UK law professors set out why they signed open letter in support of Palestine Action

UK law professors set out why they signed open letter in support of Palestine Action Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 04/30/2026 - 16:49 Seven of the more than 100 academics to sign an open letter submitted to the High Court said they support 'nonviolent action' that might be required to stop genocide An elderly man in a wheelchair (C) is escorted away by police as protesters gather to call for the lifting of the ban on the Palestine Action group during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London on 11 April 2026 (AFP) Off Several UK -based law professors have explained their decision to submit a letter to the Court of Appeal in support of the proscribed direct action group Palestine Action, as the court began hearing a government bid to keep the group banned under UK terror laws. Law Professor Neve Gordon at Queen Mary University of London and Professor Yvette Russell at the University of Bristol were among more than 100 academics to sign Tuesday's open letter, composed of only seven words, which read: "We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action. " Activists in support of Palestine Action hand-delivered the seven-word letter to the court on Tuesday, the same day that the government lodged its appeal against February's ruling, which found the ban to be unlawful.