Defend Our Juries

Defend Our Juries

@defendourjuries.bsky.social

Jurors have a right to acquit a defendant according to their conscience, irrespective of a Judge’s directions. Every defendant deserves access to fair justice. We are a UK-based campaign to ensure fair justice in UK courtrooms. www.defendourjuries.net

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Authors donate to Sally Rooney after books removed from shelves Children’s laureates for both Ireland and Wales have announced they are donating their royalties to fiction author Sally Rooney in a "show of solidarity". www.thenational.scot/news/2667046...

thenational.scotAuthors donate royalties to Sally Rooney after books taken off shelves in UKCHILDREN’S laureates for both Ireland and Wales have announced they are donating their royalties to fiction author Sally Rooney in a show of solidarity after her publisher stopped selling her books in...
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Children's authors pledge royalties to Sally Rooney after books pulled over Palestine Action support Ireland's and Wales's children's laureates pledge to donate royalties to Rooney, whose books have been pulled over her support for Palestine Action. www.newarab.com/news/writers...

newarab.comWriters pledge royalties to Sally Rooney after books pulledIreland’s and Wales’s children’s laureates pledge to donate their royalties to Sally Rooney, whose books have been pulled over her support for Palestine Action.
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OCTOBER 31, US EMBASSY Over 400 people will gather outside the US Embassy and hold signs reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action", days before the Supreme Court hearing on the Palestine Action ban. Burnham must drop this "Trumpian ban".

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Today’s announcement comes as senior Labour figure Shami Chakrabarti calls on the Home Secretary to de-proscribe Palestine Action, arguing the ban “makes a mockery” of counter-terror laws. Come to an open call this Sunday, 6.30pm: www.wedonotcomply.org

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
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AN EXTRAORDINARY, SYSTEMATIC ASSAULT Author Jonathon Porritt spoke at an open call last month about the rights of people to understand what is happening with the genocide in Gaza and repression in the UK.

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WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE KIDDING? Playwright Peter Oswald, husband of award winning poet Alice Oswald, was one of hundreds arrested in June for holding a sign. Last week, Sally Rooney announced her books could no longer be sold in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action.

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A few days ago Sarah Helm, journalist, author and wife of the National Security Advisor, posted on X in support of Palestine Action. The Met Police decided there was no case to answer. The ban is clearly unenforceable. Sign up for our next open call: wedonotcomply.org

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
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BREAKING: DEFEND OUR JURIES RECEIVE 2026 QUAKER TRUTH AND INTEGRITY AWARD Defend Our Juries have been given the award for its "courageous and persistent defence of the constitutional importance of trial by jury".

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Defend Our Juries
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“When facing the increasingly hostile and repressive political climate we are in, it is the power of conscience, nonviolence and community that maintains our collective ability to confront injustices and speak up for truth.” Get involved today: defendourjuries.net

defendourjuries.netHome - Defend Our JuriesJurors have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to their conscience Juries put the moral intuition of ordinary people into the heart of the criminal justice system. Over the last few yea...
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BREAKING: DEFEND OUR JURIES RECEIVE 2026 QUAKER TRUTH AND INTEGRITY AWARD Defend Our Juries have been given the award for its "courageous and persistent defence of the constitutional importance of trial by jury".

Defend Our Juries
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Defend Our Juries began in 2023, with a single protest by Trudi Warner. It has grown into one of the largest civil disobedience campaigns in the country, with thousands taking part in peaceful, silent sign-holding actions leading to over 3,500 arrests under the Terrorism Act.

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Tim Crosland, former barrister and co-founder of Defend Our Juries, said: “We are honoured to receive the Quaker Truth and Integrity award and the recognition that the work of Defend Our Juries is as aligned to Quaker values today, in 2026, as it was in 1670...

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No action to be taken against wife of PM’s aide over Palestine Action post The decision in this case exposes the complete lack of integrity on the part of both the Met and the Labour Government concerning the proscription of Palestine Action. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.comNo action to be taken against wife of PM’s aide over Palestine Action postTweet by Sarah Helm, wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, ‘does not meet criminal threshold’

Defend Our Juries reposted

Owen Jones
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Labour Cabinet ministers won't even try to defend proscribing Palestine Action. Because they know they'd be defending the indefensible.

