Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja arrested at Palestine Action demonstration
Robert Del Naja from Massive Attack was among 500 people arrested at a demonstration for Palestine Action in London at the weekend.
The musician, known as 3D within the band, was arrested on April 11th by police on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation, following the UK government’s ruling on Palestine Action last year.
At the protest in Trafalgar Square, Del Naja was seen holding a sign that said: “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action”, with footage on social media of his arrest showing him being picked up by police officers and being led away from demonstrators, who cheered in support.
Del Naja is also heard saying, “I’m being unlawfully arrested” in the video, when asked by someone in the crowd why he has been arrested.
During the demonstration but prior to his arrest, the musician had spoken to the Press Association (via The Guardian), in which he said he was not daunted at the prospect of being taken into custody, despite the repercussions it could have on his career.
“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. So I’m going to hold a sign today.”
Del Naja added: “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.'”
The musician was referencing the fact that the ban on the group was found to be “unlawful” by the High Court in February, as it determined that the majority of their actions did not meet the threshold for terrorism.
At the time, Massive Attack celebrated the ruling by writing on Instagram Stories: “Keir Starmer’s government wanted to punish those who made their complicity in a genocide visible.”
Their statement continued, “They confected an authoritarian law to retaliate against peaceful citizens holding signs. They wanted to brand those people ‘terrorists’. Just like the court of public opinion, the High Court has now found that unlawful.”
During his comments at the protest, Del Naja described the work of Palestine Action as “highly patriotic” as “they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes and breaking international law.”
Massive Attack are set to head out on a European tour between the end of May and the beginning of June, with stops in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. It is not known at this stage whether Del Naja’s arrest will affect these plans.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.