Today is the first day in the three-day judicial review of the government’s decision to ban anti-genocide group Palestine Action (PA) as a terrorist group. For this occasion, anti-genocide and free speech protesters mounted a demonstration outside the High Court in London. Some, many of them Jewish, held placards announcing their support for the banned group and were again arrested by Starmer’s police enforcers.

Chiara Contrino was there for Skwawkbox and the Canary to photograph the protest — and the arrival of a certain former UK ambassador Craig Murray:

As well as anti-genocide placards, many held up explicit statements of support for the banned group, including blind protester Michael Higgins who has been repeatedly arrested:

This led to arrests, as the police state action against freedom of speech continued:

A bright spot was the warm welcome for Craig Murray, who arrived to report on the first day of the hearing:

The case is now being heard by a panel of three judges — all reportedly Israel supporters. At least two of them have family links to the arms trade, and one has already ruled that the UK government can continue to supply spares for Israeli strike aircraft responsible for slaughtering thousands of Palestinians. This comes after the government and judiciary removed judge Michael Chamberlain, who has heard the stages of the case before today—triggering accusations of an Establishment stitch-up.

More than 2,300 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2006 for protesting against the Palestine Action ban. They now face 30-minute kangaroo courts if the judicial review does not overturn the Israel-driven ban.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

This post was originally published on Canary.