HEAVILY ABRIDGED FROM SOURCE [Opinion. Obviously, civil disobedience works. It’s flooded the British courts. Holding signs is terrorism? 77 more arrested outside the courts.] Chaos at London court as over 1,500 Palestine Action cases listed in one day Campaigners say ban on direct action group has sent the criminal justice system into 'complete meltdown' Katherine Hearst Middle East Eye: 30 July 2026 SOURCE: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/chaos-london-court-over-1500-palestine-action-cases-listed-one-day-after-defendants-informed Over 1,500 people facing terrorism charges in connection with Palestine Action protests had their cases listed for hearings in London on Thursday, causing "chaos" in the city. The campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ) reported that hundreds of people who faced terrorism charges for allegedly holding signs in support of the banned direct action group Palestine Action had been informed that their trials, initially scheduled for 30 July, were postponed until October. However on Wednesday some 1,579 people - including those who had received letters notifying them of the adjournment - were listed for trials on Thursday by Westminster Crown Court. DOJ said that the confusion is symptomatic of the “chaos” unleashed by the ban, which has sent the criminal justice system into “complete meltdown”. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Palestine Action could challenge its ban, which was first imposed by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government in July 2025. The proscription has seen thousands arrested over the past year, many while holding placards or wearing clothing in solidarity with the group. MEE saw a printed list of some 2,000 cases numbering 82 pages taken from the CourtServe listings service. Some people were listed multiple times with different spellings of their names. “Outside the court, police began hauling away protestors who staged a sit-in during which some 200 people were set to risk arrest under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act for reading statements inviting support of Palestine Action. Section 12, the more serious charge under the legislation, which criminalises inviting support for a proscribed organisation, carries a custodial sentence of up to 14 years. The Met reported on social media that 77 people had been arrested, adding that "the majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Four people have been arrested for encouraging or assisting a criminal offence".
