Massive Attack has issued a statement after the UK High Court reversed the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action, deeming the initial decision as “unlawful”.
Trip-hop group Massive Attack has shared a statement following the UK High Court’s decision to reverse the ban on the action group Palestine Action under terrorism laws.
Earlier this week, three senior judges ruled that the ban on the group under the anti-terrorism laws was unlawful and disproportionate. In addition to their ruling, they’ve urged Home Secretary Shaban Mahmood to respect it, stating that the initial ban infringed on the public’s right to protest.
Following the ruling, the Met Police have announced that they will immediately cease arresting individuals who show support for Palestine Action. However, they will continue to gather evidence should any future prosecutions arise.
Despite the court urging Mahmood to respect the decision, the Home Secretary has admitted she intends to appeal the lifting of the ban. Per The Guardian, this could affect over 2,500 people previously arrested for supporting Palestine Action.
Massive Attack acknowledged the court’s decision on social media earlier today, posting a photo of member Robert Del Naja attending a protest in support of Palestine Action. The post would also include a statement from the band, which read:
“Keir Starmer’s government wanted to punish those who made their complicity in a genocide visible. They confected an authoritarian law to retaliate against peaceful citizens holding signs. They wanted to brand those people terrorists.”
The post would continue: “Just like the court of public opinion, the High Court has now found that unlawful. Respect and love for every citizen, every pensioner, every young person who risked their liberty to resist genocide. They were arrested by the state for nothing more than their peaceful conscience,” they added.
Massive Attack’s statement would also refer to the Filton 24, another group of pro-Palestine activists who were arrested and charged for protesting at an Israel-owned Elbit Systems factory in Bristol in 2024.
“In the case of the Filton 24, the highest price has been paid by those on the receiving end of this government’s vindictive guilt,” they added. “Under any authoritarian government, bad laws are there to be broken. Free Palestine.”
Massive Attack have continued to be outspoken about their support for Palestine. In September last year, they, along with over 400 artists including Fontaines D.C. and Amyl & The Sniffers, joined the No Music For Genocide campaign, removing their music from streaming platforms in Israel.
The trip-hop group would go the extra step by removing their music entirely from Spotify in response to CEO Daniel Ek’s significant investments in European venture capital firm Prima Materia, which has backed firms such as Germany’s Helsing, which develops weapons systems powered by artificial intelligence.
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