Extended version of an open letter opposing criminalisation of the slogan Globalise the Intifada
11 May 2026
We are profoundly alarmed by the growing attempts of politicians and public authorities to mischaracterise the phrase “globalise the intifada” as a call for violence against Jewish people, and to advocate for its criminalisation. This characterisation is unfounded and dangerous.
As the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) has recently made clear, the Arabic word intifada simply means “uprising”, “shaking off” or “rising up.” It has been used historically to describe a wide range of popular struggles against injustice, most especially mass movements against colonial domination, military occupation, and authoritarian rule. A very partial list of examples might include the Iraqi Intifada of 1952, the 1990s Intifada in Bahrain, the Sahrawi Intifada that started in 1999, and of course the great series of uprisings or intifadas which began in Tunisia and Egypt that came to be known collectively as the 2011 Arab Spring. Arabic-speaking scholars also use the word intifada to refer to events like the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland or the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Thanks to its peculiar staying power, as Edward Said observed in 1989, “intifada is the only Arabic word to enter the vocabulary of twentieth-century world politics.”
According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, “if you stand alongside people who say globalise the intifada, you are calling for terrorism against Jews and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted.” To claim that the slogan “globalise the intifada” is inherently violent let alone terrorist, however, is a deliberate and demonstrably racist distortion that misrepresents Arabic language and Palestinian political expression. It erases the way intifada refers to a complex strategy of popular refusal at several decisive junctures of Palestinian history (most notably, 1936, 1987, 2000, and 2021) – a strategy that has regularly included the enthusiastic participation of segments of the Israeli peace movement. It also fails to capture the rather tentative connotations of the word itself. To call for intifada isn’t to prescribe a particular form of organisation or action, let alone recommend recourse to violence. Rather; it evokes a shift from passivity to action, a collective stirring that seeks to animate change, that takes a first step and then rises to confront the situation.
As anyone familiar with the history of Palestinian resistance knows very well, these connotations are especially obvious with respect to the First and most epoch-defining intifada in Palestine (1987-1993), which began in late 1987 as a grassroots campaign of non-violent civil disobedience and non-compliance. This remarkably courageous and persistent campaign was comparable in many ways with the prolonged popular mobilisations organised in apartheid South Africa, that same decade, by the United Democratic Front (UDF) (themselves an extension, among other things, of the Soweto Uprising a.k.a. Soweto intifada of 1976). In a manner reminiscent of the UDF’s rent boycotts and Gandhi’s strategies of non-violence, one of the First Intifada’s inaugural and most popular acts was to suspend tax payments – in Christian towns such as Beit Sahour the tax-strike rate was around 90%. As a response to an earlier phase of the ongoing scholasticide, intifada has also involved the collective reclaiming of education as a supremely valued right and as an embattled but indomitable affirmation of communal life.
(For anyone living in Britain who is subject to our current government, a government that is so clearly determined to follow in Arthur Balfour’s imperial footsteps, it’s also worth remembering that the only serious contender for the title of Palestine’s first intifada is the great revolt against British colonial rule and Zionist encroachment that began with a long-overdue general strike in April 1936—a story brilliantly told in Annemarie Jacir’s recent film Palestine 36).
For the great majority of Arabic-speakers, calls to globalise the intifada have always meant, first and foremost, calls to generalise the sorts of mass resistance to domination, repression and occupation that remain most directly associated with Palestine’s First Intifada of 1987-93. Any settler-colonial state is sure to feel threatened by such resistance, but “globalise the intifada” is no more inherently violent or terrorist a slogan than was the once-demonised formulation “one-person one-vote” in apartheid South Africa, to say nothing of insurgent and thoroughly global demands to free that once-outlawed “terrorist” Nelson Mandela.
Of course the history of any prolonged national liberation struggle is complicated, and profoundly marked by the imperial forces arrayed against it. The embattled struggle to free Palestine is no exception to this more general rule.
In the early 1990s Palestine’s First Intifada was wound down as its distant leadership in exile was lured into futile negotiations with Israel in exchange for false promises of an independent state. The decade was instead defined by a rapid and irreversible expansion of illegal Israeli expropriations and settlements in the occupied territories, complemented by the consolidation of a draconian apartheid-style régime of checkpoints, closures, and restrictions on movement.
Inevitably, a Second Intifada (2000-2005) eventually began with a further wave of mass demonstrations and civil disobedience, prompted most immediately by Ariel Sharon’s provocative visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque on 28 September 2000. The Israeli military responded to these huge protests with savage and calculated force, killing 47 Palestinians and wounding almost two thousand in the first several days alone. By the end of October, 141 Palestinians had been killed and six thousand wounded, alongside 12 Israelis killed and 65 wounded. Israel’s punitive assault was clearly intended to transform the occupied territories into battlefields and to convert the new mass uprising into something more like open war.
Israel’s violent response to non-violent protests had predictable consequences. After seeing their parents and siblings beaten, murdered and humiliated day after day, from 2001 through to early 2005 the most militant wing of the Palestinian movement did indeed include acts of counter-violence in their repertoire of resistance. Although casualty rates can tell only a tiny part of this complex story (approximately 1,000 Israelis and 3,000 Palestinians were killed in this period), such numbers did mark a deviation from the more familiar ratios of five or ten—if not now a hundred—Palestinian deaths for every Israeli one. What justifies description of these years of struggle as intifada, however, is precisely the persistence of non-violent civil disobedience at their core.
Needless to say no one should be killed for political reasons, in any place or at any time. If however as scholars and activists we are meaningfully to condemn political violence then we need to assess and condemn all the factors that give rise to it, starting here with Israel’s illegal settler-colonial project itself. Any accounting of these factors needs to take full stock, furthermore, of Israel’s massive and wide-ranging efforts—its enormous investments in military equipment, surveillance technology, invasive policing, lawfare, lobbying, disinformation…—to criminalise all forms of resistance to occupation, including quintessentially non-violent strategies of boycott and divestment.
For these reasons we emphatically reject Keir Starmer’s attempts to conflate calls to “internationalise the intifada”—or the Palestine solidarity movement more broadly—with antisemitism or violence against Jewish people. Such claims are made wholly without evidence. Contrary to politically-motivated insinuations, there is no demonstrable link between this slogan and attacks on Jewish communities, be they in London, Manchester, Sydney or anywhere else. To assert otherwise is to dishonestly instrumentalise and weaponise concerns about antisemitism in order to silence Palestinian solidarity.
This mischaracterisation must also be understood in its broader political context. It forms part of an escalating effort by the UK government and its allies to suppress opposition to Israel’s destruction of Gaza and to Israel’s ongoing campaign of demolition, forced eviction and annexation in the West Bank, in Palestine ‘48 and in Lebanon. It has recently become an important component of Starmer’s increasingly vehement attempts to shield his own government’s complicity from scrutiny. The targeting of slogans and “cumulative” forms of protests is not about public safety—it is about restricting democratic opposition to a grossly unlawful and widely condemned campaign of mass violence and destruction. It is about obstructing both academic critique and popular protest against genocide. It is about silencing anti-colonial scholarship and depriving Palestinians of that “permission to narrate” which is so essential to the history and the future of any oppressed people.
The consequences are very serious. Treating “globalise the intifada” as inherently criminal sets a precedent for the policing of language, culture, and political identity—particularly for Palestinians and those who stand in solidarity with them. It assumes that we as educators and scholars consent to an undermining of fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, and fosters a climate in which legitimate political speech is surveilled, stigmatised, and punished. It reinforces and deepens those long-standing forms of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim repression that are already deployed via the pernicious Prevent programme and routine police harassment.
As teachers and scholars concerned with the politics and history of Palestine and of West Asia, and with broader questions of justice and ethics, we know what “globalise the intifada” actually means. We also recognise that, given the conditions Palestinians face, their liberation will indeed require popular resistance and mobilisation on a global scale. We recognise the slogan’s unique and timely pertinence in today’s conjuncture. We affirm the unequivocal right of all those who support this slogan to foreground it in their research, to discuss it in their classrooms and to chant it on the streets.
An abbreviated version of this statement is posted as an open letter, together with a sign-on form for anyone working in higher education who would like to add their names directly at https://forms.gle/oPrjtdMWTAF6y3W89.
Independent MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, and MEPs Rima Hassan and Marc Botenga have been joined by the Green Party’s Mothin Ali and dozens of Independent and Green candidates and councillors in an appeal to the judge to grant bail to Amu Gib ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday 1 May. The former hunger striker, who has been detained on remand since July 2025 in relation to alleged involvement in the protest action at RAF Brize Norton which triggered the controversial ban on Palestine Action, is running for a seat on Islington Council. [1]
In a letter to be published on the Protest is not Terrorism website [2] which has also been backed by authors Sally Rooney and Andrew Feinstein, journalist Matt Kennard, and activist Greta Thunberg, over 250 signatories say:
“Amu’s continued detention is not only illogical and unjust, it is obstructing their ability to exercise their democratic rights. They should be on the streets of Finsbury Park, talking to voters and spreading the word about their campaign pledges to fight for welfare not warfare, homes with dignity and empowerment for young people.”
Green and Islington Community Independent candidates who are standing against each other in the closely-watched elections have united behind the call for Amu to be granted bail.