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No further action to be taken against the wife of the Prime Minister’s national security adviser for support of Palestine Action 3,800+ arrests of people peacefully holding signs, and 36 counter-terror home raids for social media posts have taken place. www.thenational.scot/news/2664659...

thenational.scotNo police action against national security adviser’s wife over Palestine Action postNO further action will be taken against the wife of the Prime Minister’s national security adviser after she was accused of backing the banned protest group Palestine Action
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Palestine Action post by Sarah Helms, wife of national security adviser, being assessed by Met Police. A Downing Street spokeswoman has distanced the government from Sarah Helm's comments. news.sky.com/story/palest...

news.sky.comPalestine Action post by Sarah Helms, wife of national security adviser, being assessed by Met PoliceA Downing Street spokeswoman has distanced the government from Sarah Helm's comments, saying: "These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity."
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Sarah Helm doubles down as pro-Israel groups urge police action The journalist and wife of the British prime minister's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, posted: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action' www.middleeasteye.net/news/sarah-h...

middleeasteye.netSarah Helm doubles down as pro-Israel groups urge police action and Zack Polanski praises her 'bravery'The journalist and wife of the British prime minister's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, posted: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action'
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We are not a serious country. On Friday, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said that Sarah Helm’s post on X is “in the process of being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.” Lift The Ban on Palestine Action. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukPolice assess Palestine Action post by national security adviser's wifeDowning Street says Sarah Helm, the wife of Jonathan Powell, "does not represent the government in any capacity".
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Defend Our Juries thanked Helm for “defying this absurdly authoritarian ban”. “We know of 36 people who have had their homes raided for similarly expressing support for Palestine Action on social media. “We hope Sarah will not face the same treatment…” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comUK national security adviser under pressure over wife’s comment on supporting Palestine ActionAuthor Sarah Helm, married to Jonathan Powell, wrote to back novelist Sally Rooney’s support of proscribed direct action group
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Wife of top Burnham adviser backs Sally Rooney after books withdrawn over Palestine Action support Sarah Helm, a prominent author and journalist, is the wife of the British prime minister's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell www.middleeasteye.net/news/wife-br...

middleeasteye.netWife of top Burnham adviser backs Sally Rooney after books withdrawn over Palestine Action supportSarah Helm, a prominent author and journalist, is the wife of the British prime minister's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell
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UK police assess Palestine Action post by national security adviser's wife British police said on Friday they were assessing a social media post after the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to express support for Palestine Action. www.reuters.com/business/med...

reuters.comUK police assess Palestine Action post by national security adviser's wifeBritish police said on Friday they were assessing a social media post after the wife of National Security ​Adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to express support for Palestine Action, ‌a pro-Palestinian ...
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National security adviser’s wife accused of supporting Palestine Action ‘God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action,’ God help us if @labouruk.bsky.social doesn’t do the sensible thing, Lift The Ban, and the humane thing: end the genocide. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

independent.co.ukNational security adviser’s wife accused of supporting Palestine Action‘God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action,’ Sarah Helm, who is the wife of Jonathan Powell, wrote on X
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“Outrage”, says the Daily Mail? Sarah Helm’s comments are sensible and right. We’re aware of 36 people so far who have had their homes raided by counter-terror police simply for posting support for Palestine Action online. Lift The Ban on Palestine Action. www.dailymail.com/news/article...

dailymail.comOutrage as national security adviser's wife supports Palestine ActionAuthor Sarah Helm, who is married to Andy Burnham's national security adviser Jonathan Powell, appearing to support proscribed terror group Palestine Action.
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OPEN CALLS Huda Ammori explained at our Open Call why Palestine Action chose direct action as its method for shutting down Israeli weapons factories on UK soil. “My own grandfather was assassinated by a British soldier during the colonisation of Palestine in the 1936 uprising.”

