More write to support deproscribing Palestine Action

JVL Introduction

This Government is presiding over an epidemic of lawlessness. No, not the pillaging by high street shop-lifters. Neither is this about the Government’s own utter failure, following the International Court of Justice’s finding that a plausible genocide is in motion in Gaza, to take any of the actions called for by the ICJ decision, or to act on the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 warrant to arrest alleged war criminals Netanyahu & Gallant. No, the outrageous and massive criminal activity which threatens to bring the law into disrepute is being carried out by thousands of people who have been openly advocating for so-called terrorism.

I should come clean – I am one of those criminals. Or perhaps I am two of them – having been arrested for expressing support for a banned organisation both in September last year and again this month. We know of at least 30 arrestees who identify as Jewish, with 60 arrests between us.

And now the roster of those in legal jeopardy due to their reflex civil libertarian reaction to the proscription of Palestine Action has expanded yet again, with the publication of a letter consisting of just seven words: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”. Signed initially by 130 scholars and public figures, the signatory list is now ballooning upwards beyond one thousand.

The initial signatories are not uniformly distinguished (full disclosure: I am one of them). But they include household names (Sally Rooney, Greta Thunberg, Brian Eno, Tariq Ali). They include cultural stars from Brian Eno through Judith Butler, and enough full professors to staff a whole university. Those signing since the letter went public are different. Yes there are still more professors. But the self-descriptions include print worker, civil servant, herbalist, vet, house husband, IT manager, carer, retiree… Here you can see the Open Letter and the full list of signatories so far.

These people might be said to be bringing the law into disrepute. But no, it is the government that has done that. We signatories are just trying to consign it to history. An adaptation of Henry’s speech at Harfleur might serve as our rallying call: “Once more unto the courts, dear friends, once more; we’ll fill the jails up till they de-proscribe.”

Is the law an ass? No, it’s the government.

JR

This article was originally published by The Guardian on Fri 24 Apr 2026. Read the original here.