Part 6/11:
Tom Slater critiqued the government's heavy-handed approach, arguing that criminalizing support for Palestine Action conflates violent crimes with political expression. He cautioned that branding the group as a terrorist organization risks criminalizing speech and positioning peaceful activists as martyrs, akin to icons like Nelson Mandela. Slater emphasized the importance of distinguishing between criminal acts and lawful advocacy, warning that the crackdown could undermine free speech rights and complicate police efforts.