LONDON - Fifty-five people were arrested at a rally for the banned Palestine Action group outside Britain's parliament on Saturday, London's Metropolitan Police said. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
First of all persecuting peaceful protestors as “terrorist supporters” for supporting a group that is designated as “terrorist” for non violent civil disobedience is dystopian authoritarian nightmare fuel.
Furthermore this will waste a lot of resources in the counter-terrorism units, judiciary and prison system.
Then this will motivate for escalations. As peaceful protest is crushed and persecuted as “terrorism”, there is no legal reason not to commit acts of actual violence. If people are branded “terrorists” and imprisoned for many years either way, they might as well “make it worthwhile”.
Finally this whole bullshit is weakening the perception of actual terrorism and support for terrorist organizations as a problem. If everyone is a terrorist for not licking the boots of the government, no one is a terrorist.
The UK is digging its own grave here.
First of all persecuting peaceful protestors as “terrorist supporters” for supporting a group that is designated as “terrorist” for non violent civil disobedience is dystopian authoritarian nightmare fuel.
Furthermore this will waste a lot of resources in the counter-terrorism units, judiciary and prison system.
Then this will motivate for escalations. As peaceful protest is crushed and persecuted as “terrorism”, there is no legal reason not to commit acts of actual violence. If people are branded “terrorists” and imprisoned for many years either way, they might as well “make it worthwhile”.
Finally this whole bullshit is weakening the perception of actual terrorism and support for terrorist organizations as a problem. If everyone is a terrorist for not licking the boots of the government, no one is a terrorist.