Belfast Pro-Palestine Activists Vow To Keep Fighting After “Disgraceful” Court Ruling

5 pro-Palestine activists are on trial in Belfast are challenging a ruling by a judge from Laganside Courts declaring that at least 3 of the group were guilty of unlawfully obstructing traffic. In other words, they blocked a road, which they described as “an entirely legitimate form of dissent against this outrageous local support for war crimes”. The news comes after prosecutors dragged out the case for months in an effort to intimidate activists and keep them in the legal system for longer. The case was originally meant to be heard on May 27, but was only heard on August 17. The verdict was delivered on August 25th, after the judge requested an additional week to consider the case, while the activists were represented by barrister Conor O'Kane.

Belfast BDS slammed the legal system as a “kangaroo court”, while asserting that the protest was lawful, peaceful and legitimate against Israel’s genocidal actions in Palestine, and vowed to continue organising against the State of the occupied 6-counties’ complicity in genocide, war crimes and oppression of the Palestinian people. They also noted that the State attempted to criminalise, altogether, 9 activists. The activists are fighting against the complicity of the State in Israel’s genocide. 

“Their actions were part of a legitimate peaceful protest at the height of the 'Israel'-created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's horrific massacres against starving Palestinians desperately seeking food, “ Belfast BDS said in a statement on social media, adding that “their actions were part of a legitimate peaceful protest at the height of the 'Israel'-created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's horrific massacres against starving Palestinians desperately seeking food”.

“We are confident the judge has erred in this matter, and have lodged an appeal. Our protest was an entirely proportionate response to the horrors carried out by the Zionist entity. In the meantime, attempts by kangaroo courts to criminalise us will have no effect. We pledge to double down on protest against the apartheid colony's atrocities in West Asia, as no other option is available in the face of government inaction, “  the statement concluded. 

There was an outpouring of support on social media for the 5 activists. The Defend Our Juries group, for instance, commented that “evil triumphs when good people do nothing! ALL charges must be dropped. End complicity in genocide”, while another commenter added “the judge needs to rethink which is more important stopping traffic or stopping a genocide. They should be giving you all medals. Our government is disgracing Ireland every day by supporting the genocide”.