Benali Hamdache, Leader of the Opposition on Islington Council and Green Councillor for Highbury Ward said:
“Amu has faced detention for far longer than is expected. Imprisonment without trial is unjust and unfair. Allowing Amu to participate in the democratic process and to take their case to the electorate would be some remedy. It is time for bail to be granted.”
Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Leader of Islington Community Independents and Independent Councillor for Laycock Ward said:
“Islington Community Independents are proud that Amu Gib is running as one of our candidates. Amu will be a great councillor. I know this because they will bring the same courage it took to stand up to the government to fighting for the residents of Finsbury Park. They need to be on the doorstep campaigning for welfare not warfare; no more evictions, rent controls and more funding for education along with the rest of us, not detained without trial.”
The bail application comes days after campaigners sounded the alarm over the restrictions faced by Amu and conditions for others detained in the same case. Amu’s post and books have been regularly withheld or delayed for months, according to friends and loved ones. [3] Umer Khalid, another of the Brize Norton Five, has recently been denied medical bail, and his family are campaigning for him to have access to a wheelchair in prison [4].
Amu’s bail application has garnered widespread support, with elected representatives and candidates from Hackney, Haringey, Ealing, Waltham Forest, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Croydon as well as Belfast, Brighton, Norwich, Preston among the signatories.
Gerry Carroll, MLA for West Belfast said:
“Amu Gib endured a 49-day hunger strike, helped force the cancellation of a £2 billion Elbit Systems contract and is currently being held on remand under anti-terror laws that the High Court has already ruled unlawful. That is exactly the kind of fighter communities need on Islington Council. The British state has done everything in its power to silence Amu, including imprisonment beyond the normal legal limits, but none of it has worked. A vote for Amu is proof that solidarity cannot be caged. I’m proud to back their campaign and urge every voter in Finsbury Park to do the same.”
[2] The Protest is not Terrorism website was set up in July 2025 to host the open letter on the proscription of Palestine Action signed by over 1700 people: https://protestisnotterrorism.uk/
For nearly ten months Amu Gib has been imprisoned on remand while waiting for trial on charges of alleged involvement in an action at Brize Norton airbase in 2025. Prosecutors have justified their detention far beyond the normal legal limit of six months for pre-trial custody by claiming links to “terrorism” as a result of the proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025. Along with other members of the Brize Norton 5 (Umer, Jon, Daniel, and Lewie) Amu has been charged under the National Security Act.
The government’s unprecedented ban on Palestine Action has been widely condemned by human rights and civil liberties organisations, opposed by the trade union movement and challenged by thousands of peaceful protesters. In February 2026, the High Court ruled that proscription was unlawful.
Amu is now standing for election to Islington Council in Finsbury Park ward, where they grew up. Amu’s continued detention is not only illogical and unjust, it is obstructing their ability to exercise their democratic rights. They should be on the streets of Finsbury Park, talking to voters and spreading the word about their campaign pledges to fight for welfare not warfare, homes with dignity and empowerment for young people.
The brutal bombardment of Iran and Lebanon, coupled with genocidal threats and actions by Trump and Netanyahu demonstrates why Amu’s call to action for a world without war and racism deserves to be heard now.
We call for Amu’s immediate release on bail.
Signatures (5 May 2026)
National and regional elected representatives
Jeremy Corbyn, MP Islington North
Zarah Sultana, MP Coventry South
Rima Hassan, MEP
Marc Botenga, MEP
Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader, Green Party
Gerry Carroll, MLA for West Belfast, People Before Profit
Caroline Russell, Member London Assembly, Green Party
Richard Boyd Barrett, Member, Dáil Éireann, People Before Profit-Solidarity
Paul Murphy, Member, Dáil Éireann, People Before Profit-Solidarity
Local elected representatives and candidates
Ash Ahmed, candidate, Seven Sisters, Green Party
Elmedina Baptista-Mendes, candidate, Tollington, Islington, Green Party
Amelia Bottomley, candidate, Barnsbury, Islington, Green Party
Patrick Brighty, candidate, Arsenal ward, Islington, Green Party
Paul Burnham, candidate, Bruce Grove, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Sarah Byrne, candidate, London Fields, Hackney Independent Socialist Collective
Mads Churchhouse, candidate, Bow East, Green Party
Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Leader, Islington Community Independents; Candidate, Laycock Ward, Islington, Islington Community Independents
Michael Collins, Councillor, Belfast City Council, People Before Profit
Amelie Cooper, candidate, Bruce Castle, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Alison Davy, candidate, Northumberland Park, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Brian Debus, candidate, Hackney Central, TUSC
Felicity De Motta, candidate, Haringey, Green Party
Aidan Dempsey, candidate, Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, Green Party
Alexi Dimond, Councillor, Gleadless Valley, Green Party
Jo Dowbor, candidate, Arsenal ward, Islington, Green Party
Bob Ensch, candidate, South Cambridgeshire, Green Party
Mica Evans, candidate, South Acton, Ealing Community Independents
Alex Forbes, candidate, Colliers Wood ward, Independent
Amanda Fox, Councillor, Mancroft, Norwich, Green Party
Jay Ginn, candidate, Coulsdon Town, Green Party
Philip Graham, Councillor, Islington, Bunhill ward, Independent
Anne M Gray, candidate, Haringey, Green Party
Benali Hamdache, Councillor, Highbury; Leader of the opposition, Islington Council, Green Party
Faaiz Hasan, candidate, Harrow Road ward, Westminster, Green Party
Alana Heaney, candidate, Homerton, Hackney Independent Socialist Collective
Mark Hollinrake, candidate, Kingsway, Rochdale , Green Party
Maria Joannou, Councillor, Nottingham City, Labour Party
Daniel Johnson, candidate, Bruce Castle, Green Party
Nathaniel Jones, candidate, Holloway ward, Islington Community Independents
Sheridan Kates, candidate, Tufnell Park, Islington, Green Party
Tehseen Khan, candidate, Tottenham Hale, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Jorge Latter, candidate, Canonbury ward, Green Party
Michael Lavalette, Councillor Lancashire County, Preston Central East, TUSC
Sharon Matthew, candidate, Islington, Independent
Liam McQuade, candidate, Tower Hamlets, Green Party
Gary McFarlane, candidate, Northumberland Park, Haringey Socialist Alliance
Tina Moonen, candidate, Pitshanger, Ealing Community Independents
Umberto Albarella, Professor of Zooarchaeology, University of Sheffield
Anne Alexander, researcher, author and UCU activist
Tariq Ali, writer
Maria Aristodemou, Emerita Professor of Law, Birkbeck
Sandra L. Babcock, Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell Law School
Étienne Balibar, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Paris X, Nanterre
David Bell, psychoanalyst, British Psychoanalytic Society; Retired Consultant Psychiatrist, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Chetan Bhatt, Anthony Giddens Professor of Social Theory, London School of Economics
Marion Birch, editor of Medicine, Conflict & Survival, Taylor & Francis/Routledge
Ross Birrell, Professor of Contemporary Art Practice & Critical Theory, The Glasgow School of Art
Matt Black, DJ and founder of record label, Ninja Tune
Leah Borromeo, journalist
Ray Brassier, Professor of Philosophy, American University of Beirut
Timothy Brennan, Professor of Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature, University of Minnesota
Nathan Brown, Professor of English and Director of the Centre for Expanded Poetics, Concordia University, Montréal
Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation Professor of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
Susan Buck-Morss, Distinguished Professor, CUNY Graduate Centre
Sebastian Budgen, Editorial Director, Verso Books
Judith Butler, Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School, Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley
Alex Callinicos, Emeritus Professor of European Studies, King’s College London
Robin Celikates, Professor of Philosophy, Freie Universität Berlin
John Chalcraft, Professor of Politics, London School of Economics
Simon Choat, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Economics, Kingston University
Peter Chonka, Senior Lecturer in Global Digital Cultures, King’s College London
Justin Clemens, Associate Professor in Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne
Rebecca Comay, Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Literature, University of Toronto
Jodi Dean, Professor of Politics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York
Stéphane Douailler, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Paris 8 – Saint-Denis
Brian Eno, musician
David Epstein FRS, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Warwick
Başak Ertür, Reader, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London
Roberto Esposito, Professor of Philosophy, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa
Harriet Evans, Professor Emerita Chinese Cultural Studies, University of Westminster; Visiting Professor, Anthropology, London School of Economics
Andrew Feinstein, author, Executive Director of Shadow World Investigations
Patrick ffrench, Professor of French, King’s College London
John Bellamy Foster, Emeritus Professor at the University of Oregon and editor of Monthly Review
Marianna Fotaki, Professor of Business Ethics, University of Warwick Business School
Mariam Motamedi Fraser, Senior Research Fellow, UCL Geography; Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths University of London
Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communication Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
Verónica Gago, Professor of Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
Samir Gandesha, Professor of Global Humanities and Director of the Institute for the Humanities, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver
Lindsey German, national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition
Raymond Geuss, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
Neve Gordon FAcSS, Professor of International Law, Queen Mary University of London
Ian Gough FBA, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics
Greg Grandin, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University
Penny Green FAcSS, Professor of Law and Globalisation, Queen Mary University of London
Yasmin Gunaratnam, Professor in Social Justice, Centre for Education, Communication and Society, King’s College London
Amy Hagopian, Emeritus Professor, University of Washington School of Public Health
Peter Hallward, Professor of Philosophy, Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy, London
Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature, Duke University
Sudhir Hazareesingh, CUF Lecturer in Politics and Senior Fellow, Balliol College, University of Oxford
Clare Hemmings, Professor of Feminist Theory, London School of Economics and Political Science
Billy Howle, actor
Michael Hrebeniak, founder and convenor, New School of the Anthropocene; Associate Professor of Film Poetics, University College London
Sarah Keenan, Senior Lecturer, Department of Law, Queen Mary University of London
Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies, Department of History, Columbia University
Laleh Khalili, Professor of Gulf Studies, University of Exeter
Gholam Khiabany, Reader in Media and Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London
Bruno Leipold, Assistant Professor of Political Theory, London School of Economics
Malcolm Levitt FRS, Professor of Chemistry, University of Southampton
Darryl Li, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Chicago
Hans Lindahl, Chair of Global Law, Queen Mary University of London; Emeritus Chair of Philosophy of Law, Tilburg University
Frédéric Lordon, Research director, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
Thembi Luckett, Research Fellow in Human Geography, Durham University
Andreas Malm, writer and Senior Lecturer in Human Ecology, Lund University
James Martel, Professor of Political Science, San Francisco State University
Tracy McNulty, Professor of Comparative Literature and Romance Studies, Cornell University
Angela McRobbie FBA, Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths University of London; Honorary Professor, Birmingham University
Mandy Merck, Professor Emerita of Media Arts, Royal Holloway, University of London
Lina Meruane, Chilean writer and scholar
Sandro Mezzadra, Professor of Political Theory, University of Bologna
China Miéville, writer
David Mond, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Warwick
Vittorio Morfino, Professor of Philosophy, University of Milano Bicocca
Karma Nabulsi, Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford
Robert Del Naja, musician and artist
Mica Nava, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, University of East London
Mark Neocleous, Professor of the Critique of Political Economy, Brunel University London
Simon O’Hara, Assistant Branch Secretary and Treasurer, Warwickshire NEU
Abdaljawad Omar, Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies and Philosophy, Birzeit University
Ilan Pappé, Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies, and director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter
Reverend Dr Sue Parfitt
Paul Patton, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
Jonathon Porritt, author and activist
Charles Post, Professor of Sociology, Graduate Center, City University of New York
Vijay Prashad, Director, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Rolando Prats, Chief Editor, Communis Press
Nicola Pratt, Professor of the International Politics of the Middle East, University of Warwick
Jasbir Puar, Distinguished Faculty of Arts Professor, University of British Columbia
Anupama Ranawana, Research Associate, Theology and Religious Studies, Durham University
Jacques Rancière, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Paris 8 – Saint-Denis
Jason Read, Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern Maine
John Rees, co-founder, Stop the War Coalition
Matthieu Renault, Professor of Philosophy, Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès
Bruce Robbins, Old Dominion Foundation Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University
William I. Robinson, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
Sally Rooney, novelist
Jacqueline Rose, Professor of Humanities and co-director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, University of London
Jonathan Rosenhead, Emeritus Professor of Operational Research, London School of Economics
Catherine Rottenberg, Professor of Media, Communications, and Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London
Yvette Russell, Professor of Law and Feminist Theory, University of Bristol
Donald Sassoon, Emeritus Professor of Comparative European History, Queen Mary, University of London
Charles Secrett, activist and former Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
Lynne Segal, Professor Emerita of Psychosocial Studies, Birkbeck, University of London
Tanya Serisier, Professor of Feminist Theory, Birkbeck, University of London
Benedict Seymour, Lecturer, MFA Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London
Richard Seymour, Salvage
Nadine Shah, musician
Avi Shlaim, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford
Nikhil Pal Singh, Chair, Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, New York University
Panagiotis Sotiris, Assistant Professor of Social and Political Philosophy, Department of Sociology, University of the Aegean
William Spence, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics, Queen Mary University of London
Vicki Squire, Professor of International Politics, University of Warwick
Elettra Stimilli, Professor of Philosophy, Sapienza Università di Roma
Derek Summerfield, honorary senior lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London
Adam Swift, Professor of Political Theory, University College London
Rei Terada, Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature, University of California, Irvine
Greta Thunberg, activist
Alberto Toscano, Emeritus Professor of Critical Theory, Goldsmiths University of London
Enzo Traverso, Professor in the Humanities, Cornell University
Rashmi Varma, Professor of English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of Warwick
Françoise Vergès, Senior research fellow, Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation, University College London
Jim Vernon, Professor of Philosophy, York University, Toronto
Jeffery R. Webber, Professor of Politics, York University, Toronto
Eyal Weizman, founding director of Forensic Architecture, and Professor of Spatial and Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London
Julia Welland, Associate Professor of War Studies, University of Warwick
Karen Wells, Professor of International Development & Childhood Studies, Birkbeck, University of London; Director, Birkbeck Institute for Social Research
Kalpana Wilson, Senior Lecturer, International Development Birkbeck, University of London
Jessica Whyte, Scientia Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
Jim Wolfreys, Reader in French and European Politics, King’s College London
The Metropolitan Police arrested hundreds of people for holding cardboard signs with the words “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” in Trafalgar Square on 11 April, despite the High Court ruling that the government’s ban on the direct action group is unlawful. Hundreds of officers from the Met, assisted by police from as far away as Wales hauled off protestors in handcuffs to shouts of “shame” from watching crowds.
Sean Wallis, a member of the UCU National Executive Committee, said:
They are arresting people to for an offence that doesn’t exist. Palestine Action succeeded in its challenge to the government’s proscription. So today, the Metropolitan Police are arresting people for expressing support for an organisation which should not be proscribed, according to the High Court. Consequently, the police are acting unlawfully. They are engaged in political policing and in thought policing. And that is why everyone should unite to defend the right to protest.”
Police handcuff an elderly protester despite hearing that she has arthritis and is not resisting arrest
Trade unionists from London Region UCU, UCL UCU, Royal College of Art UCU, Westminster UCU, Greenwich UCU, LSE UCU, Cambridge UCU, New City College UCU, Oxford University Unison and Cambridgeshire NEU joined a witness circle of civil society organisations and social movements to show solidarity with those taking part in the action.
Cambridgeshire NEU delegation
Jane Turner came with a delegation from Cambridge NEU. She said:
There are so many of us who feel so strongly and passionately about fighting over not only what has been going on in the genocide in Gaza, but also the clampdown on our rights to protest about it and that we are just being silenced. The law is being twisted to serve the authorities and it is just ludicrous this is going on here, it is just a farce. There are a lot of us on the Cambridgeshire committee who are very active in the Palestine movement, and obviously as trade unionists we firmly believe that we need the right to protest, to make things change for the better, that’s what a trade union does.”
Glasgow TUC welcomes the striking down of the ban on Palestine Action and today’s decision of the Judicial Review to proscribe the protest group as a terrorist organisation as unlawful. We said it at the time and have maintained ever since: protest is not terrorism. The exercise of our rights to freedom of expression and association are required now more than ever when our own government continues to provide diplomatic cover and economic and military assistance to rogue states such as Israel in its continued pursuit of an ethnically cleansed Palestine through genocide.
The ongoing complicity of the UK Govt can no longer be ignored or explained away. It has attempted to criminalise the actions of thousands of ordinary citizens who have tried to ensure the UK Govt does everything in its power to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, as is required by the Genocide Convention. Instead, it has failed to prevent and often facilitated the actions of a genocidal, Zionist regime that it still wants to call an international ally. We must now insist that those UK ministers who are complicit are held to account for their attempts to criminalise its population and electorate by the use of terrorist legislation, at the behest of foreign interests in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
We demand:
The immediate release from internment of all those who are currently detained without trial on charges against the Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems or for any pro-Palestinian activism.
The immediate dropping of all charges against everyone who participated in civil disobedience to lift the ban, including holding of signs or wearing of t-shirts that expressed the opinion that the holder or wearer opposed genocide and supported the actions of Palestine Action and/or prisoners being unlawfully held in detention without trial
The immediate end to any and all attempts to remove trial by jury. Any moves by this, or any future, govt to remove trial by jury should be seen now for the threat it poses to both habeas corpus and due process – it has clearly only authoritarian intent and must be resisted at all costs.
The immediate end to UK complicity in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people
Outside the High Court on 13 Feb (photo: Peter Hallward)
The decision by the High Court to quash the Home Secretary’s proscription of Palestine Action must have immediate consequences for those who sought to enforce it. Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens had their homes raided and faced onerous bail conditions as a result of Yvette Cooper’s unlawful action. Dozens of prisoners detained on remand without trial experienced harsher conditions on the pretext that although none have been charged with terrorist offences, they had a “terrorist connection” as a result of proscription. All charges must be dropped and all those on remand granted immediate bail. The Palestine Coalition are right to call for the resignation of Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood.
The court’s decision on 13 February vindicates all those who were prepared to challenge an authoritarian manoeuvre by an increasingly weak and unpopular government, which is still prepared to throw our civil rights out of the window in order to protect its alliance with the Israeli state and weapons manufacturers complicit in genocide and annexation.
Protest outside the High Court on 13 February (photo: Peter Hallward)
Crucially it shows why it is vital to resist collectively in the streets and workplaces, not just the courts. It was the scale of defiance despite the risks which has shown the machinery of the state just how high the political costs of enforcing the ban would be. The extraordinary courage and resilience of the prisoners detained in connection with Palestine Action and the hunger strikers forced even the corporate media to pay some attention to the scale of the scandal. The verdict in the Filton 6 case, where jurors acquitted some defendants on charges which were a central plank of the Home Secretary’s case for proscription, and failed to convict others, is also highly significant.
The government’s justification of its shameful facilitation of Israeli crimes against humanity is clearly still abhorrent to huge numbers of people across Britain, and these two court decisions are an echo of that mood. Tens of thousands will continue to organise in every space across society to stop the machinery of genocide and apartheid which is still killing Palestinians, and that movement needs to put down even deeper roots to succeed.
There is another vital lesson of the Lift the Ban campaign. Unity and coordination across different parts of the mass movement for Palestine and the trade unions are essential. Civil disobedience on a mass scaleworked in combination with mass marches, petitions and statements and union motions from local branches to TUC Congress. Everyone who shared our open letters, who brought their union banner to a witness circle to witness arrests or who spoke up for a colleague facing disciplinary action at work has played a part in making proscription unworkable. That is why this is a victory not just for the whole of the Palestine solidarity movement, but for climate activists, trade unionists and anyone active in movements for justice, liberation and equality.
But make no mistake that the battle to defend our rights is far from over.
Proscription is only one part of a multi-pronged attack on our civil liberties. Since the Home Secretary’s ill-fated decision last July we have seen further evidence of a widening crackdown. This includes the government’s attempt to ban protests on the pretext of “cumulative” effects, further use of High Court injunctions by universities against protests and now by Birmingham City Council against supporters of striking bin workers, along with criminalisation of the word “intifada” in the context of protests. Meanwhile cases using existing public order laws continue against Palestine Coalition leaders are still going through the courts.
As Huda Ammori rightly pointed out, the British government is taking its cue from Trump and his authoritarian, far-right regime in the US. The attempt to popularise the idea that direct action and civil disobedience are forms of “domestic terrorism” has experienced a major setback because of the scale of resistance, but we have to redouble our efforts and broaden our campaign to defend our right to protest and speak out against genocide and war.
Protest is not Terrorism
What you can do:
Pass a motion in your union branch – model motions including updated versions following the High Court ruling of 13 February: https://tinyurl.com/PNTmotion
Organise to show solidarity with those charged and on trial for protesting against genocide, especially prisoners on remand – take a collection for legal fees among colleagues at work
Defend anyone facing victimisation by their employer for taking part in Palestine protests
Dozens of distinguished scholars and authors from around the world have made a declaration in solidarity with prisoners in the UK whose long detention on remand on charges relating to activism for Palestine has sparked criticism from human rights organisations and UN experts. They include Naomi Klein, Angela Davis and Judith Butler alongside global scholars from a diverse set of academic disciplines, journalists George Monbiot and Owen Jones, and authors Sally Rooney and China Miéville.
The statement wording also highlights the signatories’ condemnation of the arrest of Greta Thunberg on terrorism charges while protesting in solidarity with the prisoners before Christmas.
The statement echoes the slogan which Greta Thunberg wrote on the placard she was carrying when she was arrested on 23 December.
“We oppose genocide, we support the Palestine Action prisoners”
A spokesperson for Protest not Terrorism open letter collective said:
“This statement is a declaration of support for the campaign by prisoners for the respect of their fundamental rights to a fair trial, to prompt and appropriate medical treatment, to uncensored communications with their legal representatives and the removal of punitive and draconian conditions imposed by the Prison Service triggered by the widely-condemned proscription of Palestine Action. The signatories also affirm their solidarity with Greta Thunberg after her shocking arrest on terrorism charges for expressing solidarity with the prisoners.”
Writing in the Guardian on 7 January, George Monbiot said:
“The hunger strikers’ demands seem reasonable to me: release on bail; the right to a fair trial (they claim the government has withheld key documents); lifting the ban on Palestine Action; and shutting down Elbit Systems – which has supplied weapons to a state engaged in genocide – in the UK. All these things, I believe, should be happening anyway”
Professor Peter Hallward, one of the signatories to the statement, said:
“The UK is now perilously close to full descent into authoritarian rule. Ministers won’t even meet with hunger-strikers who are now at death’s door. Starmer, Lammy, Cooper and Mahmood seem perfectly ready to let this country’s most committed and courageous opponents of an ongoing genocide waste away and die. Now the police have begun arresting people just for using the standard Arabic word for ‘uprising,’ marking yet another draconian step in the elimination of what’s left of our freedoms of expression and of academic inquiry.”
[List of signatories as of 12 January 2026, 8am]
We oppose genocide, we support the Palestine Action prisoners.
Signed:
Umberto Albarella, Professor of Zooarchaeology, University of Sheffield
Tariq Ali, writer and historian
Sandra Babcock, Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell Law School
Étienne Balibar, Professor emeritus of Philosophy, University of Paris X, Nanterre
Moazzam Begg, Senior Director of CAGE International and former Guantanamo Bay prisoner
Chetan Bhatt, Anthony Giddens Professor of Social Theory, London School of Economics
Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change, University of Johannesburg
Ray Brassier, Professor of Philosophy, American University of Beirut
Donna Brown, Royal Holloway UCU branch chair and NEC member
Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation chair, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
Susan Buck-Morss, Distinguished Professor, CUNY Graduate Centre
Sebastian Budgen, Editorial Director, Verso Books
Judith Butler, Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School, Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley
Alex Callinicos, Emeritus Professor of European Studies, King’s College London
John Chalcraft, Professor of Middle East History and Politics, London School of Economics
Tanzil Chowdhury, Senior Lecturer in Public Law, Queen Mary University of London, Co-Director of the Centre for the Critique of Law and Society
Emilios Christodoulidis, Chair of Jurisprudence, University of Glasgow
Rebecca Comay, Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Literature, University of Toronto
Tim Crosland, co-founder Defend Our Juries
Angela Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
Jodi Dean, Professor of Politics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York
James Dickins, Emeritus Professor of Arabic, University of Leeds
Elsa Dorlin, Professor of Contemporary Political Philosophy, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès
Jennifer Doyle, Professor of English, University of California, Riverside
Deepa Driver, trade unionist and academic, vice-chair of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Haidar Eid, Associate Professor of Postcolonial Literature, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine
Harriet Evans, Emeritus Professor of Chinese Cultural Studies at the University of Westminster and Visiting Professor in Anthropology at the London School of Economics
Peter Evans, West London College, Vice Chair UCU LGBT msc
Patrick ffrench, Professor of French, King’s College London
Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communication Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
Verónica Gago, Professor of Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law, Queen Mary University of London
Ian Gough, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics
Penny Green, Professor of Law and Globalisation, Queen Mary University of London
Greg Grandin, Peter V and C Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University
Peter Hallward, Professor of Philosophy, Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy, Kingston University
Vanja Hamzić, Professor of Law, History, and Anthropology, SOAS University of London
Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature, Duke University
Sudhir Hazareesingh, CUF Lecturer in Politics and Senior Fellow, Balliol College, University of Oxford
Protest in solidarity with the hunger strikers outside the Ministry of Justice, 17 December 2025
Dozens of members of the national executive committees of the UK’s education unions NEU, UCU and EIS representing over 600,000 educators in schools, further education and universities are among 800 educators and trade unionists who have signed an open letter calling on the government to protect the lives of hunger-striking prisoners who have been jailed for over a year while awaiting trial for alleged involvement in direct action over the UK’s role in genocide in Palestine. The open letter also highlights a growing pattern of repression targeting student activists for their Palestine solidarity activism, and condemns the announcement from the police that they will target people using the word ‘intifada’ on demonstrations for arrest.
To: Ministry of Justice, UK; Keir Starmer; Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police
As trade unionists and educators we are alarmed by the escalation in repression directed at activists in the Palestine solidarity movement and the censorship and attacks on freedom of expression accompanying this clampdown. Student activists who have been at the forefront of movements exposing the complicity of the British government and universities in the ongoing genocide in Palestine are paying a heavy personal price for their bravery.
Qesser Zuhrah, a student at University College London, entered day 46 of a hunger strike on 17 December while being held without trial for alleged offences related to direct action which destroyed weapons destined for Israel.
We call for Qesser’s immediate release, along with the other defendants in the Filton24 case many of whom have been systematically brutalised while in prison despite not being convicted of any crime. We are deeply concerned for Qesser’s health and for the others who have taken part in long hunger strikes to highlight the denial of their basic rights: Amu Gibb, Jon Cink, Heba Muraisi, Tueta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello.
The hunger strikers are demanding bail and the right to a fair trial. They are also calling for an end to censorship so that they can send and receive mail, to be able to access books freely and to have their security clearance changed. They have been victimised by the prison authorities since the proscription of Palestine Action.
Other student activists who have faced severe repression include Haya Adam, who was expelled by SOAS for breaching its draconian anti-protest policy, after being targeted with a High Court Injunction for her pro-Palestine activism. We are alarmed by reports that Haya was one of several people arrested on 17 December during a protest in solidarity with the hunger strikers outside the Ministry of Justice, and call for the release of all those detained.
We are appalled by the decision of Kings College London management to suspend student Usama Ghanem for his Palestine solidarity activism, leading to the potential revocation of his visa and exposing him to risks of imprisonment and torture if he is forced to return to Egypt.
