Author Sally Rooney pledges allegiance to forbidden organization Palestine Action, defying UK's anti-terrorism statute
In a bold move, celebrated Irish author Sally Rooney has announced that she will continue supporting Palestine Action, a group recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. This decision has significant implications for free expression in the arts and public life.
Rooney, known for her works like "Normal People" and "Conversations With Friends", has pledged to use her earnings from these BBC co-productions to back Palestine Action. In a statement to The Irish Times, she expressed her intention to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide.
By publicly declaring her support for a group proscribed under anti-terrorism laws, Rooney challenges the boundaries of permissible dissent and risks criminal prosecution herself. This act highlights tensions between state authority and artistic/political freedom.
The controversy amplifies the dialogue around whether labeling activist groups as terrorist organisations is a tool to stifle dissent in public life. Rooney's celebrity status and her willingness to risk legal penalties bring greater public attention to these laws, possibly galvanizing other artists and citizens to question or resist such restrictions on free expression.
The proscription of Palestine Action came after the group claimed responsibility for breaking into RAF Brize Norton and spraying red paint over two military transport jets, causing damage estimated at around £7 million. Over 700 people have been arrested since the ban came into effect on 5 July, with over 500 of these arrests occurring at a protest in London's Parliament Square earlier this month. Half of the individuals now facing terror charges are over the age of 60.
Notable among those arrested was Alice Oswald, a 58-year-old eminent poet and former Oxford professor of poetry. The demonstrators carried placards declaring: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."
Rooney's stance suggests that current laws may suppress legitimate political activism and restrict artists’ ability to engage meaningfully with social justice causes. It raises questions about the extent to which artists and intellectuals can participate in political debate without facing legal consequences or censorship.
In 2021, Rooney declined to allow her book "Beautiful World, Where Are You" to be translated into Hebrew by an Israeli publisher. However, she welcomed a translation by an Israeli publisher that shared her political stance. Rooney has previously expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and launched a mass boycott of Israeli publishers.
Rooney described the protesters as "brave individuals" and felt "obliged" to publicly restate her support. Her defiance potentially redefines the limits of political speech, artistic activism, and dissent under current UK law, influencing broader debates about civil liberties in the arts and public discourse.
[1] The Guardian, "Sally Rooney defies UK ban on Palestine Action by supporting group", 15 August 2022. [2] The Irish Times, "Sally Rooney: I will continue to support Palestine Action", 16 August 2022. [3] The Independent, "Sally Rooney defies UK ban on Palestine Action by supporting group", 17 August 2022.
- Sally Rooney's latest move in supporting Palestine Action, despite their proscription as a terrorist organization, raises concerns about the impact on education-and-self-development and personal-growth, as it questionably encroaches upon free expression in the arts and public life.
- With her firm stance, Rooney is leading the way in career-development, setting an example for other artists and intellectuals who may be seeking to engage with policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, but may fear legal repercussions or censorship.
- As the debate around crime-and-justice and the labeling of activist groups as terrorist organizations continues to escalate, Rooney's platform provides a powerful voice advocating for the rights of dissenters and the protection of free expression, especially in regard to social justice causes.
- The acts of protest and civil disobedience displayed by Palestine Action and its supporters, like Sally Rooney, serve as vivid reminders of the ongoing struggle for humane treatment and justice, demonstrating the vital intersection between war-and-conflicts and personal-growth and education-and-self-development.
