Defying arrests and the threat of lengthy prison sentences, activists across the UK are preparing a second wave of protests in response to the government's decision to outlaw Palestine Action, a group known for targeting British complicity in Israeli arms production.

Since the ban came into force on 4 July, 110 people have been arrested for publicly supporting the group, including elderly citizens and emergency workers. Among those detained was an 83-year-old retired priest, held for simply holding a placard reading: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

This weekend, protesters will gather again in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Derry, risking further arrests under anti-terror laws that many see as a gross misuse of state power. Critics say this crackdown is not about public safety, but about silencing those who challenge Britain’s role in enabling Israel’s assault on Gaza.

Legal challenges have so far failed. The courts have refused to delay the ban, leaving supporters vulnerable to prosecution for merely expressing solidarity. Yet organisers insist the arrests have only strengthened public resolve.

“This is no longer just about Palestine Action,” said former government lawyer Tim Crosland. “This is about the right to dissent in Britain. If opposing genocide becomes criminal, then the law itself becomes part of the problem.”

As Britain tightens its grip on protest, a growing number of voices, across civil society, international law, and even within the legal profession, warn that the real threat is not to public order, but to democracy itself.