Misan Harriman’s documentary *Shoot the People* isn’t just a portrait of a photographer—it’s a battle cry against the weaponization of law and the power of visual storytelling in an era where dissent is met with state violence. The Nigerian-British artist, whose work has graced the cover of *British Vogue* and shaped global conversations on Palestinian rights, sits at the intersection of art, activism, and repression. His latest film, premiering in the U.S. this week, lays bare the crackdown on pro-Palestine protests in the UK, where four activists from Palestine Action were recently sentenced under terrorism laws—a legal escalation that has sent shockwaves through the movement. “The sum of all of our parts is stronger than the powerful few,” Harriman told Archyde in New York ahead of the premiere, a sentiment that now feels like a manifesto in the face of mounting state aggression.
Why the UK’s Terrorism Sentencing of Pro-Palestine Activists Is a Turning Point
The sentencing of four Palestine Action activists in January 2026—three to 18 months in prison, one to 20 months—marks the first time UK courts have applied terrorism legislation to nonviolent protestors. The charges stemmed from their involvement in a 2023 demonstration where they allegedly “encouraged” violence, though no physical harm occurred. Legal experts say the case sets a dangerous precedent: the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, originally designed to combat actual threats, is now being wielded to silence political speech.
“This is a direct attack on the right to protest. The government is using terrorism laws as a blunt instrument to criminalize solidarity with Palestine. It’s not about justice—it’s about control.”
Harriman’s documentary frames this legal crackdown within a broader pattern: since October 2023, UK police have arrested over 1,200 people at pro-Palestine rallies, with charges ranging from “public nuisance” to “incitement.” The shift reflects a global trend—from Israel’s 2023 “anti-normalization” laws to Germany’s bans on pro-Palestine chants—where states are recalibrating repression to preempt dissent before it materializes.
How Harriman’s Photography Became a Weapon—and a Shield
Harriman’s career has always been about confronting power with unflinching imagery. His 2021 cover of *British Vogue*—the first by a Black photographer—featured a Black trans model, a deliberate rejection of the industry’s homogeneity. But his most potent work lies in documenting Palestine. In *Shoot the People*, he revisits his 2015 series *The Occupation of the American Mind*, which exposed the complicity of U.S. institutions in Israeli military occupation. “Photography isn’t neutral,” Harriman says. “It’s either a tool of domination or a tool of liberation. I choose the latter.”
The documentary’s title is a direct nod to Edward Said’s critique of Orientalism, but it also references the literal targeting of Palestinian photographers. Since 2023, at least 12 Palestinian journalists have been killed while covering the war, including Alaa Tartir, a Gaza-based photographer whose work was banned by Israeli authorities. Harriman’s own archives—smuggled out of Gaza in 2023—became a target of Israeli intelligence, who raided his studio in search of “incriminating” images.
“The erasure of Palestinian voices isn’t just about killing bodies—it’s about destroying the visual record. When you control the narrative, you control history.”
The Global Ripple: How the UK’s Crackdown Mirrors Israel’s Playbook
Harriman’s film draws parallels between the UK’s legal assault on activists and Israel’s decades-long strategy of criminalizing Palestinian solidarity. In 2023, Israel passed the Anti-Boycott Law, making it illegal for companies to divest from Israeli settlements—a move critics call a blueprint for silencing global criticism. The UK’s terrorism charges, meanwhile, echo Israel’s military court system, where Palestinian children as young as 12 are tried under adult law for “incitement.”
A table comparing the two approaches reveals a chilling alignment:
| Tactic | Israel (2023–2026) | UK (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Weaponization | Anti-Boycott Law (2023), “incitement” charges for social media posts | Terrorism Act 2000 applied to protestors |
| Targeted Repression | Raids on Palestinian families, asset freezes on activists | Arrests of protest organizers, surveillance of solidarity groups |
| Narrative Control | Banning of Palestinian narratives in schools, media blackouts | Police labeling protests as “extremist,” framing activists as threats |
The UK’s move isn’t just legal overreach—it’s a calculated signal to other Western governments. Since the sentencing, France and Canada have ramped up surveillance of pro-Palestine groups, while the U.S. has seen a surge in anti-BDS legislation. “This is the new normal,” Harriman warns. “The UK is testing how far it can go before the world pushes back.”
What Happens Next: The Movement’s Survival Strategies
Facing state repression, Palestinian solidarity networks are adapting—through decentralized organizing, digital archives, and artistic resistance. Harriman’s documentary highlights three key shifts:
- Decentralized Protests: After mass arrests at central London rallies, groups like Solidarity with Palestine are organizing smaller, localized actions in universities and neighborhoods, making it harder for police to predict or suppress them.
- Digital Preservation: Projects like Palestine Archive are crowdsourcing images, videos, and testimonies to create an indelible record of the movement, bypassing state-controlled narratives.
- Art as Resistance: From graffiti in Bristol to pop-up galleries in London, artists are turning public spaces into sites of defiance. Harriman’s own work is now being exhibited in encrypted digital galleries to evade censorship.
Yet the biggest question remains: Can these tactics outpace the state’s reach? Legal experts argue that the UK’s terrorism charges are unconstitutionally vague, leaving room for appeals. But the real battle is cultural. “We’re not just fighting the courts,” Harriman says. “We’re fighting for the right to be seen.”
The Takeaway: Why This Fight Matters Beyond Palestine
The story of Misan Harriman and the UK’s terrorism sentencing isn’t just about Palestine—it’s about the future of dissent in the West. The same laws used to silence pro-Palestine voices today could be turned against climate activists tomorrow, or anti-racism protestors the day after. As Harriman’s documentary makes clear, the tools of repression are being honed in one place and exported to others.
So what’s next? The answer lies in how we respond. Will we let the state define who gets to speak? Or will we—like Harriman—use art, archives, and solidarity to rewrite the rules? The premiere of *Shoot the People* isn’t just a film screening; it’s a call to action. And the question isn’t whether you’ll join the fight—it’s how.
What’s one image, story, or act of solidarity from your community that’s resisting erasure? Share it in the comments—we’ll feature the most powerful ones.
