Over 300 Arrested at London US Embassy in Protest Supporting Palestine Action

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — More than 300 individuals were taken into custody following a protest outside the US embassy in Nine Elms where demonstrators supported the group Palestine Action.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday that 325 arrests were made during the event, with 320 of those detained held for expressing support for an organization that is now proscribed under the Terrorism Act.

Since the group was designated as proscribed in June 2025, showing any affinity for it has become a criminal offense under UK law.

Throughout the gathering on Saturday, the crowd chanted slogans for Palestine as individuals were led to police vehicles stationed on Ponton Road before being transported to various police stations.

One participant drew attention by climbing a tree near the embassy to wave a sign that called on teachers to support Palestine Action while the crowd below cheered for the individual.

Other attendees displayed banners asserting that they were heroes rather than terrorists, while many wore Palestinian flags and keffiyehs to show solidarity.

Law enforcement began removing protesters one by one around midday, with some officers physically carrying those who refused to move under their own.

Charles Allison, a 75-year-old retired lawyer who traveled from Cumbria for the event, stated he was motivated by a fear regarding the erosion of civil liberties.

Allison told the Press Association that he felt compelled to act as he witnessed freedoms being devalued by the current Labour government, noting he felt dejected yet encouraged by the high turnout.

The demonstration was organized by Defend Our Juries and occurred ahead of a major Supreme Court appeal scheduled for November 4 regarding the legality of the Palestine Action terror group designation.

Allison expressed hope that the justices would consider the long-term impact on the country’s protest climate and rule that the proscription was unlawful.

The retired lawyer was detained by two officers shortly before 1 p.m. after being informed he was considered a threat.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries claimed that the total number of people detained for defying the ban has surpassed 4,000 since July 2025, describing the situation as truly dystopian.

The organization compared the ban to the tactics of US President Donald Trump, arguing the milestone represents a terrifying attack on free speech caused by an authoritarian policy.

The group alleged the designation was a move by the Starmer government to appease Israeli weapons manufacturers and US interests rather than to address genuine security threats.

The spokesperson also questioned the consistency of the arrests, noting that similar words were recently deemed below criminal thresholds when used by the wife of a national security adviser.

The group also noted that 94-year-old human rights lawyer Margaret Owen was among those arrested on Saturday.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticized a video of Owen’s arrest, labeling the incident as truly dystopian.

Lauren Wallace, 36, stated she brought her four-year-old daughter to the protest to demonstrate the importance of political engagement and the power of activism.

Wallace expressed pride in her mother for participating in the event and noted she hoped her daughter would grow up being even more radical and political than she is.

Defend Our Juries justified the choice of location by citing the US’s active role in the conflict, noting that the US government had sanctioned the group in August.

A Section 35 dispersal order was active for the embassy grounds from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the day of the protest.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)