Grassroots group's bank account frozen due to Palestine Action investigation'

"A grassroots pro-Palestinian organisation in the UK has been told its bank account was frozen because of an investigation into Palestine Action, despite it having no affiliation to the direct action group. Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine (GMFP), which organises peaceful protests and vigils, had access to its funds cut off indefinitely by Virgin Money after Palestine Action was banned under the Terrorism Act and the account remains blocked."

"Nicholson said: The fact is that this is a bank account in the name of Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, which supports people starving in Gaza, people displaced, subject to settler violence in the West Bank, aimed at giving funds to non-governmental organisations working on the ground in Palestine. Our bank account has had no transactions to or from Palestine Action."

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine (GMFP), a grassroots group that organises peaceful protests and vigils, had its bank account frozen and access to funds cut off indefinitely by Virgin Money. Greater Manchester police informed the deputy mayor's office that the account was frozen as part of an investigation into Palestine Action, although GMFP has no affiliation with that direct action group and reports no transactions to or from Palestine Action. GMFP's treasurer called the freeze an abuse that extends the ban's implications to ordinary pro-Palestine groups. A joint personal account of the treasurer and GMFP chair was also closed without explanation by another bank.

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