Opposing Genocide Is Not Terrorism

November 6, 2025

If you demonstrate in London against the genocide in Gaza you’re likely to see a huge police sign that says “It is an offence to support a proscribed organisation”. This message is aimed at protesters who hold signs stating: “I oppose Genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

United Nations human rights experts and other human rights groups have strongly condemned the government’s Palestine Action terrorist ban and it’s attack on entirely peaceful protesters. The hundreds of people arrested so far will be denied a right to a trial by jury.

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Clearly this right no longer applies in the UK since the ‘Proscription’ of Palestine Action. This is blatant repression by the British state.

A protesting pensioner shortly before she was arrested outside the Labour Party conference in September 2025.

One pensioner, 76 year old Audrey White, was brutally arrested some time ago following a peaceful protest in Liverpool against the apartheid state of Israel. The UK government is on the wrong side of history.

One of many peaceful protests in Liverpool held every Sunday against the Genocide in Gaza.

In a letter to her MP Audrey has outlined the situation she now faces:

Dear Kim Johnson MP

Thank you for the support you have provided to date.

I need to advise you on recent developments. I along with 2 co-defendants are now due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 11/11/25. The date and venue of the hearing raises serious concerns for all of us charged with these offences, as you are aware, many of them are pensioners.

A judicial review of the legality of extension of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to include Palestine Action does not take place until 26 November 2025 so a hearing on 11 November 2025 places defendants and their legal representatives at a disadvantage.

The venue is 200 miles from where the incident that led to our arrest took place. This severely curtails the practicalities of being able to bring defence witnesses to any trial. A potential witness for defence has restricted mobility and complex medical needs. They would find travel a difficulty. For them the alternative of a video link is not an option as they do not have access to the appropriate equipment and due to disability would struggle with the technology. This raises concerns regarding disability discrimination and digital exclusion.

A recent article by Craig Murray notes that defendants will not have the right to trial by jury and hearings will be limited to 36 minutes per defendant. This restriction has serious implications as it could set a dangerous precedent that could be applied to industrial action.

It would appear the Government is doing all it can to secure our convictions. The consequence could well be that prisons will acquire a duty of care for a large number of prisoners that have mobility problems and complex medical needs. The prison system is already overcrowded and is ill equipped to discharge such duties.

Our situation raises issues relating to human rights and disability discrimination. As my MP I would be grateful if you raise our situation in Parliament.

Yours sincerely,

Audrey White

Audrey is a member of the Merseyside Pensioners Association. MPA members will be travelling down to London to support her and others outside Westminster Magistrates Court.

I’ve been fortunate enough to know Audrey for a long time. She’s an inspirational campaigner for Socialism, Justice and Peace. When I asked her what she thought about the ‘ceasefire’ she said “Despite the so called ‘ceasefire’ there is a genocide happening in plain site in Gaza and Kier Starmer talks about the occupation of Gaza as being “wrong” and yet the government continues to supply arms and surveillance intelligence to Israel. For Israel a ‘ceasefire’ means ‘you cease, we fire’. The israelis continue to bomb & destroy family homes in Gaza. The truth is, there is no ceasefire; it’s all a big deception.

Action was needed 2 years ago and now the minimum Starmer can do to prevent the extermination of 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza is to have a complete arms and military embargo on the apartheid state. All diplomatic ties shouls be ended and sanctions introduced immediately.”

The UK government is complicit in the genocide and the arrest of hundreds of people (mainly pensioners) for carrying signs supporting Palestine Action is a sign of desperate measures to suppress free speech. The use of non violent direct action to prevent the production of arms manufactured for use against Palestinians is not terrorism.” It was within this context that Hazuan Hashim and myself made our latest short film ‘Free Free Palestine’ (below). Please share the film to your contacts.