In Liverpool, a 76-year-old political activist and pensioners’ rights campaigner, Audrey White, was arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration on Saturday afternoon, sparking renewed public concern about the policing of protests in the UK. The arrest, which was recorded on video and widely circulated online, showed officers forcibly removing White amid shouts from bystanders, who accused police of using excessive force. The event has drawn sharp focus to the U.K. government’s recent decision to classify the group Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organization.

The protest, described by participants as the 160th weekly demonstration against Israeli policy in Gaza, took place in central Liverpool. According to eyewitnesses and video evidence, White was among a small group of demonstrators holding placards critical of Israel and the UK government’s stance. The signs, one of which reportedly expressed support for Palestine Action, were deemed grounds for arrest under terrorism legislation following the group’s proscription earlier this month.

“She was holding a sign, that’s all,” said a fellow protester, who declined to give their name but said they had attended the weekly protests for over three years. “To see her, a woman of 76, roughly handled like that was shocking. There was no aggression from our side.”

Police said the arrests were made under section 12 of the Terrorism Act, relating to support for a banned organization. In addition to White, her brother and a local member of clergy were also detained. All four have since been released on bail pending further investigation.

White, a veteran activist and chair of the Merseyside Pensioners Association, has long been involved in local and national campaigns around workers’ rights, anti-war efforts, and pension justice. Following her release on Sunday, she described the experience as “deeply frightening,” telling supporters that she remained in physical pain and emotionally shaken. “It was terrifying,” she said, according to people who spoke with her after she returned home. “I didn’t expect to be treated with violence for standing up for what I believe in.”

Video footage circulating on social media shows officers lifting White off the ground while she tries to speak. At one point, one of the officers appears to strike her, prompting audible gasps from those nearby. The Merseyside Police have not commented in detail on the footage, but said in a brief statement that the arrests had been “lawful and proportionate.”

Concerns about the use of terrorism legislation in such contexts have grown steadily in recent weeks. Civil liberties advocates warn that the proscription of Palestine Action could create a chilling effect on legitimate political expression. “It’s not just about Palestine Action,” said a human rights lawyer familiar with the case. “It’s about where the boundary lies between protest and criminality. That line is looking increasingly blurred.”

Elsewhere in the country, similar incidents have occurred. In Leeds, a retired headteacher was arrested earlier this month for displaying a copy of a satirical magazine featuring an article titled “Palestine Action Explained.” The growing number of such cases has led some campaigners to question whether peaceful protest remains protected under UK law.

The situation has drawn particular scrutiny in Liverpool, where the protest tradition has deep roots and where White herself has become a symbolic figure. “Audrey has been protesting all her life,” said a colleague at the pensioners’ association. “She’s faced down big corporations, local councils, and now she’s being treated like a criminal for carrying a sign. It’s difficult to comprehend.”

As of Monday afternoon, Merseyside Police confirmed that all those detained on Saturday had been released on bail. Investigations are ongoing. Asked whether further arrests could be expected, a spokesperson for the force declined to speculate but emphasized that supporting proscribed organizations could carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

The events in Liverpool have galvanized activists and legal observers alike, with many calling for an independent inquiry into the policing of protests and the broader implications of the new classification. For White, the experience has taken both a physical and emotional toll. Those close to her say she remains resolute but is still recovering. “She knew the risks,” one supporter noted, “but I don’t think anyone expected it to go this far.”