We oppose the move by the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police to make arrests on the grounds that “placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’” are antisemitic by default and reject the claim that the abhorrent racist attacks on Jewish people in Sydney and Manchester are the result of people expressing their solidarity with Palestinians by reference to a tradition of mass uprisings. The term “intifada” is not specifically Palestinian but is widely used in Arabic to describe mass popular protests. To ban its use during demonstrations is yet another example of police censorship.
We call on our trade unions, the wider Palestine solidarity movement and civil society to work together to protect the lives of the hunger strikers, defend the right to protest and end Britain’s shameful role in enabling Israel’s crimes of apartheid, occupation and genocide.
We pledge to continue organising in solidarity with Palestine and to hold those responsible for this repression to account.
Mike Cowley, EIS FELA, Rep and National Committee, Edinburgh College, Lecturer Andrew Fullwood, EIS, National Executive Member John Kelly, EIS, Former EIS/FELA National President, former Nat Exec member, West College Scotland
Duncan Blackie, NEU, National Executive Member Sheila Caffrey, NEU, National Executive Member Mairead Canavan, NEU, National membership and Equalities Officer Lucy Cox, NEU, National Executive Member Eleanor Davies, NEU, National Executive Member Chris Denson, NEU, National Executive Member Jess Edwards, NEU, National Executive member Debs Gwynn, NEU, National Executive Member Ed Harlow, NEU, National Executive Member Nicola Hawkins, NEU, National Executive Member Sophie Houghton, NEU, National Executive member (District 1), Asst. District Secretary (Durham NEU) Debbie Kahler, NEU, National Executive Member Louise Lewis, NEU, National Executive Member Jodie Mallier-Ridley, NEU, National executive member Elizabeth McLean, NEU, Executive member for Wales Mat Milovanovic, NEU, National Executive Member Jon Reddiford, NEU, National Executive member Louise Regan, NEU, National Executive Member Carly Slingsby, NEU, National Executive Member Kate Taylor, National Education Union, National Executive Member Ian Walters, NEU, National Executive member Michaela Wilde, NEU, National Executive Member Holly Williams, NEU, National Executive member
Harriet Bradley, UCU, Former Branch President and NEC member Peta Bulmer, UCU University of Liverpool, UCU NEC Grant Buttars, UCU, NEC Peter Evans, UCU, NEC John Fones, UCU, NEC FE SOUTH, University Centre Somerset College Group, Computer Science Naina Kent, UCU, NEC Rhiannon Lockley, UCU, Branch Chair and NEC Dr Marian Mayer, UCU, National Executive Committee member Richard Mcewan, UCU, NEC, Ncc poplar, Teacher maths Cecile Menard, UCU, UCU Scotland vice president, UCU Edinburgh branch secretary Duncan Moore, UCU, NEC, South Devon College, Maths Lecturer Aisling O’Beirn, UCU, NEC Northern Ireland Ellen Owens, UCU, NEC, University of Reading Christina Jessika Marie Paine, UCU, Chair London Metropolitan university and NEC Matt Perry, UCU, NEC Regine Pilling, UCU, Branch Sec WKC / NEC Marco Tesei, UCU, NEC, West London College, ESOL Loes Veldpaus, UCU, NEC Sean Wallis, UCU, NEC member, national negotiator, branch secretary and regional secretary Cecilia Wee, UCU, co-chair Royal College of Art UCU branch Saira Weiner, UCU, LJMU UCU branch chair, NEC Richard Wild, UCU, NEC
Jordan Rivera, UNISON, NEC
And the following signatories who opted to make their names public:
Amira Abdelhamid, UVW, Member Faiza Abdulkadir, Community Andrea Abeyesinghe, Norfolk NEU, Green and Environmental Officer Reem Abou-El-Fadl, UCU Elisa Adami, UCU Maya Adereth, UCU Laurie Adkin Fauzia Ahmad, UCU Mahvish Ahmad, UCU LSE, Member Taraneh Ahmadi-Parker, Unite community, Member Nabeela Ahmed, UCU Zenab Ahmed, UCU SOAS, Member Nicola Ajibade, NEU, ISO Elina Akalestou, UCU Umberto Albarella, UCU, member Gabriella Alberti, UCU University of Leeds, Case worker David Alderson, UCU Anne Alexander, UCU University of Cambridge, Rep T Ali, UCU, Rep Nazif Alic, UCU Thomas Allen Phillip Allsopp, NEU, Member Margarita Aragon, UCU, Member Victoria Araj, UCU, University and College Workers for Palestine John Stuart Archbold, UCU, retired member Maria Aristodemou, UCU Birkbeck, Member Marika Asgari, UCU Newcastle, Vice chair Rosemary Atwill, NEU, ISO Dr Jill Austin, Senior Lecturer Feryal Awan, UCL / UCU Zahir Aziz Jana B, University and College Union, Migrant, equalities and environment rep, Durham, Sociology Adam Badger, UCU, Rep, Newcastle University, Geography Camille Baker, UCU, Member Josephine Baker, UCU, Member Carla Ballin, UCU, Rep, City of Bristol College, ESOL Luisa Barbosa John Barry, UCU, Green Rep, Queen’s University Belfast Gemma Baskerville-Price, Unison, Member, Agency, SEND Konstantinos Bassioukas Ibrahim Bechrouri, Apuo, Member Simon Behrman, UCU Jennifer Bell, NEU, Retired Vikki Bell Teresa Belton Amanda Bentham, NEU, Member Gargi Bhattacharyya, UCU Melanie Bhend, UCU, Rep (Area + workload) Peter Bicknell, UCU Kevin Biderman, UCU, London College of Communication branch co-chair Sana Bilgrami, EIS, Member, Edinburgh Napier University Sue Blackwell, FNV (Netherlands), elected representative, Universiteit Utrecht, Netherlands, Linguistics Roxanne Blakelock, NEU, Member, Thomas Tallis Secondary School, Secondary school English teacher Lucy Bland, UCU L Scott Blankenship, UCU, Branch communication officer kate boldry, UCU UCL, Rep Tony Booth, UCU (retired) Unite Community William Booth, UCL UCU, Branch ExCo and Dept Rep Shumi Bose, UCU, Member Bill Bowring, UCU Miriam Bradley, UCU Sara Bragg, UCU, Member Phil Brand, UNISON, workplace rep Ray Brassier Dominic Brassington, NEU, Member PAUL BREEN, UCU, Member Daniel Brown, UCU, Member Mandy Brown, UCU, member Stephen Brown, NEU, Workplace Rep James Bruce, UCU, member Bryony Buck, UCU Sarah Bufkin, UCU, Member Nuala Burgess, NEU & IWW, P16 Officer, KCL, Sociology Steven Burke, UCU, Department Contact Andrew Burns, Unite Prof Ray Bush, UCU, Member Professor Emeritus Ray Bush, UCU, Member, Leeds, African Studies Mila Caley Alex Callinicos, UCU Nerea Calvillo, UCU Ray Campbell, UCU, Anti-cas Officer Alex Campsie, UCU Pat Caplan, UCU, member Bob Carter, UCU James Cartwright, National Education Union, Joint Assistant District Secretary, Cumbria Dylan Carver, UCU Oxford Natalia Cecire, UCU, branch co-Secretary John Chalcraft, UCU, Member Paula Champion, National Education Union Cambridgeshire, Past President Suzanna Chan, UCU, Member, Ulster, Lecturer Wendy Chapple, UCU (UAL branch), Joint Secretary DurgaMata Chaudhuri, Teaching, Member Song Chen, UCU Mihail Chiru, UCU Shaista Chishty Shaista Chishty Simon Choat, Kingston University UCU, Member Rav Chohan Tanzil Chowdhury, QM UCU, branch committee member, QMUL, Law Artemis Christinaki, UMUCU, Member Dharminder Chuhan, UCU, Branch Chair Sandwell College Jane Clarke, NEU, chair retired section Jane Clarke, NEU, chair retired section Garry Clarkson, National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lifetime Member, Open University, Tutor Owen Clayton, UCU, Vice Chair, Uni of Lincoln branch Leah Clements, Unison Caroline Coleman, NEU Joe Collins, None Michaela Collord, UCU, Member, University of Manchester, Politics Tom Colquhoun, EIS, Member of local association executive Michael Cook, UCU Steven Cosgrove, NEU Carole Couper Simon Courtenage, UCU, Branch chair, University of Westminster, Cavendish, Computer Science Wendy Coxshall, UCU, Health and Safety Officer, Liverpool Hope University, Anthropology and Social Work William Crosby, ARU UCU / UAL:LCC UCU, Anti-Casualisation Officer/PGR Rep Amelie Cruise Amelie Cruise William Cummins, Unite the union, Retired member David Cunningham, UCU Steve Cushion, UCU, Assistant