Letter

Palestine Action Ban

Dear HIP,

We the undersigned, residents of Hastings, Rye and St Leonards, have all been arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, for publicly displaying signs bearing the words ”I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.

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The decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act not only banned a nonviolent protest group on bogus grounds, but also introduced severe restrictions on the free speech of everyone in the UK. For example, there is now only one legally-permissible answer to the question “Do you support Palestine Action?”.

This has already led to 2,700 arrests of entirely peaceful protestors, including ourselves, and in Amnesty International launching its first ever urgent action regarding the right to protest in the UK.

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Moreover, eight Palestine Action-linked prisoners are now on hunger strike – and two have been hospitalised – as a direct result of this absurd and deeply authoritarian law.

Our MP, Helena Dollimore, voted for this legislation and now looks set to vote in favour of still further restrictions on the right to protest.

We therefore challenge her to meet with us and defend her actions on film – including her refusal to acknowledge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and her continued support for UK arms sales to Israel.

Yours sincerely,

Fernando Bauza, Gabriel Carlyle, Jane Carey, Sarah Evans, Nina Heaton, Simon Hester, Marnie Johnson, David Polden, Emily Price, Ian Stewart, Jenny Sutton, Carl Turner, Lorna Vahey.

We would love to hear from you.

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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NEWS_12-arrestees-1024x683.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NEWS_12-arrestees-150x150.jpgHIPLettersNewsPalestine Action,Palestine Action Ban,terrorism actLetter Palestine Action Ban Dear HIP, We the undersigned, residents of Hastings, Rye and St Leonards, have all been arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, for publicly displaying signs bearing the words ”I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”. The decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act not only banned a...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper