Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLabour peer Baroness Shami Chakrabarti has criticised the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, warning it could lead to increased public support for the group. Her concerns intensified after over 500 people were arrested in central London for displaying items in support of a proscribed organisation during a weekend march. Baroness Chakrabarti argued that acts like criminal damage, such as spraying paint, do not equate to terrorism, and urged the government to “think again” on the ban.Civil liberties groups, along with cross-party MPs, have condemned the mass arrests as disproportionate and an excessive use of counter-terrorism powers. The Home Secretary and Downing Street have defended the ban, saying that Palestine Action is a violent organisation responsible for significant injury and extensive criminal damage.In fullPalestine Action terror ban risks ‘I am Spartacus’ moment, Labour peer warnsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in