branch secretary, London retired members, UCL – Institute of the Americas, History Maire Daley, UCU, Retired member Ruth Daly, Leeds UCU Jill Daniels, UCU, Casework Officer University of East London Rubia Dar, UCU Izzat Darwazeh, UCL UCU, Member, UCL, Engineering Alexander Davies, NEU, Harrow District Secretary Jessica Davies, UCU, Postgraduate Representative Roger Davies, NEU Cumbria Tony Deady, NEU, Retired Brian Debus, Unison, Joint Chair Neil Dhanda, NEU, Branch President and Equalities Officer James Dickins, UCU Dr Mehmet Ali Dikerdem, Retired member UCU, Retired, Retired from Middlesex University, Social Sciences Eleni Dimou, UCU, Member, The Open University, Criminology Matt Divers, UCU Wojciech Dmochowski, UCU, Ex-Branch Treasurer and Social Secretary, Ex-New City College, ESOL Vikki Dockery, NEU, Member Will Dodds Giorgia Dona, UCU, Member and former treasurer Chris Donahue, UCU, Retired member Chris Donahue, UCU, Retired member Kevin Donovan, UCU, Retired member Nicky Downes, NEU, District and Branch Secretary Pippa Dowswell, NEU, Joint secretary, Islington branch Simon Duckett, South Gloucestershire NEU, School Rep Koshka Duff, UCU, Member Ian Ellis, UCU, Branch Co-President Julius Elster Carolyn Ann Emmerson Stanley Emmett, UCU, Retired member Hadi Enayat Hadi Enayat Mairead Enright Mark Erickson, UCU Kareem Estefan, UCU, Member Gareth Evans, Bectu Matthew Evans, UCU, Department rep Barry Ewart, Unite Community, Activist, Retired Leeds Uni, Medicine David Ewing, Oxford University UCU, Anti-Casualisation Officer Eldin Fahmy, UCU Helen Farasat, Unite Helen Farasat, Unite Kevin Farrell, Teachers Union of Ireland, Former National Executive Committee Member, TU Dublin, Computing Alistair Farrow, Neu, Workplace rep Seerat Fatima Lambros Fatsis, UCU Chris Fawson, Unite, Community member Joao Felix, National Education Union, International Solidarity Organising Forum member Kenny Fella Rob Ferguson, NEU, Dorset PSC secretary, Member Nuno Ferreira, UCU, Member Giuliana Ferri, UCU, Member Patrick ffrench Alice Finden, UCU Lorna Finlayson, UCU Ruth Fletcher, UCU Paul FOLEY, UNITE, Member Kirsten Forkert, UCU, BCU UCU branch secretary Bev Forsythe-Cheasley, Neu, Rep / science teacher MARTYN FOSS, NEU Anna Fox, UCU, Member Margot Francis, Brock University Faculty Association, Member, Brock University, Gender Studies Martin Francis, NEU, Retired Shirley Franklin, UCU, Chair of Southern Region UCU Retired MembersBranch, Retired, Education Derek Fraser, Manchester NEU, School based Rep Helen Frosi Diane Frost Oliver Furlong, Unison, Member Franco Galdini Graham Gamblin, UCU, Membership secretary Poulami Somanya Ganguly, Queen Mary UCU Richard Garratt, NEU, None Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril, UCU Sheffield, Member Lezley George, UCU, Member Nick Georges, Unite, Member Raymond Geuss Hayley Gewer Nick Gilbert, UCU, Member, Morley College London, Senior Lecturer Jay Ginn, Unite, Chair of branch Helen Gleeson, UCU, Branch secretary Donny Gluckstein, EIS Craig Goacher, University of Liverpool & LSTM UCU, Committee Ordinary Member Craig Goacher, University of Liverpool & LSTM UCU, Committee Ordinary Member Annie Goh, UCU, LCC Departmental Rep John Goodby, Professor of Arts and Culture, Sheffield Hallam, English / Creative Writing Jonathan Goodhand, UCU, Member Priyamvada Gopal, UCU, member, Cambridge, English Neve Gordon Ian Gough, UCU Oliver Gould Rebecca Gould, UCU Richard Goulding, UCU Debbie Govender, NEU Mike Govender, NEU City & Islington 6th Form College, Member Deepa Govindarajan Driver, UCU, Branch President Penny Gower, EIS, EIS Edinburgh Local Association Exec member Frances Grahl, UCU, Chair (LCF branch) Maggie Gray, Kingston UCU Penny Green, UCU Winmarie Greenland, NEU Retired member Paul Grist, NEU, Rep Elvira Grob, UCU LCC, member Rosie Gunn, UCU, Member, University for the Creative Arts, Film Sadia Habib, UCU, University of Manchester UCU Executive Jon Hackett, UCU, Member Toufic Haddad, UCU Larissa Haensel-Povey, UCU, Member Mark Hagen, UCU, member Lina Hakim, UCU, member Peter Hall, UCU, member Peter Hallward, UCU, Departmental rep, Kingston University, Philosophy Lynn Hancock, UCU, member Sue-Ann Harding, UCU William Hardman, UCU, Vice President, University of Liverpool UCU Kate Hardy, UCU, Committee Marie Harrison, UCU, Retired member Nic Harrison, NEU, Member Nicola Harrison, NEU, member Serena Hay, EIS FELA, workplace rep, CoGC, STEM Lou Hayton, NEU, Delegate to Brighton and Hove Trades Council, Retired teacher, Biology Anne Heffernan, UCU Kath Henderson, UCU Ranil Hewavisenti, Unite Community, Member Valerie Hey, UCU Annie Hilditch, NEU Florence Hill, Unison, Retired Member Orlando Hill, NEU – Camden, Comittee member and work place rep Taylor Hill, Dundee UCU, Member Elaine Hills, UCU, Member, University of Brighton, Lecturer, academic literacies Samuel Hilton, NEU Matthew Hobbs, NEU, Rep / Officer / Young Workers National Council Valerie Hobbs, UCU, Ordinary member Susan Hogan, UCU, Member Christian Hogsbjerg, Brighton UCU, Branch secretary Brian Holland, UCU, MEMBER Michael Holland, NEU, Assistant Secretary Lambeth Julie Hope, Unite Community Syreeta Howard, Nasuwt Kate Howlin, NEU, Officer, West Sussex Bee Hughes, UCU, Branch secretary, LJMU UCU Jenny Hughes, University of Sheffield UCU, Committee member Amira Hunter, EIS Daphne Hunter, CUC, member (rtd) Katie Hunter, EIS, Edinburgh Executive, Cantab, History Ibtehal Hussain Saba Hussain, UoB Gabriella Ibba, UCU, Member Eileen Imlah, EIS FELA, Branch Secretary & Convenor of Education and Equalities Commission, New College Lanarkshire, ASN Gregoris Ioannou, UCU, Member Miranda Iossifidis, UCU, Rep Anjum Iqbal Marina Isaac, UCU, Member Feyzi Ismail, UCU Goldsmiths MARIYA Ivancheva, Ucu, Member, Strathclyde, Education Alejandro Iznajar Madero, UCB, Lecturer William Jefferies, UCU, Branch secretary Yasmin Jiwani Emily Johns, Artists Union England, member Emma Johnson, NEU and Unison, Member Anthea Jones, NEU, Early Years Officer, Cambridgeshire Emily Jones, UCU Jonny Jones, UCU, workplace representative Paul Jones, UCU, Member, University of Liverpool, Sociology Peter Jones, UCU, Retired member, Sheffield Hallam University, Linguistics Tim Jones, UCU, Rep Kay Jordan Remi Joseph-Salisbury, UCU, Member Youkyung Ju-Zaveroni, SOAS, Member Naomi Junnor, Unison, Branch officer, Glasgow Oula Kadhum, UCU Amna Kaleem, UCU, Member, University of Sheffield, Politics Lesley Kane, UCU, member, Open University Surinder Kaur, UNISON, Member, Bristol University Dr Hilda Kean Séagh Kehoe, UCU, Branch Chair, University of Westminster Roz Keir, Neu, Membership sec Cormac Kelly, NEU, Kirklees Committee Michelle Kelsall, UCU SOAS University, Member Andrew Kennedy, UCU Thijs Keulen, UCU, Member, University of Leeds, Political theory Anurag Khahra, NEU, Workplace rep Bibi Khalifah Shehla Khan Samia Khatun, UCU Gholam Khiabany, UCU Andrew Kilmister, UCU, Delegate from Oxford Brookes UCU to Oxford and District Trades Council, Oxford Brookes University, Senior Lecturer in Economics Sally Kincaid, NEU Sotiria Kogou, Ucu Alexandra Kokoli, UCU Anja Komatar, UCU, Leeds Membership Officer Natalie Kopytko, UCU, Rep Suki Kumar, UCU, Member MAJA KUTLACA, UCU Barbara Labiejko, UCU Kari Lancaster Rosa Lang, NEU, Rep Mark Langdon, EISULA, Branch member, University of the West of Scotland, Community Education Insharah Latif Felicity Laurence Elizabeth Lawrence, UCU, Regional Secretary Yorkshire and Humberside Nicholas Lawrence, UCU, Environment Secretary PETER LAWRENCE, UCU Keele, Retired member Joel Lazarus, UCU Stef Leach, UCU, Member Matthew Lee, UNISON, Convenor, UCL Les Levidow, UCU, OU branch, Climate & Ecological Emergency Committee (CEEC) Micky Levoguer, UCU, Branch rep UEL Matt Lewis, UCU, Branch Secretary RCA Rafaella Lima, UCU Fred Lindop, UCU, Retired Duncan Little, NEU