Peaceful protest is not terrorism.

Yet across the country, more than two thousand people standing silently with signs have been arrested.

This is a dangerous misuse of terrorism laws that threatens the very freedoms on which our democracy depends. It is also a colossal waste of police and court time. 

In addition, others who have committed criminal damage to try to prevent the sale of arms that could be used to kill civilians are being held without trial for extended periods of time because of the use of terrorism provisions. The law already has adequate provisions to punish those who commit criminal damage.  

We would like to share with you two first hand accounts that were given at a press conference Compassion in Politics facilitated to give the media the chance to hear the stories of those who are protesting. 

The first is from Steve Masters who is a veteran of the Royal Air Force and was arrested under terrorism legislation for sitting silently on Parliament Square holding a handwritten sign. 

The second is Clare Hinchcliffe, the mother of 22-year-old Zoe who is one of 24 protestors known as the ‘Filton 24’.  Zoe had broken into Israel’s largest weapons establishment - located in Filton, Bristol - to dismantle production equipment and quadcopter drones she believed were about to be sent to Israel for use in Gaza. 

In this interview, Clare explains how the use of terrorism legislation has led to her daughter and the other Filton activists being held for 15 months without bail or trial. 

Ahead of the High Court Hearing on 25th November, when the government will seek to defend its use of terrorism laws, we are writing to the Prime Minister to ask him to undo the policy.

If you believe that non-violent protest shouldn’t be treated as terrorism, please add your name to the letter below.