ACTIVISTS are set to gather outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as Palestine Action co-founder Richard Barnard appears for his plea hearing for charges relating to two speeches.

Mr Barnard spoke at a protest on October 8 2023 in Manchester, where he is facing two charges: one under the Serious Crime Act for an alleged act capable of encouraging the commission of an offence, the other, under the Terrorism Act, for allegedly expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas.

The 41-year-old is also facing charges for the same allegation under the Serious Crime Act for another speech days later on October 11 in Bradford.

He was first arrested for the charge in November, days before he was due to begin trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court as part of Palestine Action’s Elbit Eight case for their involvement in protests to shut down the production of arms from Britain to Israel.

The decision to charge came after 10 activists from Palestine Action were detained without charge for seven days under the Terrorism Act following an action which cost Israel’s biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems, over £1 million in damages.

A Palestine Action spokesperson told the Star: “The charges against Richard Barnard are part of a vindictive campaign to wield counter-terrorism powers to deter the movement against genocide.

“The state is attempting to intimidate our movement in order to protect Israel’s weapons trade.

“We will not allow that to happen and call on the wider public to support us to resist the state’s repressive tactics.”

Supporters will gather outside the London court ahead of the hearing at 10am.