Derry People Before Profit urge support for Day of Action opposing proscription of Palestine Action

People Before Profit in Derry has issued a strong statement condemning the British government's proscription of Palestine Action as an "act of cowardice" and a deliberate attempt to silence protests against ongoing actions in Gaza.

The statement read: "The proscription of Palestine Action was an act of cowardice by the British government. 

“Instead of challenging an Israeli regime committing genocide and continuing to bomb Gaza, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to silence and criminalise those acting to stop mass slaughter and crimes against humanity. 

“Since this proscription has been put in place, it has faced a relentless challenge. 

“We are proud Civil Rights veterans took the lead in Derry in opposing Palestine Action's proscription and to underscore the utter hypocrisy of trying to implement the ban here. 

“Several of our members, former MLA Eamonn McCann, Cllr Shaun Harkin, Goretti Horgan and Sophia McFeely, along with other Derry based campaigners including Bloody Sunday family member Kate Nash and Cllr Gary Donnelly, have been informed by the PSNI they face potential charges under the Terrorism Act for showing support for Palestine Action. 

“Despite this, no one is deterred from speaking out in solidarity with Palestine Action and to demand all charges are dropped. 

“British politicians should be facing charges for their complicity with genocide, not the anti-genocide Filton 24, a number of whom are presently on hunger strike.

"In July, Derry City and Strabane District Council supported People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin's motion calling for the proscription of Palestine Action to be overturned:

"Council rejects the rationale provided by the British government and Security Minister Dan Jarvis for the proscription of Palestine Action and calls for its immediate overturning" 

“Council supports the legal challenge to Palestine Action's proscription and will write to the High Court to call for the ban to be removed immediately. 

“Council supports all those who have protested against the ban on Palestine Action and calls for charges against them to be immediately dropped. 

“Council commends the opposition of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions at its July Delegate Conference in Belfast to the British government's authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation and the curtailing of human rights, and, its demand for all Palestine solidarity campaigners to be protected from intimidation, discrimination and victimisation. 

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“Council commends and supports veteran Civil Rights campaigners who have protested against proscription and in solidarity with Palestine Action in order to defend the right to protest and on the basis that protesting against genocide is not a crime."

“People Before Profit will use our platform to challenge the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity. We demand the immediate scrapping of legislation banning Palestine Action.

“We urge people to join the day of action in Derry, Belfast, London and elsewhere calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be lifted and for all charges against those acting to oppose genocide are dropped.

“The global movement opposing continuing Israeli terror and complicity with it will not be silenced."