Massive Attack‘s Robert Del Naja was among the more than 500 people arrested in London on Saturday for protesting in support of group Palestine Action.
Del Naja took part in a mass protest held in London’s Trafalgar Square to oppose the British’s government current ban on the group, joining hundreds of fellow demonstrators and holding a sign that read, “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action.”
In a statement posted to Instagram today, Del Naja explained that he feels it’s “madness” that “in Britain in 2026 you can be arrested under the Terrorism Act for sitting in silence, holding a cardboard sign saying that you oppose genocide & support non-violent action to prevent it.”
“The sense of madness can be overcome,” he wrote. “We can demand that our government upholds international laws that previous generations sacrificed their lives for. UK citizens will feel less desperation (& our overwhelmed courts will be quieter) if our country acts with the integrity of neighbors such as Spain; calmly declining the use of their territory & assets for illegal US / Israeli war crimes.”
He added that “a few hours in police custody under unlawful arrest is a very small price to pay.” “Our democracy, & the civil rights & liberties that now sit in constitutional law were literally built on small actions like these,” Del Naja concluded. “Perhaps that’s why this draconian government wants to crush them?”
Prior to his arrest, Del Naja told the Press Association that he wanted to attend the protest despite the possible consequences. “Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas,” he said. “But I thought, This is ridiculous’ and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous.”
He added, “So I’m going to hold a sign today. If I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say, ‘This was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I don’t accept it.’”
In July 2025, the British government made it illegal to support Palestine Action by banning the group under under anti-terror legislation. The ban was ruled unlawful in February by the high court, but has since remained in place pending an appeal.
Saturday’s protest, dubbed Everyone Day, was held in responded to “unwaning resistance to the ban on Palestine Action.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed they arrested 523 people during the protest. Since the ban was put into place last summer, more than 2,700 people have been arrested for allegedly voicing support for the group.
