London, United Kingdom - August 09, 2025 Between 600 and 700 people gathered silently on Parliament Square, holding cardboard signs stating, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” in a powerful demonstration against the UK government’s terror ban on Palestine Action. Organised by Defend Our Juries, the “Lift The Ban” campaign aims to end restrictions on Palestine Action and push the government to acknowledge and act against genocide. The turnout far exceeded expectations of both organisers and the Metropolitan Police, who had prepared for low hundreds. Despite warnings from the Met Police and calls from Downing Street urging people not to participate, protesters showed resilience. Amnesty International warned the police that arrests would violate international law, yet arrests continued. By the end of the hour-long protest, only around 50 people were detained, including notable figures such as former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg, NHS workers, quakers, and a blind wheelchair user. Prominent supporters like Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja and human rights activist Bianca Jagger attended as spokespeople. Poet Alice Oswald, environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, and former detainee Moazzam Begg risked arrest while holding signs. Defend Our Juries condemned the ban as a violation of democratic rights and vowed to continue their campaign, with a larger mass action planned for September. The ban faces a legal challenge after the High Court agreed to a full Judicial Review. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated the proscription order breaches international law. The protest highlighted concerns over government complicity in war crimes and the suppression of peaceful protest. A spokesperson said: “Palestine Action and people holding cardboard signs present no danger to the public at large, whereas the people who have lobbied for this ban have the blood of 60,000 Palestinians on their hands.” Civil society support is growing, including a letter from over 300 British Jewish people condemning the ban and calls from academics and human rights groups backing the campaign.