Our co-director, Rev Dr Sally Mann, was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, article 13. She was fully prepared for this, and if it comes to it, is ready to accept the maximum 6-month prison sentence.
Sally took part in non-violent direct action organised by Defend Our Juries and was one of 532 people arrested by the Metropolitan Police in Parliament Square. She believes only non-violent mass resistance can persuade the UK Govt to stop selling weapons used in war crimes in Gaza. The protest hoped to draw attention to the misuse of anti-terrorist legislation in silencing non-violent resistance.
“I believe Jesus actually meant what he said, and he modelled non-violent resistance to oppressive power,” she continued. “I see myself as a minister more than an activist, but I have always felt compelled by my faith to try to build a community that is built on peace-making.
On Saturday I got up early and went to St James’ Park because I wanted to be very calm, I sat quietly and prayed. Then I headed over to Parliament Square ready to be arrested.”
(This quote is from an interview she gave to the national Independent Newspaper East London church minister Dr Sally Mann risking prison time to support Palestine Action | The Independent
Her arrest was captured on video and has been widely shared and received thousands of comments (it’s on Cage International’s Instagram Page and has been shared widely on social media.
“The numbers who turned up to arrest me were extraordinary. I think there were a dozen officers arresting me and actually, had they asked me to walk onto the van I would’ve just gone on my own. I was completely ready to be arrested.
“I was appalled by the unspeakable violence of Hamas and pray for the hostages to be released, but watching all that has unfolded since, I just can’t accept that the deaths of so many thousands of innocent women and children and the use of starvation of an entire population, is a proportionate or lawful response.
“As someone of Jewish ancestry (my grandmother was Jewish) I have learnt that it is always dangerous to deny genocide and war crimes. We must be ready to resist but never allow aggression or hate to win us over.
“As I read the Sermon on the Mount I find a blueprint for resistance in the life of Jesus. Turn the other cheek and go the extra mile, in his context living in an occupied land, encouraged his followers to meet aggression with novel but powerful resistance. Roman soldiers slapped inferiors with the back of their hands, and could order anyone to carry their packs for a mile. Jesus taught his followers to act in ways that regained power and dignity. Not by giving in, or by using violence, but by forcing evil to overstep its mark and so reveal its true colours. Non-violent resistance takes enormous courage. We have a history of this resistance in our church tradition, and elsewhere, to encourage us on.