Police arrested 66 people at a protest in support of banned group Palestine Action during the first day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

Demonstrators gathered on Sunday near one of the venues, with some holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

Two people were released without further action, but 64 people between 21 and 83 years old were arrested on suspicion of displaying articles supporting a proscribed organisation, Merseyside Police said. All were released on bail.

The government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act in July, making membership of or support of the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

“Some of the people in attendance displayed material in support of Palestine Action, who are a proscribed terrorism organisation,” Merseyside Police said in a statement.

Supporters clapped and cheered the arrestees, with some being carried off by multiple officers.

Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said: “Whilst the Labour party congregate at their annual conference, protestors are outside disobeying the unjust ban on Palestine Action.”

The group added supporters were risking arrest under the Terrorism Act, for “silently holding cardboard signs which say ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’.”

It is calling for the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group by the UK government to be scrapped.

Keith Hackett, 71, said he was risking arrest because he was “deeply ashamed” of Labour’s actions.

“If they want to start turning the party around and win back the support they have lost, they need to stop their complicity in this genocide and end the ban on Palestine Action.”

Fellow protestor Tayo Aluko, 63, said: “This is a time for bravery, as was shown by people who went before us, so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today, which are now under threat.”

A group of about two hundred protestors, waving the union jack and St George’s flags and carrying placards opposing the government’s digital ID plans, had to be separated from the pro-Palestinian demonstrators by police.