Dear All,
Sorry it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been in touch.
I’ve been working really hard on my new YouTube channel (there’s quite a lot in the pipeline) and its fair to say I’ve dropped the ball a bit…
I was looking up the latest news on speeding fines to do a belated newsletter and got ‘recommended’ this article entitled:
“Police warn of mass arrests if planned protest goes ahead”
Although I avoid reading the “news” like the plague these days, I couldn’t resist clicking on the article.
It talks about a peaceful demonstration that’s planned for tomorrow (Saturday) and the article reads (shortened):
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“Police are warning of mass arrests if a protest in support of the banned group “Palestine Action” goes ahead on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police said “anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.”
“If we are allowed to protest peacefully and freely, then that is no bother to anyone”, said the group in a statement.
More than 200 people showing support for the group were arrested at Defend Our Juries protests across the UK last month, many of whom held placards with the message: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
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I want to say now: This is not an opinion about what these people are supporting. I genuinely have no idea of the rights or wrongs of it!
And I have no desire to have an opinion either.
If people are violent or coerce others with the threat of violence (like the police do all the time) then I agree its fair game to use the same tactics to stop them.
However, its just plain wrong to threaten and coerce people just because they support an idea that you (in this case the government/police) don’t like.
Now, if anyone shows any kind of support for Palestine Action — for example verbally, by holding a sign up, or commenting on social media — its a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison!
Not convinced this is wrong?
Well, imagine we replace that politically charged subject “Palestine Action” with some other things the government don’t seem to like people talking about, but that YOU may care about…
For example:
“I like owning a car, I support Freedom of Movement.”
…or
“I like freedom, I oppose Totalitarianism.”
…or
“I oppose unchecked mass immigration, I support British People.”
You can insert whichever words you like. The point is, at some point the government will likely
decide that they are against something that you are for.
And if precedents are set like the one we’re discussing today, where the all-powerful government can shut down decent using their army of thugs (police), then we live in a World where the state decides:
…what is true and what is false;
…what is moral and what is immoral;
…who can leave the country and who can’t;
…who can have a car and who can’t;
…where those people are allowed to go;
…when those people are allowed to leave their “15 minute city”;
…who thrives and who is cut off from access to resources and essential services;
The list could go on forever.
This *is* totalitarianism in the making and the attempt to cut off Freedom of Speech is a major line of defense that MUST be held.
If not, then we have collectively accepted our fate as being subservient to the State.
Attempts like this to stifle freedom of speech — with the threat of arrest and 14 years in prison — signals just how degraded this supposed “first world” country has become.
I say we must defend Freedom of Speech at all costs.
I wonder how long it will be before making that statement makes me a “terrorist” too?
I’d be fascinated to hear your thoughts here in the comments!
All the best,
Adam
P.S. If you are still not convinced, here’s a man much more eloquent (and funnier) than myself — Rowan Atkinson, a.k.a. “Mr Bean” — giving his view on the matter:
Whilst I agree with you on most things. Lawful petitioning is for English people petitioning their government about policy that affects the people of England. It’s not reserved for religious groups protesting about other countries. These shouldn’t be conflated.
Hi Mike. I don’t know the ins and outs of what that group is about as I said. So are you saying free speech can only apply in a given country to the people who were born in that country? In other words to arrest foreigners for expressing an opinion verbally is okay?
I agree with freedom of speech, but Palestine Action is a banned group and anyone supporting them deserves all they get.
Surely the problem with that statement Dave is the contradiction contained within, starting with the word “but”?
While I detest the group “Palestine Action”, the ban, following vandalism at a military installation by some of their adherents, is wrong.
The problem has been 2-tier policing all along. The groups “protests” have been very intimidating, and instead of dealing with the “Palestine Action” intimidators, when first they started their nonsense, the Met arrested the victims of intimidation. That emboldened P.A. people to be even more intimidating.
Instead of a pointless ban on an organisation (the same people just start a new one as needed), deal with the bad actors at the time they are doing wrong.
I agree David, exactly my point :-) Penalise actual crime (violence, vandalism etc), not a view that is expressed.
I agree Adam,
It seems odd that throwing paint on war planes is a terrorist action, but supplying a regime that has killed 60,000 people, almost all civilians is just fine…
But back to your point, yes freedom of speech and opinion is vital and is under tremendous pressure at the moment. Disturbing.
Couldn’t agree more Niall.
Im all for freedom of speech but this is a group who support and are probably funded by terrorists. Its about time action iis taken against them
Hi Shaw. See comment just above: “Surely the problem with that statement Dave is the contradiction contained within, starting with the word “but”?”
As other people have said – it is a banned organisation – so it is nothing to do with freedom of speech.
