cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/15338
The police have arrested activist Greta Thunberg at a protest to un-proscribe Palestine Action. Thunberg was holding a sign which read:
I support Palestine Action prisoners.
I oppose genocide.
View this post on Instagram
She is the latest activist to be arrested by British police amidst an ongoing crackdown on civil liberties and free speech in support of Palestine.
Greta Thunberg shows support for hunger strikers unwavering
A press release documenting Greta Thunberg’s arrest reads as follows:
“Greta Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest outside the offices of Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD. She arrived after the protest began, with a sign reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide”
This morning two activists covered the front of the building with symbolic blood-red paint, using re-purposed fire extinguishers, and the pair then locked-on at the front of the building, with the intention of drawing attention to Aspen’s complicity in Genocide, disrupting their business, and closing down the building.
Aspen Insurance, a global speciality insurer and reinsurer were targeted because they provide services to Elbit Systems UK, providing the arms manufacturer with the mandatory Employer Liability insurance without which Elbit could not produce weapons in Britain. Elbit are Israel’s biggest weapons maker, producing over 85% of their killer drone fleet and land-based equipment.
The action [by Greta Thunberg and others] was also carried out in solidarity with the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strikers, who are now in the eighth week of a hunger-strike, launched on November 2nd. The first 2 prisoners to join the protest, are now on their 52nd day on hunger-strike, and at a critical stage, where death is a real possibility. David Lammy, British Minister of Justice, has refused to speak to legal representatives of the hunger-strikers, or their families.
After the two activists locked-on at the front of the Aspen offices, they were joined by supporters. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg then arrived, holding a banner reading, “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” She was then arrested by police. This follows an arrest in Scotland, where a protestor was arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, for holding a sign reading, “I support the Palestine Action hunger strikers.”
In a statement of solidarity with the hunger-strikers released on Instagram a few days ago, Greta Thunberg said:
It is up to the state to intervene, and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide, something the British state has failed to do themselves. Mobilise and escalate to ensure the government cannot ignore their demands, and most importantly continue to answer their calls to Shut Elbit Down. Free Palestine!
The protest is ongoing”.
Greta Thunberg was at the pro-Palestine Hanukkah demo last night arranged by Jewish activists (reporting to follow).
Featured image via Greta Thunberg
By Willem Moore
From Canary via This RSS Feed.
You can be a terrorist for holding a sign now?
If it says "I support genocide", you'll be left alone by the Metropolitan police: https://youtube.com/shorts/RP1sPaH4Zec
Only when you say you oppose genocide, you'll be labeled a terrorist.
Only if the rich don't like it
The issue is a bit more complex. Palestine Action decided to go into a military airport and caused damage to one of their planes which resulted in that plane being grounded. And thanks to the UK's lax definition of what constitutes a terrorist organisation (namely causing considerable damage to public or private infrastructure and property, in an attempt to support a political or ideological cause, as an organisation), it was super easy to proscribe PA.
Which is pretty dumb as it was the same govt who refused to roll back laws that limited the legal framework of protests, making them essentially pointless, so the only action people can take to make the government actually listen... is what the government considers terrorism.
You say that like it was an accident.
Destroying military aircraft is a grey area? I'm not judging their actions at all, just being pragmatic.. destroying military aircraft is pretty much what it is - there's a reason it's protest, and at the highest level - there's consequences. This just doesn't seem like a confused Pikachu moment. For the record, I've been paddy wagoned, beat by cops, tear gassed, a whole bunch. I was released bc we didn't attack a military base for fucks sake. You play in the big leagues, there's gotta be respective consequence, no?
Cool, and I'm sure those who damaged the planes were prepared to be arrested. But now they're arresting people for saying, "Hey, I think what those guys who damaged a plane are saying is right." That crosses a line, for me.
Oh fuck, I didn't catch that. That's literal fascism.
They threw paint at some military aircraft, which is a far cry from "destroying".
They didn't blew up anything or even significantly damage it, they did just enough to be considered "damage" per that insanely broad law, kinda like in Britain somebody talking loud during a demonstration is enough to be considered "disturbing the public order" giving the coppers a legal excuse to arrest people participating in that demonstration.
No idea were you pulled that "destroying" from.
The aircraft wasn't destroyed. It had some paint thrown at it - considerably less damage than it would receive during even a routine reconnaissance mission. It was literally grounded for three days only, and even that was because the RAF decided to do a full checkup, something that wasn't warranted at the time.
Some members also beat a police officer with a sledgehammer and he was in recovery for three months due to an injury to his spine.
If you watch the video that was released you'll see it's not as clear cut as your comment makes out.
For example, the officer was also wielding a sledgehammer, a protestor had just slipped on the wet floor and as they were getting up again the sledgehammer wielding officer used the handle to shove them to the ground again.
Only parts of the footage have been released and the parts they did release didn't paint the picture of an innocent bobby being brutalised by terrorists, as they tried to portray in multiple press releases beforehand.
They also released the footage during the midst of an active trial despite having it for months prior.
The police's actions are not those of an impartial or innocent organisation.
Punching a Nazi with a sledgehammer shouldn't be a crime
Apparently the cop was the one swinging the sledgehammer.
Lmao
In the UK it has been this way for a while now. But if you commit genocide that's all fine.
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The pen IS mightier than the sword.
Apparently.