#propalestinian — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #propalestinian, aggregated by home.social.
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#RightToProtest is under attack in #England and #Wales, reports warn
#HumanRightsWatch and Justice say recent legislative changes have had a chilling effect and should be repealedby Haroon Siddique
Thu 8 Jan 2026"The right to protest is under attack in England and Wales with laws trampling over human rights protections and more oppressive restrictions in the pipeline, two major reports have warned.
"Both Human Rights Watch and the cross-party law reform organisation Justice say recent legislative changes have created a chilling effect on lawful protest and should be repealed. Their reports, simultaneously published on Thursday, also say that proposals for more curbs should be halted.
"They highlight the arrest of Republic #AntiMonarchy protesters during King Charles’s coronation, charges and arrests of #ProPalestinian demonstrators and long sentences for #ClimateProtesters as examples of the crackdown on the right to peaceful dissent.
"Fiona Rutherford, chief executive of Justice, said: 'Year by year, we see police powers grow, as our fundamental right to protest is treated more like a privilege. The law in this area has become dangerously unbalanced, empowering the state to silence voices it should be safeguarding. Reversing this trend is essential to restoring trust, protecting rights and preserving a healthy democracy.'
"Lydia Gall, a senior Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: 'The UK is now adopting protest-control tactics imposed in countries where democratic safeguards are collapsing. The UK should oppose such measures, not replicate and endorse them.'
"Both reports say that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the #PublicOrderAct 2023 were watershed moments, criminalising large amounts of previously lawful protest activity and placing a greater emphasis on preemptive containment of protest through criminal law.
The 2022 law granted police authority to impose conditions on public assemblies on grounds such as causing 'serious unease' or being 'too noisy', described by Human Rights Watch as 'vague and subjective'.
"Members of the public can be arrested for carrying items – described as innocuous by Justice – including cable ties, bike locks or glue, on suspicion that they may be used for 'locking‑on'."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/KORuE#CriminalizingProtest #SilencingDissent #EnvironmentalActivists #GazaGenocide #HumanRights #AntiProtestLaws
#RightToProtest #ACAB #UKPol #JustStopOil #PalestineAction -
Supporters rally for #ProPalestinian #protesters arrested in #PortlandME
Aysia Reed,WGME
Thu, July 10th 2025PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) -- "The #MaineCoalitionForPalestine held a rally on Thursday outside of the Cumberland County Courthouse ahead of the criminal court arraignment of pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested in Portland in May.
"Twenty protesters, ages 22 through 87, were arrested in May for blocking Commercial Street.
"Ten of those protesters were arraigned on Thursday morning while the remaining 10 will be arraigned later this month.
"The Maine Coalition for Palestine says they were bringing attention to the #genocide in #Gaza.
"The protesters were charged with class E misdemeanors for obstructing a public way.
"One of the people taken away in handcuffs was #BobSchaible, who's in his 80s [87 to be exact].
"He says this was his first time being arrested and said he would do it all over again to inspire action to get humanitarian aid to Gaza.
" 'Congress has to take a stand. We want the Portland people, more of them, to know what is happening,' Schaible said.
"Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights Chair Abby Fuller helped organize the protest in May.
" 'We have written our congressional representatives, we've called them, we've held rallies in the streets, we've done all kinds of things -- everything we can think of. And our government has not changed its policy of support for Israel,' Fuller said.
"Fuller was also arrested and charged with obstructing a public way."
#MaineResists #FreePalestine
#BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliWarCrimes
#GazaGenocide #SilencingDissent #TrafficInterference #CriminalizingProtest #MainePol #Maine #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRights
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
#PortlandME - '#DisruptBusinessAsUsual': 20 #ProPalestinian protesters arrested after blocking traffic
Anna Coon, WGME
Thu, May 22nd 2025 at 4:39 PMPORTLAND (WGME) – "Portland police arrested 20 people Wednesday during a protest in support of #Palestine.
"The protesters were blocking traffic on Commercial Street before police removed them from the area and opened the road back up to traffic.
" 'Free, free, free Palestine,' people chanted as a handcuffed protester was escorted away by police.
"But arrested protesters say it was their intention to be booked in jail Wednesday, and they say being taken away in handcuffs brings more attention to their cause.
" 'We have written our congressional representatives, we've called them, we've held rallies in the streets, we've done all kinds of things -- everything we can think of,' #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights Chair #AbbyFuller said. 'And our government has not changed its policy of support for Israel.'
"Fuller helped organize Wednesday’s protest.
" 'Our intention yesterday was to disrupt business as usual,' Fuller said.
"Fuller and 19 others were arrested by Portland police Wednesday afternoon and brought to the Cumberland County Jail. All were charged with obstructing a public way after police gave multiple warnings that arrests were coming.
" 'If you refuse to move or leave you will be arrested, you may also be exposed to chemical agents,' police told protesters over a loudspeaker during Wednesday's protest.
"Two of the people taken into handcuffs are in their 80s, including #BobSchaible.
" 'I've never been arrested before,' Schaible said. 'I've never been put in the back of a police cruiser.'
"But Schaible and Fuller both say they'd do it all over again and want their arrests to inspire action to get #HumanitarianAid into #Gaza.
"This week, the Associated Press reported that expected aid was halted as Israeli strikes killed 86 people in Gaza. Aid groups warn that without supplies, tens of thousands of people, including children, could starve.
" 'Congress has to take a stand,' Schaible said. 'We want the Portland people, more of them, to know what is happening.'
"Fuller says protesters spent several hours in jail before they were released and says the group works with a pro bono lawyer who will represent them in court, for free."
https://wgme.com/news/local/arrested-portland-protesters-hope-their-demonstration-brings-awareness#MaineResists #FreePalestine #Activism #Resistance #PortlandMaine #MainePol #MaineNews #USPol #WorldPol #BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliWarCrimes #Gaza #GazaGenocide #TrafficInterference #DieIn