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Note that Palestine Action started taking action in 2020, years before Israel rapidly advanced their genocidal intentions. Join our Open Call this Sunday at 6:30pm to help Lift The Ban on Palestine Action, and to get involved in our October 31st action. www.wedonotcomply.org

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
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“We were arrested under the Terrorism Act for doing our jobs” The arrests of at least five journalists outside Elbit Systems’ UAV Tactical subsidiary in Leicester have been called ‘deeply concerning’ by press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders. www.leicester.news/we-were-arre...

leicester.newsWe were arrested under the Terrorism Act for doing our jobsHere’s what happened when we were arrested while reporting on a protest in Leicester
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Sally Rooney’s stand on Palestine is brave and humane, writes Zoe Williams The Normal People author’s determination to support Palestine Action, even if it means that her books are withdrawn from sale in the UK, makes a mockery of Britain’s terrorism laws. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...

theguardian.comSally Rooney’s stand on Palestine is brave and humaneThe Normal People author’s determination to support Palestine Action, even if it means that her books are withdrawn from sale in the UK makes a mockery of Britain’s terrorism laws
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NEW: Arrest for peacefully protesting against the massacring of children forces child psychotherapist to close private practice. She had been arrested for holding a paper sign at a vigil. Amnesty International UK has slammed Payne’s case as “chilling”. novaramedia.com/2026/10/15/c...

novaramedia.comChild Psychotherapist Forced to Close Practice After Holding Sign at Peaceful ProtestExclusive: A child psychotherapist has had to prematurely end her 16-year career because she was arrested for holding a sign at a Palestine Action demo. And she’s not the only protester to suffer prof...
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When journalists are arrested simply for reporting on peaceful vigils, when books such as Sally Rooney’s Normal People are withdrawn from the shelves, no-one who cares for free speech and democracy can afford to stay silent. Join us: www.wedonotcomply.org

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
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LABOUR BANNING BOOKS Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support. Irish writer of Normal People says she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and she cancelled UK trip due to fear of arrest. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comSally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action supportIrish writer of Normal People says she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and she cancelled UK trip due to fear of arrest
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94y/o Jewish human rights barrister, Margaret Owen OBE, spoke outside Parliament about the importance of the “gold standard of our justice system”; jury trials. “I was called to the bar in 1954, thinking that I was joining the bar in a country that respected the rule of law…1/2

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…What is happening is absolutely horrendous for the credibility of our justice system, and that affects every single person in this country.” Join us on October 31st outside the US Embassy in London to demand an end to the corrupting of UK law. wedonotcomply.org 2/2

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
Defend Our Juries
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THE JURY DECIDES Dr Clive Dolphin from The Jury Alliance spoke today outside Parliament while the Courts & Tribunals bill was being discussed. We must defend our juries. We must not allow them to be removed by proxy legislation brought in through the back door.

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Andy Burnham’s amendments to David Lammy’s disastrous attack on juries do not go far enough. Juries put the conscience of the public in to the heart of the justice system. Visit thejuryalliance.uk to get involved.

thejuryalliance.ukThe Jury Alliance - No Juries, No JusticeThe UK Government plans to remove the right to trial by jury for thousands of criminal cases, replacing the jury with a judge and two magistrates, or even a single judge. Jury trial is a cornerstone o...
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SOLIDARITY FOREVER 161 were arrested under the Terrorism Act for peacefully holding paper signs outside Labour’s conference in Liverpool. Labour must Lift The Ban on Palestine Action, or face prosecuting thousands of civilians under the Terrorism Act.

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On October 31st, hundreds more will mobilise to replicate this action outside the US Embassy, following Trump’s international designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist organisation”. We do not comply with Trumpian laws. Join us: www.wedonotcomply.org

wedonotcomply.orgLift The Ban - Defend Our JuriesFollowing intensive lobbying by representatives of the Israeli government and the arms industry such as Lord Walney, dishonestly presented to the public as ‘independent advisers’, domestic direct action group Palestine Action have been branded as a ‘terrorist organisation’, for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government’s complicity in genocide.
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Two of the press staff arrested under the Terrorism Act at yesterday’s peaceful vigil at Leicester’s UAV Systems work for @pressgazette.co.uk Five were eventually de-arrested onsite, two others were taken all the way to Northampton and held in cells for hours. pressgazette.co.uk/media_law/fi...

pressgazette.co.ukAt least five journalists arrested at Palestine Action protestAt least five journalists were briefly arrested while covering a pro-Palestine Action protest in Leicester on Thursday.
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UK Terrorism Arrests up 1,553% Since Palestine Action Ban 94% of arrests in the year ending June 2026 were linked to the proscription. “We are seeing a shameful attack on our right to protest. It’s past time to end the proscription of Palestine Action” novaramedia.com/2026/10/08/u...

novaramedia.comUK Terrorism Arrests up 1,553% Since Palestine Action BanTerror arrests in the UK have hit a record high thanks to the government’s ban on Palestine Action.