Pro-Palestine activists plan silent vigil during Labour conference in Liverpool
Around several hundred demonstrators will hold a silent sign-holding vigil in Liverpool on the opening day of the Labour Party Conference, risking arrest under the Terrorism Act.
Defend Our Juries plans a large, silent vigil in Liverpool coinciding with the opening day of the Labour Party Conference, expecting several hundred attendees. Protesters will write the phrase “I OPPOSE GENOCIDE, I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION” on a sign, a statement that could trigger arrest under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The demonstration seeks to compel Andy Burnham to reverse the July proscription of Palestine Action, a group the government has labelled a terrorist organization.
Among those slated to take part are 81-year-old psychotherapist Annie Wimbush and 68-year-old retired teacher Carolyn Gelenter, both criticizing the ban as a violation of free speech and humanitarian duty. The protest joins other groups such as Stop the War Coalition, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa and the Campaign Against Nuclear Disarmament, all demanding recognition of alleged genocide in Gaza and a full arms embargo on Israel.
Why it matters
The protest highlights growing pressure on UK officials to reconsider the terrorism designation of Palestine Action and broader policy toward the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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