Several Suspects Indicted Regarding Palestine Action Placards Plead Not Guilty

The initial group of defendants charged in Britain with displaying solidarity toward the prohibited group the activist network maintained not guilty under counter-terror laws.

Jeremy Shippam, 72, of Yapton, West Sussex, Judit Murray, 71, residing in Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, from Hackney are set to undergo a hearing during March of the coming year for allegedly displaying signs stating, “I oppose mass killings, I stand with Palestine Action”.

Standing before the judge at Westminster magistrates court recently, the three rejected equivalent allegations of exhibiting a sign publicly generating legitimate concern that they were supporters of a proscribed organisation, under anti-terrorism legislation.

The three individuals, who appeared before the chief magistrate, were permitted to occupy seats not in the enclosure as two are hearing impaired and hearing loops were not accessible in the courtroom.

After the outlawing targeting the group took force this summer, more than a hundred persons within the UK faced accusations for demonstrating solidarity on behalf of the movement, out of over 1,600 individuals detained.

The accused trio appearing before the magistrate had been detained during a protest in Parliament Square on the day the ban took effect. Potential penalties include a cap of half a year imprisonment plus possible monetary sanctions upon being found guilty. They received release under terms through mid-March.

Activists gathered outside the court building chanting messages of solidarity, waving flags and displaying signs.

A planned rally in Parliament Square challenging the outlawing is scheduled on October 4th, ending a series of scheduled events kicking off with a major party meeting in the north of England.