s fine”. www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
A Baptist minister has been arrested in Oxford for holding a placard reading ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’. Rev Grote of New Road Baptist Church said ‘I am doing this because of my faith. I’m doing this because I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, who broke the rules and created peace.’
"Palestine Action is NOT a terrorist organisation" Christian minister, James Grote, was arrested outside his church, for holding a sign opposing genocide and the Palestine Action ban.
BREAKING: Baptist minister, James Grote, was just arrested under the Terrorism Act. His alleged crime? Holding a placard outside his church in Oxford which said: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action"
COMMIT TO ACTION - SIGN UP FORM NOW LIVE! You’ve probably seen the attempts to label ordinary people as “terrorists” for simply holding a sign - will you make a commitment to our September 6th action with 1,000+ others? wedonotcomply.org
‘My legs don’t work as they should, but that won’t stop me’: The grannies risking arrest for Palestine Nearly 100 of those detained were in their seventies and 15 were in their eighties. Demonstrators had an average age of 54. metro.co.uk/2025/08/12/g...
Opposing genocide is now “provocative” according to the Daily Mail “A free speech row has erupted after a man holding a provocative pro-Palestine sign was arrested outside Westminster Magistrates Court…” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
“This isn't about breaking all laws that we find ludicrous, this is one example of a particularly egregious, anti-democratic law. There is a long tradition of people breaking unjust laws and I see [all those arrested] as part of that tradition” www.bbc.com/news/article...
“I always thought it was a good rule of thumb for the government that you shouldn’t bring in laws - especially terrorism laws - that was likely to result in the arrests of multiple elderly vicars” Lord Ken MacDonald on BBC R4 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
"If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear." - The late Joanna Macy @defendourjuries.bsky.social
Crown Office cancels court dates for Scottish activists on terror charges Prosecutors have cancelled the court dates of Scottish protesters charged under terrorism laws for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action. www.thenational.scot/news/2539930...
Not content with his corrupt involvement in the silencing of protestors, Israel Arms lobbyist Lord Walney is now trying to ban TV shows associated with Sally Rooney. Is this the modern equivalent of book-burning? Now where have we seen that before… inews.co.uk/news/bbc-und...
We are all Plasticine Action Protester arrested over ‘Plasticine Action’ T-shirt: ‘How ridiculous is this?’ Miles Pickering says crowd at protest over Palestine Action ban was laughing at ‘silliness’ of scene as he was detained. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
"The civil liberties movement Defend Our Juries has written to Lord Hermer KC, the attorney-general, to complain that Cooper’s article amounted to a contempt of court, arguing that her comments would prevent [fair trials]" www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
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MORE NEWS 🚨 Defend Our Juries today wrote to the Attorney General to advise that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is in contempt of court. This follows Cooper’s public acknowledgment that Israel is committing crimes against humanity. Press release: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
🚨BREAKING🚨 Yvette Cooper becomes first Minister to publicly acknowledge Israel’s crimes against humanity In this article, Cooper said the proscription did not prevent protests “against the catastrophic humanitarian situation and crimes against humanity in Gaza”. Full: www.ft.com/content/42eb...
We will not be deterred by false claims from ministers that Palestine Action are “violent”, or that they “target Jewish businesses”. These baseless and defamatory claims prejudice the right to fair trial for those already held as political prisoners. www.defendourjuries.org/lift-the-ban
Knowing that people are flocking to register for our September 6th action to oppose her absurd ban, Yvette Cooper is doing the rounds reiterating lies about Palestine Action. The government’s own assessment states that PA do not advocate for violence. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cooper’s attempt to justify her decision by misleading the public shows only what a huge political misstep she has made. Her political career will be marked by the most draconian attack on our civil liberties in a generation. - @HudaAmmori (The Observer) observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“Terror” convictions have now been downgraded from “14 years in prison” to cautions and conditional discharges! A senior minister reportedly says “this is not going to clog up prisons”, suggests cautions could be issued instead. 🚫Cautions. 🚫Guilt. www.ft.com/content/b617...
Utter nonsense. "Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this." - Supt Hornigold These people are peacefully opposing genocide. No damage. No disruption. No disorder. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Police arrest 13 at Palestine Action protest in Norwich Five taken into custody and eight de-arrested after placard-waving activists gather outside City Hall www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08...
BREAKING 🚨 More than a dozen arrested at an autonomous action in Norwich today for holding signs with the words: “I Oppose Genocide - I Support Palestine Action” This comes a day after Mark Rowley states that he is “proud” of how policing is going. wedonotcomply.org
Law student, Paddy Friend, spoke to the BBC about why a “red line has been crossed” on Gaza and why so many are willing to risk a terror charge in order to Lift The Ban. Join over 1,000 others who will risk arrest by taking action on September 6th - go to wedonotcomply.org
‘I’m proud to have made this stand’ From a retired British colonel to a Catholic priest, half of the 532 people arrested were 60 or older. Many believe they had a greater share of responsibility to take in defending the right to free speech. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Notably, it appears from the statement that all charges will be for the low level s.13 offence as it refers to “a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment”. Met statement in full: news.met.police.uk/news/further...
