AT LEAST 50 people were arrested outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court today as they demanded the ban on Palestine Action be lifted.

An estimated 200 protesters prepared to read a statement inviting support for the proscribed group as a review hearing began for the prosecution of 1,579 people under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, for holding signs in support of Palestine Action during mass silent vigils in Parliament Square last year.

It is understood that at least four arrests were made before the action started, two under section 13 for articles of clothing and two for setting up a small stage.

From midday, a programme of speakers took place, with many being arrested while speaking.

Among them was Sir Jonathan Porritt, a campaigner and author who served as director of Friends of the Earth and was an adviser to current King Charles III for more than 30 years

Ahead of the protest, deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine said: “The law is clear. Expressing support for proscribed organisations is a criminal offence and anyone doing so can expect to be arrested.”

Protesters wore red to echo the jumpsuits worn during direct actions organised by Palestine Action, many of which targeted weapons factories to disrupt arms supply to Israel amid its genocide.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said: “We had hoped to see a different response from the Met Police today, but yet again they are embarking on making hundreds of arrests of regular people who refuse to do nothing as the judiciary criminalised those who act to save lives as terrorists.

“These arrests, like that of thousands of others, 1,855 of whom were listed as needing to appear in court today, are an assault on our democracy, our civil liberties and our moral obligation to step in to prevent genocide.

“We urge the new PM to stop this insanity, at a time when there is so much positive work to be done in our country, Andy Burnham needs to put a stop to huge sums of taxpayer money being used for these arrests and prosecutions that the public at large do not support.”

As arrests continued, court records revealed that Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori will be permitted to challenge the proscription at the Supreme Court.