Memoirs of a Terrorist Granny

A long wait for arrest. All credits for photos to BetterThanReal.

Introduction by CAMPAIN

The article below is a granny’s light-hearted take on the September 6^th protest in support of Palestine Action.

However, for a group like ours, formed to push back against misrepresentation, the topic is deadly serious. The misrepresentation and misdesignation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and the consequences of that, represents a serious threat to our civil liberties.

There are few cases of misrepresentation as bad as Government’s designation of a direct-action group – one that does not engage in violence against people – as a terrorist group. Even worse, is its attempt to criminalise peace-loving granies and others who express support for it. This is an inevitable consequence of the Terrorism Act 2000, which stipulates that anyone who expresses support for a proscribed group can be arrested and prosecuted simply for their association, regardless of their conduct.

Most of our Committee has participated in these protests and been arrested. The coordinators of the protest, Defend our Juries, issued a simple statement pointing out the importance of our action:

It is vital that our campaign succeeds – not just for Palestine Action but for democracy. Once the meaning of ‘terrorism’ is separated from campaigns of violence against a civilian population, and extended to include those causing economic damage or embarrassment to the rich, the powerful and the criminal, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning and democracy is dead. If we let this go, the unions, and climate and racial justice movements will be next.

Memoirs of a Terrorist Granny - by Sharen Green

“OH no – they’re holding placards!” – my favourite out of the posters I saw in Parliament Square.

Holding up a placard indeed was the extent of my alleged terrorism.

A former staff nurse from a top London hospital – aka Prisoner 441 – I have never so much as earned any points on my licence. But now I’m out on bail and facing a possible stretch at His Majesty’s pleasure.

I was arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act whilst sitting quietly outside the Mother of Parliaments.

The placards of all 890 of us who were arrested read:

I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Palestine Action is a nonviolent direct-action group which has closed down several Israeli drone factories.

How bizarre that swathes of law-abiding citizens have suddenly been criminalised for supporting them.

The elderly among us had little to lose. But others were risking their jobs and future careers – a terrorism conviction is no joke.

I saw several people in scrubs with doctor, nurse or consultant across their chests – a doctor at the Royal Free has already been suspended for speaking out about Palestine.

At first there was almost a festival vibe as hundreds of us poured in, sat down and wrote out our messages. The pavement around the square was lined with supporters bearing witness to what we – and the police – were doing.

Descendants of Holocaust survivors held their anti-genocide banner near me, as did the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.

Squads of police officers stood around, then every so often, eight or nine of them would barge through the crowd to arrest a random protestor.

The police come to arrest David Mond, Sharen's colleague and Treasurer of CAMPAIN. I always wanted to be arrested by a female police officer, said David to much laughter

The arrests were few and far between for the first five hours – it seemed impossible that they could possibly arrest us all 1,200 of us. I felt disappointed that I might escape arrest – but also hugely relieved.

However, after 6pm dozens more officers arrived and things speeded up. I got quite scared.

I had been waiting for six hours when they finally came for me. I walked quietly to the waiting police van escorted by several officers.

There were so many people cheering me and calling me a hero

Then when I got in the van the adulation got really intense.  People were giving me raised fists, victory signs, blowing kisses, telling me they loved me.

Some friends from Bournemouth spotted me and mobbed the van. Being treated like a rockstar induced an acute case of imposter syndrome!

Sharen is anxious as her turn comes

It was lovely but also embarrassing and I was relieved when we were finally driven away.

Clearly some police were violent. However, all I experienced was respect and consideration. In fact, my arresting officer – Ethan – was perfectly sweet.

We were dropped off in Millbank and queued for three hours to be processed at the pop-up police station. Trips to the loo were facilitated and water bottles were given out freely.

Activists in front of and beside me, less concerned with their dignity, had gone “floppy” and had to be carried as the queue moved forward. 

I heard an officer say that we were trying to break the Met. I countered No, we’re trying to overturn an unjust law. (I have never seen British police as my enemies – they’re human beings too!)

Unlike some of my more hardcore colleagues I accepted street bail to avoid being locked up – I’m claustrophobic. But some of my friends spent the night in the cells – respect!

Ethan escorted me to the exit from the makeshift police station – I found myself in a dark back street. But there were maybe a dozen people waiting to welcome us.

A young man escorted me back to the bright lights and I caught the last train home from Waterloo.

Hearing reports of the demo later dismayed me. A senior officer claimed protestors were violent – I don’t believe it.

But all the officers wore body cams so I await the evidence. Eagerly!