London, United Kingdom - July 12, 2025 On Saturday, July 12, a total of 86 individuals were arrested in cities across the UK for holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The arrests come just one week after the UK Government designated Palestine Action as a ‘terrorist’ organisation, making such expressions of support potentially unlawful. Demonstrators were seen in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Derry, Leeds, and Kendal. Among them were four vicars, a lawyer, a civil servant, a social worker, a mechanical engineer, the daughter of a Polish resistance fighter, and veteran activists from the 1960s civil rights movement, including Eamon McCann and Kate Nash. In London alone, 46 people were arrested. Cardiff saw 13 arrests, Manchester 16, Derry 10, and Leeds 1. This follows 29 arrests last Saturday under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for identical signs. Those arrested were held for roughly 12 hours before being released on bail without charge. In a related incident in Scotland, a man was detained for wearing a t-shirt from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign that read, “Genocide in Palestine. Time to take action.” Since the proscription came into effect, nearly 120 people have been arrested across the UK in connection with these protests, and nearly 200 globally when including 80 arrests during a solidarity action in The Hague. Organisers had informed the Home Office and local police of the demonstrations in advance. In a joint statement, they declared, “We will not be deterred from opposing genocide, nor from defending those who refuse to be bystanders.” Protesters cited personal and historical reasons for participating. Civil servant Katarzyna Kruk said, “I have a lot to lose personally... But I, and the world, have even more to lose if we do not stand up to injustice.” Vicar Stephen Lingford added, “As a Christian Minister, I am doing this to stand against the genocide of the Palestinian people.”