ACTIVISTS in Scotland are expected to defy the ban of Palestine Action at a national demonstration in Edinburgh in defence of the right to protest.
As part of a demonstration to demand an end to UK arms sales to Israel and a full Scottish boycott of Israel, campaigners have said that on September 6 they will stand in solidarity with the Defend Our Juries campaign and activists taking "peaceful and courageous action to defy the UK Government’s attempt to criminalise peaceful, non-violent direct action against genocide in Gaza".
Organisers have said civic society – including trade unions, solidarity groups and peace campaigners – must unite to defend the right to protest after more than 800 people were arrested following the implementation of the ban.
At a previous national demonstration in Edinburgh, a group of activists wore T-shirts stating "genocide in Palestine, time to take action" at the end of the rally. Several arrests were made.
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “The UK Government should have ended arms exports to Israel years ago, as they have a duty to take action to stop war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
"Since they failed disgracefully to abide by their commitments under international and domestic law, it was left to citizens to take matters into their own hands, and stop the flow of weapons to Israel’s genocidal war machine. This is precisely what Palestine Action did. They were so effective that the Israeli embassy and the weapons companies lobbied for them to be banned and the UK Government capitulated."
The group said the "mass defiance" in Scotland adds to the mounting pressure on Holyrood to not enforce Yvette Cooper’s ban.
“We all know who the real terrorists are. And they are not the ones silently holding cardboard signs, or those taking a hammer to the weapons of genocide," Defend Our Juries added.
“Court dates have already been cancelled for protesters in Scotland charged with expressing support for Palestine Action after the Scottish Human Rights Commission made clear that the arrest of peaceful protesters risks breaking the law. The Scottish Government should make clear that they will not be complicit in the Westminster attack on our fundamental rights to protest their complicity in genocide”
Sophie Johnson, secretary of Stop the War Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government has rightly condemned the genocide in Gaza, and called for UK sanctions. But there is still much more that can be done here in Scotland under devolved powers. John Swinney must cut all economic and political ties with Israel. As the IDF launches a renewed offensive against a starving population, such international pressure is absolutely urgent. It can save lives.
"We are proud that tens of thousands of Scots continue to march and take action in solidarity with the people of Gaza. This movement is continuing to grow, and we believe it will be a real force in the forthcoming elections in Scotland.”
When is the national Palestine demonstration in Edinburgh?
The march will set off from The Mound at 2pm on Saturday, September 6.
A rally will then be held at the UK Government HQ, in the capital, Queen Elizabeth House.
