As London braces for a weekend of heightened tensions, the city’s streets are set to become the stage for a dramatic test of protest rights, policing, and the boundaries of anti-terror legislation. On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at least 500 people are expected to openly demonstrate in support of Palestine Action, a group recently proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK government. The Metropolitan Police, already on high alert, face the unprecedented challenge of potentially arresting hundreds of individuals at once—an event that could ripple far beyond Westminster.
The controversy began in July, when Home Secretary Yvette Cooper officially banned Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The decision followed a high-profile incident on June 20, when activists damaged two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, causing about £7 million in damage. According to The Independent, the group claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted what they described as national security assets. In the wake of the ban, Cooper stated she had seen "disturbing information" about the group’s future plans and warned, "this is not a non-violent organisation." She added, "More of that information is likely to be revealed once court cases come through, and can't be in advance. But I would say to people, this is not a non-violent organisation."
Downing Street echoed these concerns, cautioning that "those who seek to support this group may yet not know the true nature of this organisation." The government’s move means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is now a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. This sweeping measure has not gone unchallenged. As HuffPost UK reports, Palestine Action has launched a judicial review to contest the proscription, but for now, the group remains officially designated as a terror organization.
Saturday’s demonstration, organized by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, is set to test the limits of these new restrictions. Organizers claim they have recruited at least 500 participants, with spokespersons expressing confidence in their numbers. Their stated intention is to protest peacefully, mainly by holding placards reading, "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." Just over a month ago, such an act would not have resulted in arrest; now, it could mean years behind bars.
The Metropolitan Police, well-versed in managing large-scale protests, find themselves in uncharted waters. The prospect of arresting hundreds of protesters at once is highly unusual—especially considering that, in the year ending March 31, 2025, British police arrested only 232 people for terrorist-related activity in total. The force has called in officers from outside London and has warned that anyone showing support for Palestine Action "can expect to be arrested." In a statement quoted by HuffPost UK, the Met said, "Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested."
Complicating matters further, a separate pro-Gaza demonstration is also scheduled to march through Westminster on the same day. Such events have previously drawn hundreds of thousands, raising the stakes for police and increasing the risk of confusion or escalation. Human rights organizations, speaking anonymously to HuffPost UK due to sensitivities around Palestine Action, described the situation as a "macho test of strength and will" between law enforcement and protesters.
The government’s hardline stance has sparked a fierce backlash from across the political spectrum and beyond. Labour MP Clive Lewis criticized the proscription, warning it "undermined democracy" and risks "confusing dissent and terror." Former cabinet minister Lord Hain, now a Labour peer, said he was "deeply ashamed" of the government’s actions. The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, went even further, calling the move a "disturbing" misuse of counter-terrorism legislation, "totally disproportionate and unnecessary."
Amnesty International has also weighed in, urging the Metropolitan Police to exercise restraint. Sacha Deschmukh, Amnesty’s chief executive, stated, "At a time when people are quite rightly outraged by the genocide they see being perpetrated in Gaza, it is more crucial than ever that there is space to peacefully express that outrage. I call again on the Met police to think carefully before making rash decisions this weekend—their job is to facilitate peaceful protest, not shut it down." Amnesty further pointed out that international law protects peaceful protest speech unless it incites violence, serious damage to property, hatred, or discrimination. "In the case of this weekend’s protest, holding a placard and peacefully stating support for Palestine Action cannot be treated as an example of incitement," the organization said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has reportedly created additional prison capacity in anticipation of a possible influx of detainees. More than 200 people were arrested across the UK last month for supporting Palestine Action, many of them simply holding placards—including pensioners. Human rights campaign group Liberty highlighted the broader context: "Successive governments have brought in new laws designed to clamp down on our right to protest," said Sam Grant, Liberty’s director of external relations. He cited the 2022 law granting police power to ban "noisy" protests and the 2023 Public Order Act criminalizing "locking-on." Grant added, "Worryingly, even more legislation is going through parliament right now, which would prevent the wearing of masks at protests, putting disabled protesters and political campaigners at particular risk. It’s vital that everyone is able to stand up for what they believe in, and that must be protected through our right to protest."
Defend Our Juries, the group behind Saturday’s demonstration, has insisted that it does not intend to overwhelm the police or justice system. "If we are allowed to protest peacefully and freely, then that is no bother to anyone," they stated in their briefing documents. Yet, the possibility remains that the Metropolitan Police could attempt mass arrests, a move that would be highly unusual and fraught with legal and logistical challenges. Some legal experts, cited by HuffPost UK, have raised the possibility that police could act preemptively, arresting individuals before the protest even begins—an approach previously seen during anti-monarchy demonstrations at King Charles’ coronation.
The debate over how to balance national security with civil liberties is not new, but the proscription of Palestine Action and the government’s response to public protest have brought it into sharp relief. Critics argue that the current approach risks criminalizing dissent and blurring the line between protest and terrorism. Supporters of the ban, including the Home Secretary, maintain that the group’s violent record and alleged plans justify the government’s actions.
With the eyes of the nation—and indeed the world—on London this weekend, the handling of these protests will serve as a litmus test for the UK’s commitment to both security and the right to free expression. The outcome may well shape the future of protest rights in Britain, as well as the public’s trust in its institutions. For now, all sides are bracing for what could be a defining moment in the ongoing struggle over the boundaries of dissent and the rule of law.
