Full Breakdown
Mass Defiance Outside the U.S. Embassy as the UK Supreme Court Prepares to Review the Palestine Action Terrorism Ban
By Drooid · · How we work
The Planned Protest
A parallel “dual action” is slated for the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh. Participants risk arrest under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for publicly supporting a proscribed organisation.
Background & Context
The UK government proscribed the direct-action group Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation in July 2025 after activists spray-painted former President Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland. Trump labelled the act “terrorism” on his Truth Social platform and praised Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s response. Records released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Starmer and Trump spoke by phone in March 2023, discussing the incident and related arrests. The proscription was upheld by the Court of Appeal in June 2025, overturning an earlier High Court ruling.
Data & Statistics
- Arrests: Defend Our Juries estimates roughly 3,850 people have been arrested for publicly supporting Palestine Action since the July 2025 ban; another report cites more than 3,500 arrests.
- Book-sales impact: After publisher Faber announced it would cease supplying Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s titles in the UK, sales of her books surged 291 % in one week, with 4,531 copies sold, according to Nielsen BookScan.
- Legal exposure: Supporting the banned group is punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act.
Official Statements & Responses
The Home Office argues that Palestine Action’s campaign of break-ins and criminal damage at defence sites—including facilities linked to Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems—meets the legal threshold for proscription, describing the group as a covert organisation operating through secret cells. U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have repeatedly called the activists “terrorists” and urged harsh treatment. The Department of Justice counters that its own protests are peaceful and that the ban has unevenly affected supporters, citing the withdrawal of Rooney’s books as evidence of broader repercussions.
Criticism & Opposition
Over 150 writers and public figures—including Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux and Anne Carson, actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, and broadcaster Gary Lineker—signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government to drop the legislation. The ban has also halted UK sales of Rooney’s books, prompting criticism from the publishing industry and free-speech advocates.
Verbatim Quote
- “Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist.” — Annie Ernaux
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of arrests linked to the ban: Defend Our Juries cites approximately 3,850 arrests, while another outlet reports more than 3,500. No source provides a definitive, independently verified figure, leaving the exact scale of enforcement unclear.
What’s Next
The UK Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori on November 4-5, reviewing the Court of Appeal’s decision that upheld the proscription. The outcome will determine whether the ban remains in force and could set a precedent for how the Terrorism Act is applied to political protest groups in the United Kingdom.