Green Party leader Zack Polanski has welcomed a High Court ruling that found the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action was unlawful.
In response, the Metropolitan Police has said it will pause arrests of peaceful demonstrators expressing support for the group while legal proceedings continue.
Speaking to The London Standard at the Attitude 101 event, where he was being honoured, Mr Polanski said: “I’ve just received an award as a trailblazer, but let’s be clear, the 2,700 people are absolute trailblazers.
“These are the people who have stirred against a genocide in Gaza and spoken out against this, and now this has been demonstrated as unlawful.”
He continued: “We’ve all seen what this government has done to keep pushing the label of terrorists against people that any reasonable-minded people can see are actually against the killing of innocent people.
“And so I actually stand with all of those people, and it’s time for the government to release them, and where they happen charges to make sure they’re dropped.”
Palestine Action’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, succeeded on Friday in a High Court challenge to the decision last year by then-home secretary Yvette Cooper to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. The court upheld two grounds of her case.
Lady Chief Justice Victoria Sharp said: “Proscription did result in a significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly.”
However, she said the ban would remain in force for now to allow the Government time to seek permission to appeal.
As matters stand, it remains a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action. The Home Office has confirmed it intends to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it recognised the “unusual circumstances” and acknowledged there would be “some confusion among the public as to what happens next”.
“This is the most proportionate approach we can take, acknowledging the decision reached by the court while recognising that proceedings are not yet fully concluded,” the force said. It added that the temporary pause applied solely to “the expression of support for Palestine Action”, and that officers would continue to intervene where protest crossed into intimidation, property damage, violence, racial hatred or other criminal offences.
Palestine Action was proscribed in July after carrying out a series of direct actions against Israel-linked defence firms in Britain, including blockading entrances and spraying buildings with red paint. The ban made membership of, or support for, the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and over 2,700 have been arrested at demonstrations since.
In October, the Home Office failed in a bid at the Court of Appeal to halt the Ms Ammori’s challenge to the ban, after judges rejected its argument that the matter should instead be heard by the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission rather than the High Court.
Mr Polanski was named Trailblazer of the Year at the Attitude 101 celebration, an accolade recognising figures whose work and cultural influence have advanced LGBTQ+ representation.
The Green Party leader attended the ceremony with his partner, Richie Bryan, and reflected on the moment as both celebratory and sobering.
The Green Party leader, who attended the ceremony with his partner Richie Bryan, said of the honour: “It's intensely surreal to suddenly find myself on the front page of a magazine that I grew up reading, and has always been an iconic magazine for the LGBT community.
“So I'm really delighted. Amongst all the celebration, though, is the weight of responsibility. It's a really scary time now for lots of LGBTQ+ people.
“And so whilst I'm also celebrating, I'm constantly thinking about what more do we need to be doing and there's a lot to do to be pushing for rights for LGBTQ+ people — and frankly, anyone who doesn't feel safe or secure or feels demonised by this government, or the right wing.”
