Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind disabled man, has come forward to defend his participation in a significant protest held in Parliament Square. Higgins, who is Black, uses a manual wheelchair and identifies as totally blind, with hearing and physical impairments. His arrest came with 531 other people caught in the largest demonstration since the birth of Palestine Action. In his protest, he carried a sign proclaiming, “I stand against genocide.” They arrested him and charged him with section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
This demonstration last month highlighted the immediate and longstanding needs of the Palestinian people. Higgins, despite serious health concerns that had kept him from coming to mobilizations before, found a reason to go along with the action. Crump, his arrest has received national attention. Videos of the incident have garnered tens of millions of views on social media platforms like Tik Tok.
Higgins’ arrest sheds light on struggles disabled activists have endured within political movements. Later, after his arrest, officers found themselves in a predicament. Their biggest complaint was having to carry him through the crowds, as his nearest exit was surrounded by steps. Less than 20 minutes after being taken into custody, he was transferred to a treatment facility. This new space does come with a portable toilet that is wheelchair accessible.
Mike Higgins shared his frustration with the way police handled the protesters. “The police were systematically going from the back of the crowds, digging people out and arresting them,” he stated. His experience is, unfortunately, emblematic of the larger issue of police violence against protesters, especially against people with disabilities.
During his time in custody, Higgins engaged in a brief conversation with officers, asking, “Surely you would prefer not to be doing this stuff.” He reported that their response indicated otherwise. This series of events only highlights the growing antagonism between protesters and police at contentious political marches.
Higgins hopes that his arrest will be seen as a clear demonstration of the absurdity of the proscription of Palestine Action. “I think police would just like all this to go away,” he noted. “I think they don’t want to be embroiled in what is very clearly a political action.” His statement raises critical questions about how law enforcement should engage with political uprisings. Further, it underlines the chilling effects of these arrests on our public discourse.
He must make it very clear that his actions were not just limited to anti-terrorism laws, but were in fact intended to alleviate humanitarian concerns. “It’s not about me. It’s not about even anti-terrorism laws. It’s about trying to stop the killing in Palestine,” he emphasized.
While Higgins waits on bail until as late as October, her story is making waves and demands still in activist circles. His determination to stand for what he believes is right serves as a reminder of the diverse voices within movements advocating for change, regardless of physical limitations.