77-year-old US military veteran stands firm in refusal to pay fine following guilty verdict for displaying Hamas sign

Michael Rabb, a 77-year-old US military veteran, was found guilty of carrying a sign supporting Hamas at a protest in South Yorkshire. The protest was held outside Sheffield City Hall on October 21, 2023, over the ongoing Hamas/Israel conflict. Rabb’s homemade sign read “Stand With Hamas, End Israel, Free Palestine.” He was sentenced to a £1,000 fine, £930 in costs, and a £400 surcharge, totaling over £2,300. The judge warned Rabb that he may be in contempt of court if he refused to pay within seven days.

Hamas is a proscribed organization under the Terrorism Act, and Rabb’s sign was found to potentially arouse reasonable suspicion that he was a member or supporter of the group. However, the prosecution stated that it was not necessary for Rabb to show support for Hamas to participate in the peaceful protest. Rabb, who served as a fighter pilot for the US Navy in Vietnam, maintained that he knew what it was like to be involved in military action and had been actively working to free Palestine.

Despite having shown no remorse or regret for his actions, Rabb insisted that his protest was a legitimate act of civil disobedience and a peaceful non-violent public protest. He believed that it was critical to stand with Hamas in order to support the people of Palestine, especially in light of the mass murder and genocide he claimed was being carried out by the state of Israel. Rabb described his arrest and prosecution under the Terrorism Act as an attempt to shut down dissent and labeled it as arbitrary.

During his sentencing, Rabb told the court that he was a US citizen and a veteran with a small military pension and social security as his means of living. He had previously been to Gaza, been in prison in Israel, and deported for his activism in support of Palestine. Despite his exemplary character and previous good standing, Rabb remained steadfast in his refusal to pay the fines and costs imposed by the judge. Rabb’s actions and beliefs reflect his deep commitment to the cause of supporting Hamas and advocating for the freedom of Palestine, even in the face of legal consequences.

The court heard that Rabb had been approached by a uniformed police officer at the protest after causing distress among organizers with his sign. While he initially left the protest after being spoken to about the sign, he later returned, leading to his arrest. Rabb’s steadfast support for Hamas and his refusal to back down from his stance was evident throughout the court proceedings, where he defended his actions as a form of legitimate protest and civil disobedience. Despite the judge’s warnings and the potential consequences he faced, Rabb remained resolute in his belief that standing with Hamas was the right and just course of action in light of the ongoing conflict in the region.