Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was among 500 people arrested at Palestine Action protest in London this weekend. The celebrated trip-hop musician said he wanted to attend the protest despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his career and touring.
Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja has been arrested at a mass Palestine Action demonstration in central London.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Del Naja, also known as 3D, was among hundreds of demonstrators who took to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 12 March to protest the ban on Palestine Action – a British pro-Palestinian direct action network which was founded in 2020. It is currently proscribed in the UK as a terrorist group, making membership or support for it a criminal offence.
The Metropolitan Police said that 523 people had been arrested, with ages ranging from 18 to 87.
Del Naja sat with demonstrators with a sign that read "I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action", before he was carried away by officers.
In footage of his arrest, Del Naja can be seen being approached by police officers who tell him he is being put under arrest, before carrying him away from the demonstration.
Before his arrest, Del Naja told the Press Association he wanted to attend the protest despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his career.
He said: “Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas,” adding: “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.”
“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’.”
He concluded: “I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes and breaking international law. How much more patriotic can you be than that?”
The English trip-hop band, formed in Bristol in 1988 and currently consisting of Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, have been steadfast supporters of Palestine and last year joined more than 400 artists in backing the No Music For Genocide campaign. They have boycotted performing in Israel since 1999.
Massive Attack are due to play a series of European shows this summer, including in Helsinki, Finland; Copenhagen in Denmark; Berlin, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; and Lyon, France.
It remains to be seen whether these EU dates will be affected by Del Naja’s arrest, which could impact the band’s travel.