Let’s not forget that the proscription is likely unlawful, these arrests are likely unlawful, and that participation in a genocide is almost certainly unlawful. It would be more appropriate if Sir Mark Rowley were hanging his head in shame.
Of the impact on the morale of his officers of arresting so many quiet and principled people, including the elderly and the infirm? Of trashing Britain’s reputation for respect for democratic freedoms, scenes that have been viewed with horror and disbelief all around the world?
Of the brilliant policing work required to detect the ‘crimes’ of those quietly protesting in Parliament Square? That after 6 weeks of ‘investigation’, less than a tenth of those arrested have been charged?
The Met Chief, Sir Mark Rowley, says he is ‘proud’ that of the 700 protestors arrested for holding signs since 5 July people, 60 have now been charged. What exactly is he proud about?
MET ‘PROUD’ THAT ANOTHER 60 OF 700 ‘FACE PROSECUTION’ Today the Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said he is ‘proud’ that a further 60 of 700 peaceful protestors will be prosecuted under the Terrorism Act. Our response in this thread🧵
Veteran peace activist, Angie Zelter, was arrested at the Lift The Ban action on Saturday. Shortly before her arrest, she explains how she has taken action at military bases many times across the years but has never before been considered a “terrorist”. wedonotcomply.org
Palestine Action prosecutions should be suspended, say UK rights groups Campaigners tell attorney general that proceeding with trials before judicial review raises legal and moral questions www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
“How does it end? Does it risk becoming an "I am Spartacus moment"? - the words of Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, the Labour peer and civil rights campaigner?” It ends by Lifting The Ban and calling a genocide a genocide. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... wedonotcomply.org
There’s no requirement that a person uses their real name or usual contact details, if they have concerns about doing so. They’re still welcome to participate. A lot of people want to face this absurd ban head-on, though. There’s a lot of power in doing that.
LIFT THE BAN - SEPTEMBER 6TH We can now announce that the next mass action to Lift The Ban on Palestine Action will take place on September 6th at 1pm, in Parliament Square. We are looking for 1,000 commitments before confirming the action. Register at: www.wedonotcomply.org
Their ban isn’t just a UK block, they directly instructed the web hosts to delete our website from their servers. The wedonotcomply.org link is for people to register their interest in our next action, although this is soon to redirect to our new website! www.defendourjuries.net/lift-the-ban
Palestine Action ban ‘could become Starmer’s poll tax moment’ as freedom of speech row deepens Baroness Chakrabarti said the proscription of the group risks exacerbating community tensions, and campaigners warned the ban was a threat to freedom of speech www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
For updates on the Lift The Ban campaign, continue to engage with our social media & check our website regularly at defendourjuries.net/lift-the-ban The wedonotcomply.org website was also redirected to our own site after Lift The Ban began hitting the headlines - fewer characters!
The “We Do Not Comply” Telegram channel, set up by the original campaign to lawfully oppose the ban on Pal Action prior to Defend Our Juries launching “Lift The Ban”, has been taken down. This comes after our own website and Zoom account were silenced by counter-terror police.
“Keir Starmer’s government is treating voters with contempt. With the arrest of hundreds of protesters in London, for many, the feeling is mutual.” Andy Beckett writes in the Guardian. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Arresting hundreds for protesting against a ban on Palestine Action shames us all, writes Sean O'Grady www.independent.co.uk/voices/pales...
Jonathan Porritt, a knight of the realm and long-time adviser to the King when Prince of Wales speaks to Newsnight about his arrest for supporting Palestine Action. With Victoria Derbyshire. youtu.be/hil_SSWXC3k
Palestine Action co-founder accuses ministers of making defamatory claims Huda Ammori says No 10’s allegations go against its own intelligence assessments, as pressure grows over mass arrests www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Palestine Action founder attacks 'defamatory' Labour claims “they capitulated to the Israeli embassy, arms manufacturers, and pro-Israeli groups who lobbied them to ban us” - Huda Ammori www.thenational.scot/news/2538166... Our Timeline of Corruption www.defendourjuries.net/timeline-of-corruption
You might need to give your eyes a rub for this one - Andrew Neil slams ‘bizarre’ decision to proscribe Palestine Action Though he might have a warped stance on genocide and seems to have missed the first three words of our signs, he opposes the ban. youtu.be/KGpHyzlINsM
A young Care Worker from Yorkshire was arrested at Saturday’s Lift The Ban action for holding a sign. “They’re dragging people out of their homes in the middle of the night, then shooting them in the street. It’s murder. It’s a genocide. Free Palestine!” www.wedonotcomply.org
This video truly captured the mood. The Guardian spoke to protesters and bystanders in Parliament Square, London, at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government. youtu.be/Mw3NYfVuF_M?...
