Hundreds to defy Palestine Action ban in protest at US embassy in London

What the report says

Campaigners in Britain are preparing a large Halloween protest outside the US embassy in London on October 31, in what Al Jazeera says will be another act of defiance against the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action. The group Defend Our Juries says more than 400 people are expected to take part in London, with a parallel demonstration planned at the US consulate in Edinburgh. Organizers intend to display placards backing Palestine Action and opposing what they describe as genocide.

The demonstrations are being timed ahead of a key legal moment. The UK Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal on November 4 and 5 brought by Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori, after lower courts upheld the government’s decision to proscribe the group as a terrorist organization. Al Jazeera reports that more than 3,850 people have already been arrested for publicly supporting Palestine Action since the ban took effect in July 2025.

According to the article, campaigners are also trying to highlight possible political pressure behind the ban, including references to US President Donald Trump’s comments and contacts between British and US officials. The government argues the group’s campaign of break-ins and damage at defense-related sites meets the legal test for proscription, while critics say the measure is excessive and difficult to enforce evenly.

The protests come amid wider debate over free expression, counterterrorism powers and support for Gaza. Al Jazeera notes that public figures including actors, broadcasters and a senior Labour figure have recently urged the UK government to drop the ban.