The thing is, Greta Thunberg just got hauled away by the City of London Police. Specifically, the 22-year-old activist was arrested this Tuesday morning on Fenchurch Street. She was there to back a group of hunger strikers from “Palestine Action” who are currently behind bars. And then the legal hammer dropped.
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Because the UK government banned Palestine Action as a terrorist organization earlier this year, just holding a sign that says you support them is now a crime under the Terrorism Act. Let’s be real, seeing one of the world’s most famous activists getting arrested for a placard is a massive shift, or nothing.
The protest itself was a mess. Specifically, it started around 7:00 AM outside the offices of Aspen Insurance. Mobs—or at least a few dedicated protesters—used hammers and sprayed red paint all over the building. Two people actually glued themselves to the ground right there. And then the police moved in to peel them off.
Greta arrived a bit later, sitting down with a sign that read, “I support the Palestine Action prisoners.” Specifically, the police are using Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which basically says you can’t display anything that makes it look like you support a banned group.
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Here’s the kicker: the situation for the prisoners she’s supporting is getting desperate. Specifically, seven of them have been rushed to the hospital since their hunger strike began in November. One activist has gone 52 days without food and is now in a wheelchair.
They are demanding immediate bail and for the government to drop the “terrorist” label. But the UK government is staying firm. Prisons Minister Lord Timpson basically said it’s out of his hands and up to the judges. Let’s be real, the state is treating these guys like high-level threats, not just protesters.
Thunberg has already been released on bail until March, but the fallout is just beginning. Specifically, lawyers for the hunger strikers are now suing Justice Secretary David Lammy for refusing to even meet with them.
They claim he’s ignoring the government’s own safety policies for prisoners. Meanwhile, the red paint is still being cleaned off the glass on Fenchurch Street. Specifically, the tension is ongoing as the hunger strike reaches a life-or-death stage.
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