Jo Littler, UCU Colin Lomas, Unite Community, Secretary, WEA, lecturer Sylvie Lomer, UCU Sidonia Lucia Kula, UCU SOAS Thembi Luckett, UCU, Department Rep Sarah Macdonald, UCU, Member Teresa MacKay, Unite, Branch secretary/ National Pensioners Committee Paddy Mackel, UCU & UNITE & Belfast Trades Council, Full Time Official, UCU Ken Mackinnon Paul Mackney, UCU, Former Joint General Secretary, Natfhe, Industrial Relations Caoimhe Mader McGuinness, UCU, Equalities Jane Madsen, UCU, Member Farzana Mahmood Henry Maitles, UCU University of the West of Scotland Georgia Mantle, UCU, Branch Rep Soe Tjen Marching, UCU, member Zoe Marriage, UCU Lo Marshall, UCU Paul Martin, UCU, Member Patricia Martuscelli, UCU, Member Dina Matar, Ucu Teige Matthews-Palmer, Unite, Workplace rep Lucie Maughan Patrick McCarthy, UCU, Retired Branch Chair Angela Mccormick, EIS FELA, Branch Convenor, New College Lanarkshire, Biology Paddy McDaid, UCU William McEvoy, UCU, Member Liam McGlynn, Teachers Union of Ireland, Branch Secretary, Technological University Dublin, Social Science Ann McGovern, NEU, Workplace Rep, East Coast College Esther McIntosh, UCU, Branch Chair, YSJ Cahal McLaughlin, UCU, member Cian McMahon, Dundee UCU, Member Roseanne mcnamee, IVU Robyn Mcsharry, National Education Union, Trainee Teacher Lucille Meah, NEU, Supply Officer, Middlesex, B.Ed Smriti Mehra, UCU, Member Vaughan Melzer Vaughan Melzer Annapurna Menon, UCU Gorka Mercero, UCU, Member Mandy Merck, UCU, retired member Gillian Messaoud, Unison, Branch international officer Alessandra Mezzadri, UCU John Miers, UCU, Ordinary committee member, Kingston, Illustration Laura Miles, UCU Ann Miller, (formerly) UCU Rachel Miller, University of Manchester UCU, Member Susan Milner, NEU, NEU Rep Rehana Minhas Ghazala Mir, UCU, Member, Leeds, Health Sciences Kaajal Modi-Hobson, UCU, member, University of Leeds Fathima Haniya Mohamed-Mustaffa, LEEDS PALESTINE SOLIDARITY, Student, Leeds Beckett university Julia Molinari, UCU, Member, The Open University, Linguistics Alice Moon, NEU, Workplace rep Matilda Moors, UCU, Membership & Comms Officer Alexandra Morel, UCU, Member Carlo Morelli, UCU, Committee rep Maggie Morgan, NEU, Member Jess Moriarty, UCU Philip Moriarty, UCU Penny Morris, UCU, Retired member Tracie Morrison, UCU, Rep Dorothy Moss, UCU, Retired member Mariam Motamedi Fraser Leila Mouhib, ULB (Brussels) Ken Muller, NEU Laura Mulvey, UUC, member, Birkbeck U of London, Media Studies Martha Mundy, UCU, member, LSE Emma Munro ALISON MURPHY Lucy Musk, Unite Yasmeen Narayan, UCU Kaz Naseem, UCU Polly Nash, UCU at LCC, UAL, Membership secretary Nushi Nazemi Miyanda Nehwati, NEU Eleanor Newbigin Saul Newman, UCU John Newsham, UCU Michael Niblett, UCU Jess Northey, UCU, Member, Coventry university, Social sciences Irm Nunwa Hope Nyabienda, NEU, Health and Safety Rep Sophie O’Dell, Leeds Student Union, member, University of Leeds FIACHRA O’DUIBHINN, EIS FELA, Branch secretary, Dundee and Angus college, Lecturer Daniel O’Gorman, UCU Simon O’Hara, Warwickshire NEU, Ass’t Branch Secretary Jelena Obradovic-Wochnik, UCU Liam Orr, UCU Peter Osborne, UCU, –, Kingston, Philosophy Goldie Osuri, UCU Veronica OTERO Antonio Padilla, UCU, Nottingham Uni branch treasurer Maïa Pal, UCU, Campaigns officer Aleks Palanac, UCU University of Leicester, Member Abdul Paliwala Jade Palmer, NEU, NEU Representative Angela Panks, UCU Chrys Papaioannou Jimena Pardo, NEU, Rep Lucy Parker, UCU, Member Paige Patchin Dr Rajesh Patel, UCU, Retired Member Nazifah Patel Rahul Patel, UCU Kate Pearce, NEU, Assistant branch secretary Jayne Pearson, UCU David Perez-Suarez, UCU, union contact Andreas Petrossiants, UAW, Graduate student worker Dave Peyton, Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI TU Dublin Blanchardstown Branch Chairperson Matthew Phull, UAL-UCU, CSM Site Rep Kieran Picken, NEU, branch secretary Susannah Pickering-Saqqa, UCU, Branch member Kerry Pickett Kerry Pilborough John Piprani, UCU, H&S Rep Marcela Pizarro, UCU, Member barbara pizziconi, UCU Florence Platford, UCU Sharri Plonski, UCU Queen Mary University of London, Member LUKE PLOWDEN, NEU, Member Anna Pollert, UCU, member Robert Poole, National Education Union, Assistant District Secretary Charlie Porter, Sheffield UCU, Comms Officer Lucy Potter, UCU, Professional Services Rep and Green Rep Megan James Povey, UCU, Committee member Lucia Pradella, UCU Nicola Pratt, UCU, member Wendy Press, UCU, Supported Learning rep, New City College Carolyn Price-Lee, NEU, Rep Navtej Purewal, UCU, Member Judith Purver, UCU, Retired, Manchester, Modern Languages (German) Clare Qualmann, Ucu, Treasurer Rhea Rahman, PSC-CUNY, Member Ali Raiss-Tousi Anandi Ramamurthy, UCU, Retired member Rahul Rao, UCU, member, University of St Andrews, International Relations Andreea Raslescu, Oxford UCU Tony Rea, UVU, Member Ana Redondo, UCU University of Bedfordshire, Chair of Branch Bo Reed, NEU, Union rep, Warwick university Jane Rendell, UCU, Rep Ali Reynolds, UCU, Uni of Liverpool/LSTM branch committee member Leslie Rich, IWW Melanie Richter-Montpetit, UCU Nils Rickardsson Olsson, UCU, Member Andy Ridley, UCU, Branch rep, Roehampton, Senior Lecturer Caroline Riley, NEU, Retired member Althea Maria Rivas, UCU Chris Roberts Marion Roberts, UCU retired Robert Robertson, NEU, Member Anne Robinson, UCU, Member Jim Roche, Teachers Union of Ireland, Vice Chair Dublin Colleges branch Ben Rogaly, UCU, Retired member J Rose, UCU Richard Rose, NEU Rachel Rosen, UCU Chris Rossdale, UCU Catherine Rottenberg, UCU, member Stephen Rowell, NEU, Rep Zoe Rubenstein, UCU Nicholas Ruch, Unison, Retired Sinead Rushe, UCU, member Greg Ryan, UCU, Equalities Officer, London Metropolitan Uniy, Social Work Cat Rylance, UCU, Branch Chair Rim Saab, UCU, Member Thia Sagherian-Dickey, UCU, Member Raphael Salkie, UCU, Member Julia Sallabank, UCU Ruth San Martin, OPSEU, Member Stella Sandford, UCU Donald Sassoon Doreen Saunders, NEU, Workplace rep Derek Sayer Mariam Sbaiti, UCU, Member Miriam Scharf, NEU, International Solidarity Officer Abigail Schoneboom, UCU Lili Schwoerer, UCU Nicola Scope, NEU, Committee member Lynne Segal, Retired Daniel Selwyn, NEU, International Solidarity Officer Tanya Serisier, UCU – Birkbeck, Committee Member Anna Seymour, UCU Nilofer Shaikh Ingrid Sharp, Ucu, Rep, Leeds, Languages Sabine Sharp, UCU, Member Rizwana Shelley, NEU, Equalities officer Medway NEU, Imperial College, MSc Bethany Shiner, UCU, Vice chair Sasha Simic, Usdaw, Shop rep C133 branch Rajkiran Singh, NEU, Workplace Rep Jonathan Skinner, UCU, Member Cathy Slaughter, Ucu, Retired member, Plymouth, English Roddy Slorach, UCU Imperial College London, Branch secretary Alasdair Smith, NEU, School rep Graham Smith, UCU, Regional chair (Northern UCU) Prof. John A Smith, BECTU Iason Sofos, UCU, Member, The University of Leeds, Postgraduate Researcher Eeva Sointu, UCU, Vice chair Ryann Sowden, Unison, Member Martin Spafford, National Education Union, retired Lisa Stampnitzky, UCU, Member Hugh Stanners, NEU John Stephens, NEU, Officer Ian Stewart, Unite, Member Sarah Stewart, SOAS UNISON, member, SOAS, Religions and Philosophies Francesco Sticchi, UCU, AL rep, Oxford Brookes University, Film Studies Andrew Stone, NEU, Post 16 officer, Wandsworth Celine Strolz, RCA UCU, Member Evelyn Strongylakou, UCU Mayssoun Sukarieh, UCU, Union caseworker Dr Anthony Sullivan, UCU, UAL Branch Rep David Swanson, UCU, Vice-president, University of Manchester UCU Sharon Sweeney, UCU Michael Szpakowski, UCU, retired member Inbar Tamari, NEU Inbar Tamari, NEU, Equality officer Stuart Tannock, UCU, Departmental Representative Joanne Tatham, UCU, Branch rep., RCA, Arts and Humanities Carol Taylor, NEU, Retired teacher Shabnum Tejani, SOAS UCU Alice Theobald Nick Thoburn, UCU David Thomas, UCU, Member, University of Brighton Liane Thomas, NEU, Workplace Rep