Fifteen people have been arrested at a protest in Market Square condemning the proscription of Palestine Action, in conjunction with nationwide protests by group Defend Our Juries.

A group of around 16 people were seated holding signs reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” outside Guildhall in Market Square.

Behind them, supporting individuals joining the protest raised a ‘Lift the Ban’ banner and others held a Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) flag.

One individual holding a sign in support of Palestine Action told Varsity, “I’m exercising my right to peaceful protest”, continuing that “resistance is justified – the Palestinian people are occupied”.

In roughly twenty minute intervals, groups of police broke through the crowd to arrest a sign-holding individual. As police took the protesters away one by one, waves of cheers and applause ran through the crowd of supporting protesters and observers.

“According to the government, these people sitting here holding cards silently must be arrested”, one organizing member told Varsity. “We are peaceful protesters, and we’re here standing up for our rights,” she continued.

This represents the first time in the surge of pro-Palestine activism in Cambridge over the past two years that arrests of protesters have taken place.

The protest began at 1pm, with police officers already present in the market, and officers began making arrests around thirty minutes into the demonstration.

The one sign-holding individual not arrested held a sign written in Irish, in contrast with the other signs written in English, and was allegedly left alone by the police for this reason.

Police presence was high, with officers stationed throughout Market Square.

One protester was carried away by a group of seven police officers according to a video posted on Instagram account @cambridge_artists_4_palestine.

Beside the protest, flurries of people walked through the busy market, largely ignoring the demonstration, with a small crowd of around roughly 20 at a time pausing to observe. Regularly, the crowd chanted common pro-Palestine slogans including “Free free Palestine”.

Most of the sign-holding individuals were older in age, and wrapped in coats and blankets.

Another individual holding a sign expressed their concern for Palestine Action prisoners currently on hunger strike, following a second prisoner hospitalised yesterday, noting “the press are silent, the government are silent and I’m very much afraid people are going to die in prison”.

She remained expectant of the next arrest, stating “so far there’s been six arrests, and there’s probably going to be 16 overall”.

Protesters were allegedly offered the option of street bail, if they provided personal details. Upon declining, it was believed arrested individuals were taken by police to Peterborough police station.

One student attendee Varsity spoke with condemned the arrests: “I was arrested in September at the same action in London and the police were completely unable to handle the arrested. They’ve taken the arrestees really far away – they don’t have enough space in prisons or in jail.”

Similar protests against the ban on Palestine Action took place today (29/11) across the UK, including in Bristol, Birmingham, and Manchester.

An observer told Varsity, “I support the Palestinian cause, but recent pro-Palestine protestors have been very violent,” and continued to condemn the activities of proscribed group Palestine Action.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in June, meaning any membership of, or support for the group under the Terrorism Act 2000 is a criminal offence.

Varsity understands this represents the first protest in Cambridge against the proscription of Palestine Action, following a series of various pro-Palestine protests among Cambridge students and locals over the last two years.

Police arrests in previous protests against the proscription have cited Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which states that carrying articles which depict support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence.

The UK government and Cambridgeshire Police have been contacted for comment.