Nobody was given “No Further Action” releases. They are released on police bail with one condition - not to attend a Palestine Action protest.
Please provide evidence that there is no concerted attack on freedom of assembly and expression - cite your sources and expert evidence - if you can prove us wrong we will issue an apology to you directly. Otherwise, gtfoh.
An arrestee in Parliament Square recites Martin Niemöller’s “First They Came”, moments before the Met Police carried him away for an alleged terrorism offence, along with 521 others. They’re coming for you next. Whatever cause you stand for. wedonotcomply.org
RELEASED We can now confirm that every arrestee from the Lift The Ban sign-holding action has been released. None have been charged. Hundreds of the arrestees were taken to police cells. Hundreds were processed in pop-up gazebos after queuing for hours. www.wedonotcomply.org
HISTORIC PROTEST More people were arrested yesterday than at the infamous Poll Tax riots of 1990. More than double total “terror” arrests last year (the whole year!). This is clearly unsustainable. Everyone knows they’re not terrorists. Labour must Lift The Ban. Now. Sign up at: wedonotcomply.org
BREAKING: Police confirm 521 arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action, only half of those who held signs defying the ban on Saturday. Many hundreds simply walked away at 2pm when the vigil was due to end. Sign up for the next one - wedonotcomply.org
During a live broadcast of Big Brother in Israel, members of Standing Together rush the stage wearing “Leave Gaza” shirts and calling for an end to the genocide and against Netanyahu’s plan for permanent occupation.
As usual, the Sunday Express attempts to incite violence. There was no “riot”. There will be no “riot”. We are a peaceful movement who are actively opposed to violence - we silently hold cardboard signs. Join us: wedonotcomply.org
With that news - we launch our signup for our next mass-action. Join us in September in even bigger numbers against Labour’s absurd ban and against UK complicity in Israel’s genocide: www.wedonotcomply.org
Largest ever mass arrest by Met Police at one protest 466 arrests were made. This is reportedly the largest ever mass arrest by Met Police. For context, in the year ending 31 March 2025, just 232 people were arrested in the UK for terrorist-related activity in that entire year.
Theo Simon, from the band Seize the Day, is one of the hundreds of protestors arrested at the @defendourjuries.bsky.social action in #London in solidarity with #Palestine.
BREAKING: Met Police arrest 50 of 600-700 ‘terrorist supporters’ before the 2pm chime. “We will keep going. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September.” Read here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
BREAKING - Mass arrests as over a thousand people attend Lift The Ban protest wedonotcomply.org @eyeonpalestine.bsky.social @youthdemand.bsky.social @just-stopoil.bsky.social
When injustice becomes the standard, resistance becomes contagious. Messages of support coming in from all over the UK today. This message from XR drummers at the XR Rhythms camp. wedonotcomply.org @extinctionrebellion.uk
This is the type of corruption we are standing against. A member of the House of Lords urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at the request of a US defence company that employs him as an adviser. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Why The Palestine Action Protest Will Be A Particularly Tough Test For Yvette Cooper And The Police The Home Office has to handle both the logistics and its image this weekend. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/police...
‘Gross abuse of state power’: defiance grows over UK ban on Palestine protest group At 81, Deborah Hinton, a former British magistrate who was honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to the community, seems an unlikely terrorist suspect. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger joins Lift The Ban “Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the government, the group is being punished for exposing Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the UK’s role enabling it – we cannot let our opposition be silenced” www.independent.co.uk/voices/bianc...
Here’s one from the Daily Mail for anyone who can’t get their head around the idea that members of the public can care about more than one thing. It references “riot police” at unrelated protests on different days and in different cities... Weird take. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
"Shamik Dutta from Bhatt Murphy, who is representing Murton, said: “The legal challenge is being brought because as matters stand our client has neither received any apology nor any acknowledgment that Kent police conduct has been unlawful" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Tim Crosland’s arrest for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action went viral and his Defend Our Juries is calling for more protests on Saturday “We are talking about deeply peaceful, principled people who are trying to stop atrocities,” - Crosland www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
HOME SECRETARY URGED TO STOP COVERING UP GOV’S SUPPORT FOR GENOCIDE Ahead of tomorrow’s Lift the Ban protest, Defend Our Juries has written to both Yvette Cooper & Sir Mark Rowley. The letter to Cooper: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Letter to Rowley: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Mass protest organisers dismiss ‘feeble’ first charges for Palestine Action support morningstaronline.co.uk/article/mass...
FREEDOM OF SPEECH? Counter-terror police irresponsibly took down our legal briefing call. Many hundreds attended on a new link. “an open meeting scheduled on Zoom had been taken down after the company received a request from the Metropolitan police.” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...