Police have arrested over 500 people during a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London.<\/p>\n
The force said 523 people aged between 18 and 87 were arrested for showing support for a proscribed organisation during the demonstration at Trafalgar Square. <\/p>\n
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon with signs reading \u201cI oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action\u201d.<\/p>\n
Many of the mostly elderly demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground as they held up their placards.<\/p>\n
Protesters in Trafalgar Square. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed reading \u201cJurors deserve to hear the whole truth\u201d and \u201cIsrael starves kids\u201d.<\/p>\n
Among the demonstrators, Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja sat with an \u201cI Support Palestine Action\u201d sign despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his music career.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cBeing a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I thought \u2018this is ridiculous\u2019 and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m going to hold a sign today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say \u2018this was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I don\u2019t accept it\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several individuals, including a man and a woman with grey hair, were carried off by officers away from the demonstration.<\/p>\n
Many protesters were carried away. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
Police officers could be seen carrying a lady from the protest as people chanted \u201cshame on you\u201d.<\/p>\n
Police then lifted a man out in handcuffs and walked an elderly protester with a walking stick to the police vans.<\/p>\n
Protest group Defend Our Juries said the demonstration, called Everyone Day, would show the \u201cresistance\u201d to the ban on Palestine Action is \u201cstronger than ever\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan Police said Saturday\u2019s action \u201cis likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest\u201d.<\/p>\n
In March, the force said officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters, as a High Court battle over the ban on the group continues.<\/p>\n
The police paused the arrest of demonstrators in February after the High Court ruled the Government\u2019s ban was unlawful, but then decided to resume as an appeal against the ruling is likely to take several months.<\/p>\n