The singer Charlotte Church and veteran peace campaigners are among hundreds who have signed a letter describing the move to ban the group Palestine Action as “a major assault on our freedoms”. Trade unionists, activists and politicians have also added their names to the letter opposing the group’s proscription under anti-terrorism laws last week. “From the suffragettes to the civil rights movement, what was once condemned as radical disruption is now celebrated as moral courage. Photograph: lynchpics/AlamyA ban on Palestine Action, which uses direct action to mainly target Israeli weapons factories in the UK and their supply chain, was voted through by parliament this month. Being a member of, or showing support for the group is now a criminal offence after a last-minute legal challenge to suspend the group’s proscription failed.