And we seem to forget that the unelected fascist Hamas organisation which committed one of the worst atrocities since WW2, is still holding starving, innocent hostages and is literally hell-bent on eliminating Israel from the earth.
So let’s demonstrate for a Palestine free from Hamas.
I think you are missing the point Charles. If you support that group of people, what will you do when the government decides they support the OTHER lot and ban you from expressing an opinion like this?
While I support peaceful protests, I would oppose any form of support to a group that is bent on mindless destruction of public property like Palestine Action. We as a country are struggling with the basic cost of living ever since the recession of 2008 caused by the Banks, followed by the Pandemic and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The media loves to blame political parties (I am also guilty of doing the same) but the facts are different. We are struggling with massive national welfare and other bills, we are a vulnerable nation, who are struggling to defend ourselves. As Brits we are generous people and our hearts bleed whenever charity is needed anywhere in the world. We help everyone regardless of religion or creed, unlike others. Then we have a mindless group who attack our defence and we have people who were allowed to praise them for it? We live in a twisted society, there are nations in the Middle East who can buy us over 1000’s of times over, they don’t know what a struggle with a shortage of funds means. Do they open their generous doors? Why not? Do they know a lot more than us, or do they feel we are gullible lot. We accept and broadcast the word of a Terrorist Organisation (Health Ministry)as God’s truth. Why have reputed journalists never been allowed to report from Gaza other than Hamas’s home bred approved journalists, this was much before they provoked a war. The world knew Benjamin Netanyahu was on his way out and a moderate government was expected to replace him, which probably would have seen the demise of Hamas.
I believe if innocent people are not kept as hostages, things would change overnight. If the hostages were released and Hamas dismantled there would be no reason for war.
I’d like anyone on this forum to say if their own mother, sister, daughter or brother were taken by terrorists they would praise the captors, accept their (the captors) words as God’s truth, allow it to be broadcast on their national television and allow people to peacefully protest to defend their (the captors) actions!
Of course you would oppose it Richard. So would I. And we are free to do that – because the government / police agree with this opinion. What happens when they don’t? Do you see the point I am making?
How about – “I oppose nonsense-spouting individuals supporting people who wilfully break the speed limit as though the law doesn’t apply to them, I support abiding by the law.” ?
The thing is, we live in what’s called a democracy. That does NOT mean we always get what we want. We need to make our feelings known at the ballot box. We need laws and we need to keep to them. Otherwise we have ‘everyone for themselves’ anarchy – is that what you want?
Your comment about avoiding the news like the plague is revealing. How can you present a valid viewpoint if you shut your mind to a section of the argument. You are, by admission, blinkered.
I support the right of nonsense spouting individuals Pete – they have as much right as you do to express their opinion. Where does that leave you?
Will, nonsense-spouting is expressing an opinion. That’s fine. Breaking the speed limit is an action. In my book, that’s not. By the sound of it, you believe everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want. Maybe you’d change that opinion if somebody broke into your house or mugged you on the street? The fine line comes with those who “express opinions” which encourage others to take unwanted actions. How far do you allow those “opinions”to go?
There is so much wrong with this that I wouldn’t know where to start Pete. You are retaliating to something that challenges your held beliefs (which I would guess are the result of years of indoctrination from the “news” you seem to enjoy) by using insults as a proxy for critical thinking — or even a willingness to understand basic concepts.
*Well
*Well, not Will
Supporting Palestine Action is no different to supporting Hamas. They are banned for a good reason, if you want to comment on a headline it would be better if you had done some research first , nevertheless you are right this government is cracking down on opinions by jailing people in my view illegally.
Malcolm, you have completely missed the point.
Hi Adam, as usual you have the right idea about Democratic Freedoms curtailed but people are only ever free to do as they’re told and that’s what most people want. They walk in a straight line, count up to ten, even drive a car but if they were really intelligent, they’d want to live in a world where everyone was treated equally, with decency and respect. Take the story of Adam and Eve: they lived in Paradise, so what did they do? They found a way to spoil a good thing and ever since they’ve kept doing that, in a systematic way with hierarchic Societies, war, slavery and Man’s inhumanity to Man. So now you’ve decided to play Jesus and orchestrate the debate, now you’re going to be crucified. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist so let them fight it out among themselves: that’s what they want. I’ve told you before: controlling people is all about Divide and Rule and it’s extremely effective, even to the point where you yourself contribute to divisions in Society. Superglueing yourself to the road, spraying red paint on a ‘plane, torching migrant hostels certainly publicises your Cause: it also makes you look stupid and brings your Cause into disrepute. Now you Adam are groping for the Truth, be careful you don’t bring DriveProtect into disrepute. Ok?