Protesters defy police warnings with signs supporting Palestine Action

Protesters have defied police warnings by displaying signs in support of the banned organisation Palestine Action at a demonstration in Edinburgh.

Demonstrators bearing signs saying, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, sat down outside the main UK Government building in Edinburgh on Saturday.

The protest came after warnings from Police Scotland that showing support for the organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act.

It comes after the UK Government made Palestine Action a proscribed organisation in July this year, meaning membership or support for the organisation is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Ahead of Saturday’s protest, Police Scotland vowed it would enforce the law in a “proportionate way”.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We know there are strong feelings towards the situation in Palestine and people continue to express their views about that through protest and demonstrations without breaking counter-terrorism laws.

“The key difference is showing support for Palestine Action Group as it is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them.”

As the demonstration took place, anti-immigration campaigners also staged a separate protest in the capital.

Among the Union flags at that event, outside the Scottish Parliament, was one emblazoned with the words “Stop the Boats”.

However, the campaign group Stand Up to Racism Scotland said that there were three times as many people at the counter protest it arranged.