Palestine Action has been hitting the corporate media headlines in recent days. It’s over activists’ detention under terrorism laws, and subsequent charging. However, not only did said corporate media get some of the facts wrong – they also missed the fact that, much like Just Stop Oil’s ‘Whole Truth Five’, one of the activists has been charged even though they weren’t physically at the action.
Palestine Action: detained and charged
Seven Palestine Action activists were denied bail on Tuesday 13 August at Westminster Magistrates Court after being charged with offences such as aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder.
The seven were charged after six were arrested for entering Elbit Systems UK’s research and development centre in Filton, Bristol on Tuesday 6 August. They allegedly caused over £1m in damage to the research hub owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer.
Video footage released by Palestine Action shows Israeli weapons, including quadcopter drones seen used during the Gaza genocide, being destroyed inside the Filton premises:
All of the seven were held under the Terrorism Act, giving the police powers to detain them without charge for up to 14 days. Whilst they were detained, counter-terrorism police interrogated the activists numerous times.
As the Canary previously reported, in recent days people have been protesting outside the police stations holding the activists.
In relation to the charges made, which was followed by a misinformation campaign in the media, Palestine Action says:
Despite arrests under the Terrorism Act, giving the police the ability to detain without charge for up to 14 days, none of the activists have been charged with terrorism offences. Although the deliberate smear campaign we are seeing in mainstream media would indicate otherwise. This not only vindicates the activists, but proves the state was abusing their powers by holding them under draconian laws which saw them interrogated day after day – all in a bid to protect Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer.
Incorrect reporting
Some mainstream media has indicated that the activists had been charged under terror laws.
Palestine Action says this is incorrect.
It claimed the CPS stated the court can determine whether the offences have a ‘terrorist connection’ under section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2000. This will only become relevant if the activists are convicted of the alleged offences, and does not constitute terrorism charges.
Palestine Action contends that:
this sentencing power was only mentioned as a means for the state to justify detaining activists without charge for seven days, and to prejudice the public by associating the action with terrorism.
As the Evening Standard reported, one of the seven – Hannah Davidson – has been charged despite not physically being at the action. This has echoes of the ‘Whole Truth Five’ – the Just Stop Oil activists who have been sent to prison for years, for planning action on the M25.
Featured image via Palestine Action
