Activists to hold protest at Lancaster Castle against ban on Palestine Action
Activists against the ban on Palestine Action are to stage a protest at Lancaster Castle this weekend.
A group from Lift the Ban - Lancaster will meet at 1pm on Saturday with signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.
The action in Lancaster is one of 18 taking place around the UK, to coincide with a legal challenge to the government’s ban on Palestine Action.
To date more than 2,000 people have been arrested under terrorism legislation for taking part in “Lift the Ban” actions.
Around 170 have so far been charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an offence which carries a maximum six months prison sentence.
The latest wave of actions also coincides with the Prisoners for Palestine rolling hunger strike, launched on November 2, with six prisoners so far refusing food in protest against prolonged imprisonment without trial.
Defend Our Juries has labelled the action the “most widespread mass civil disobedience across the UK in modern British history”.
A spokesperson said: “These historic mobilisations will honour those already imprisoned for risking everything to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel and stands in unwavering solidarity with them.
“As the latest UN report makes devastatingly clear, both Conservative and Labour governments have been shamefully complicit in the horrors unfolding in Gaza.
"The use of counter-terror legislation to silence and criminalise people acting to save lives and expose the UK Government’s violations of international law must end now.
“Our movement to defy this draconian ban is growing by the thousands and we will not stop until it is overturned.”