Palestine Conflict 2023: Emergency Response

Yes. It is lawful to express support for the Palestinian cause and wear Palestinian symbols to express that support. It is also lawful to express solidarity with the Palestinian people who are suffering occupation and under blockades by Israel.

While expressing lawful support of the Palestinian People, it is also important to take heed of the Home Secretary’s guidance to Chief Constables on 10th October 2023. In said letter (which is guidance only as it for the Police to enforce enacted legislations), the Home Secretary specifically referenced section 5 of the Public Order Act 1987 (an extract of the section is included below), in which use, display or expression of perfectly legitimate articles of Palestinian support (such as the flag) may be interpreted as violation of said section. At present, it is unclear how the police will interpret or action this guidance and therefore, we encourage affiliates to undertake its usual expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people but to also action care where necessary in its display of support, especially where potentially aggravated.

Section 5: Harassment, alarm or distress.

(b)displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby

Please use the Centre for Media Monitoring to direct your complaint: https://cfmm.org.uk/

Please use the Write To My MP tool: /blog/archive-2?search=a>