“The UK is criminalising conscience while hosting war criminals”
A large and defiant crowd gathered today at a police roadblock outside Chevening House to protest the presence of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, condemning his visit as a symbol of complicity in war crimes — and highlighting the UK government’s deepening crackdown on dissent.
The protest was organised by local residents from Sevenoaks and surrounding areas, outraged by what they described as the UK’s “open-door policy for war criminals” while peaceful demonstrators are arrested, surveilleda nd silenced.
While Vance is believed to have arrived quietly at around 8:30am, the crowd built throughout the morning, occupying the road and physically blocking access to the estate with banners. Multiple vehicles attempting to gain entry were forced to reverse. Police were on the scene and monitored the situation, but no arrests had been made at the time of writing.
The protest was loud and sustained, with chants amplified through megaphones and the banging of pots, pans, and samba drums. Demonstrators repeated:
“UK Welcome, No Chance — Genocidal, J.D. Vance!”
“David Lammy, You Can’t Hide, You’re Supporting Genocide!”
A banner stretched across the roadblock read: “Fascism = Terrorism. J.D. Vance Out”:
Lucy, a 44-year-old local resident, said:
Sevenoaks does not welcome a war criminal for a fancy lunch at Chevening, hosted by another war criminal. While children in Gaza are being starved and bombed, these men sit behind gates and toast their foreign policy. It’s not diplomacy — it’s a grotesque performance of power, drenched in blood. And the rest of us are told to stay quiet or face arrest. We will not.
Sean, 30, from London added:
Peaceful protesters are being arrested, threatened with terrorism charges, and labelled extremists — simply for standing up against genocide. Meanwhile, politicians like J.D. Vance are welcomed with full diplomatic honours. The UK is criminalising conscience while hosting war criminals. The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is plausibly committing genocide — and our government is helping fund and defend it. That’s the reality we’re protesting.
The protest also comes in the wake of the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action, a non-violent direct action group, under terrorism legislation. Critics have condemned the move as a grave attack on civil liberties.
In response, a mass protest is planned in Parliament Square, London, on Saturday 9 August, where hundreds are expected to peacefully hold placards reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”, which is treated as a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act.
Government ministers and the Metropolitan Police have issued public warnings of potential arrests at the event. Human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Liberty have condemned the threats, warning that the right to protest is under serious attack in the UK.
Organisers of today’s action say the message is simple: if the government can host those accused of enabling mass atrocities, it must accept the consequences of public outrage. Neither the U.S. delegation nor the UK Foreign Office has responded to requests for comment.
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The world is sick. Israel is sick. The USA is sick. The UK is sick. So sick none of them want to get better, just richer.
Off topic, but by far the best youtube video I’ve seen in a loooong time.
Get it watched. That’s an order!!
https://youtu.be/FmGgBxmxbY4?si=tvHsPaD8OSeIOtIy
itv.com/news/london/2025-08-09/hundreds-to-face-arrest-at-protest-against-palestine-action-terror-ban
Police have arrested 200 protesters supporting Palestine Action in Parliament Square “with more to follow”, the Metropolitan Police said.
There were a further four arrests for assaults on officers.
The force said the detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action.
“Those whose details were refused, or could not be verified, were taken to custody suites across London,” they said.
Many of the people remaining in the square were onlookers or members of the media, but officers were still making further arrests.
In an update posted on X, the Met said: “It will take time but we will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.”
Hundreds of people have risked arrest as they descend on London to show support for Palestine Action in defiance of its ban as a terror group.
Defend Our Juries, which organised the demonstration, said between 600 and 700 people were in Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon.
Now 365 arrests
I’ll ask here, as well.
What’s NOT to like, wee nondescript, non-dom noncecase?
Toffee – 532 people had a successful day out yesterday 🤔
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/10/police-arrest-hundreds-london-protest-over-palestine-action-ban
Is that a complaint – or another endorsement of keefist policy?
Toffee – Neither, it is simply a neutral observation about what happened yesterday.
neitral observation
Oh really? A keefist policy that you’re supposedly neutral about, while making obtuse, crass remarks about how successful the day had gone for those arrested?
Oh….still working part time? Kindly remind us all just what it is you are/were doing?
Toffee – Given that they joined the demo in the hope that they would be arrested what’s your problem?
And you know this how exactly?
Asked them all, did ya?
No. You didn’t. You made it up.
Now…what was that part time job of yours?
Toffee – That they turned up with a large blank sheet of card and a marker pen and then (in front of the police) wrote ‘I support Palestine Action’ on their card before displaying it to the police might be just a ‘small‘ clue. 🤔
All 500 and odd of them?
Don’t think so, soft shite. Oh, and who was it proscribed their right to do that?
You know, the thing you post about as a neutral observation, hmmm?
And you seem very reluctant to tell us all about your part time employment…why would that be?
Could it be because you know where it’s gonna lead? 🤔
Toffee – Yes, all of them. It has been reported that this was part of the instructions they were given by the protest organisers.
Yes all of them
Including that blind fella? That he could write ‘I support Palestine Action’ is not far short of a fucking miracle, you silly, stupid bastard.
it had been reported
And it had been reported that Iraq had WMDs capable of being launched within 45 mins.
It had been reported that 40 babies had been beheaded and posted in ovens.
Fucking gawp.
Still not answering with details of that part time job… wonder why?
Except I don’t wonder why at all.
Toffee – Oh dear, you really do need to get a grip of yourself. I guess it was just a coincidence that they all turned up with a large sheet of blank card and a marker pen.
Have you not watched the videos?
Don’t you agree that in the circumstances this was very sensible advice?
Do keep quiet, imbecile.
For someone claiming neutrality you seem to be doing an awful lot revelling in your self-righteousness.
And STILL no mention of that part time job.