Lisa Tilley, UCU Matteo Tiratelli, UCU, Casework Officer Mary Todd, BMA Rachel Tolhurst, UCU, Member Helen Tucker, NEU Myka Tucker-Abramson, Warwick UCU Jane Turner, NEU, District International Solidarity Officer Mandy Turner Kamila Ujkaj Raj Unsworth Mijke van der Drift, UCU, Branch Chair Vina Vekria, NEU, Member Dr Vedrana Velickovic, UCU Brighton, Member, University of Brighton, Literature Roberto Veneziani, UCU Francoise Verges Sean Vernell, UCU, REP Melanie Vevers, ex NEU, Retired teacher Margaret Vicuna Lionel Vida, Unite Daniel Vulliamy, UNITE, Retired Ramisuddeen Vypukaran Hilary Wainwright, NUJ, Member of freelance branch Laura Waite, UCU, Member, Liverpool Hope University, Social Sciences Rupert Waldron, UCU, Secretary, London College of Fashion, Fashion Hannah Walker, UCU, Union Rep Lynda Walker, UCU, Member Rachel Walls, UCU University of Leeds, Committee member Jo Walton, Nasuwt RM/ Unite Community LW&Y, Member Jay Ward Marchella Ward, UCU Colin Watson, Unite, branch secretary David Watson, NEU Janet Watson, UCU Nicola Watt Nicholas Weaver, UCU, Retired Sue Wedlock, Unison Arsène Werlen, UCU John Westmoreland, NEU, None Gordon White, NEU, Retired Northants County Secretary Jessie Whiteley Xanthe Whittaker, UCU Ben Wiedel-Kaufmann, UCU, Departmental Rep and Executive Committee Member, The Open University Oona Wilkinson, Unison Luke Williams, UCU, Member Samantha Williams, CUPE 3912, Vice President – SMU Teaching Assistants Milly Williamson, UCU Siobhan Wills, UCU, Member Jacquie Wilson, UCU, Retired Kalpana Wilson, Birkbeck UCU Lizzie Wilson, UCU Norman Wilson, EIS-FELA, Convener, UHI, Psychology Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, National Education Union, South Kent district, Personal capacity Carol Wing, NEU Oxfordshire District, Treasurer Richard Wistreich, UCU, Member Fae Wolfe Anna Wolmuth, NEU Sean Wood Tristram Wyatt, UCU Umit Yildiz, UCU – Manchester University, VP Apex Zero, UCU RCU, Equalities Rep Zoe Zero, NEU Katherine Zhou, UCU Oxford
Image: Arrests at the Lift the Ban action in Leeds, 18 November (courtesy of Mike Bettney)
To: Chief Constables, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Crown Prosecution Service
As trade unionists and activists in the Palestine solidarity movement and beyond, we stand opposed to genocide and in solidarity with the campaign to reverse the proscription of Palestine Action as part of a broader campaign to defend the right to protest. We recognise the campaign against proscription as a vital part of opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has received political, material, and military support from successive UK governments. This urgency remains unchanged by October’s ceasefire agreement, which Israel has violated with continued air strikes – one attack killing over 100 Palestinians – and by maintaining its prewar siege on the territory.
We will defend our rights to protest and express dissent which trade unions and movements for justice have won over two centuries of struggle and continue to fight for them in the face of the attempts by successive governments to roll them back.
We pledge to organise in our trade unions and communities to defend those facing court for peaceful protest – whether on spurious charges of “terrorism” or for other offences.
Birmingham – Chamberlain Square – B3 3DH (opposite museum & art gallery)
Exeter – Outside Central Station – Queen’s Street – EX4 3SB
Cambridge – Guildhall Place – Market Hill – CB2 3QL (opposite the market)
Sheffield – Cathedral – Church Street – S1 2ET (on the cathedral steps)
Lancaster – Outside Lancaster Castle – Castle Hill – LA1 1YN (next to the entrance)
Edinburgh – Queen Elizabeth House – Sibbald Walk – EH8 8FT
Caerdydd (Cardiff) – Tŷ William Morgan House – Central Square – CF10 1EP
Manchester – St Peter’s Square – M1 5AN (opposite the tram stop)
Norwich – Hay Hill, NR1 2QQ – Updated location
Total signatures (28 November) 1077 of which 686 are published below Names are published alongside the closest city where a Lift the Ban action is taking place
Wales // Aberystwyth
Martin Ashby Dominique Kimber Benjamin Mathers Dave Morgan Patrick Owen Karina Russell Jamie Thomas, Unite Maia Wells
Caerdydd (Cardiff)
Deana AL-ISMAIL, NHS Gaynor Ball Diane Cooper Sarah Davies, Narberth Gaza Support Group Deborah Davies Suzanne De Celis Roger Evans Syd Foster Jean Foster Louise Gray Nicholas Hind Tareq Husein, Hospital Jane Jenkins Max Li-rocchi El Litten JN MacMahon Viv Makin Tasmin Nash Alison O’Connor Emmet O’Sullivan, Cardiff PSC Kerry Pilborough Alex Rice Matthew Shephard, UNISON (pc) Nick Townsend Alexandra Tsamados Margaret Vicuna Zaineb Williams Anne Wood Steve Wride, PSC Angie Zelter
Scotland // Edinburgh
Anne Campbell Peter Clapham, Unison Trina Clinkscale Brian Corrigan, None Nadine Edwards Hussein Ezzedine, ASLEF Janet Fenton, Secure Scotland Joan Forehand Ross Gibson Linda Gibson Bob Goupillot, Retired Oriole Hall Taylor Hill Carol Johnson Adrian Johnson Naomi Junnor Gill Lee Lois Legendre David MacFadyen, Unison Jim Malone, FBU John McCartney angela mccormick, Eis FELA Margaret McCutcheon John McFadden Sara McGregor, Unison Keir Mckechnie, Unison Donald McKenzie, Unison Cian McMahon Eleanor Miller, XR Glasgow Jon Molyneux, Scottish Green Party Bill Newman, Unite Retired members branch Glasgow W M Oswald Thia Sagherian-Dickey, UCU Andrew Shaw, Unison, Catholic Church
South West // Bristol
Sarah Bailey john davies Rocio Diaz, PSC Ãrainn Gawker Lou Gray Talulla Harris ana Heyatawin angela hill Surinder Kaur Ricky Knight, North Devon District Council Anna Mitchell Zarria Phillips, Unite Jonathon Porritt
Exeter
Sian Aubrey Catherine Bearfield Cecily Blyther, UCU David Clinch, NEU Elizabeth Clinch Joe Collins Karen Endicott Stephanie Foster, RCN Brian Garman Tricia Goddard Rachel Graham Celia Hastie Mark Haworth-Booth, North Devon Council Rosemary Haworth-Booth Stephen Jarvis Elizabeth Knight David Langford, Aeu Mary LIGHT Lucy MacArthur, Your Party Paul Miller Susan Monk Regine Ray Jeremy Sims, Unite and PSC, Member Roger Spettigue, Unison Tony Staunton, UCU Siobhan Strode, Unite John Sweeney, YP Elizabeth Wood, Unite Community
Truro
Perdita Heller Chloe Stevens, IWGB
North West // Lancaster
Henry Adams SARAH BADROCK, Unison Ann Brookes Caroline Cattermole Gina Dowding, North Lancashire Green Party Helen Edwards, Health Care – NHS Rosalind Faith-Strutt, Unite Charlotte Finnerty, NEU david fleet Emily Gent Anne Haywood Emily Heath, North Lancs Green Party Geraldine Holland Sharon Homer Peter Howlett Khaldoun RJ Jayousi PAULINE JONES Suzanne Jones Gillian Kelly David Killick Robin Le mare Charles Littlechild Sarah McGowan Emma Mead, Unite Abigail Mills Eileen Mullervy, NEU Lydia Pearson, Lancaster PSC Barry Powell Anna Prall, SUTR, Palestine Solidarity Susan Reid Catherine Rennie-Nash, Defend Our Juries Gisela Renolds Ann Rochester, Unite the Union Nicola Rush Michele Seymour Kate Threadgold Helen Tucker, NEU Dr Fay Tuffen Kate Walford Eleanor Whiteford, None Alastor Zurkiewicz
Manchester
Taibat Omobolanle Adebayo, Unison Renate Aspden Dawn Aspinall, Unison Afzal Bhamjee Chedd Billington, GMRC Jeanne Boyle, Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch Andrea Bullivant Darren Burling June Burnett, Manchester healthcare Sue Caldwell, GM Unite Community Branch Alison Campbell, UNISON Salford City Lana Campbell Allan Challenger, Unison Saduf Chaudhri Artemis Christinaki, UMUCU Terry Clarke, MPA Wendy Cocks, Unison Peter Craine Anne Crawford Briege Cullinane James Davies Deborah Densham Juliet Eastham Juliet Eastham Pia Feig, UNISON GM Mental Health branch Miranda Forward, Unite Philip Gilligan, South Lakeland Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Sophia Godfrey Helen Griffiths Sharon Hanley-Hewitt Megan Hastings, UNISON Linda Heap, Southport Community Independents Deborah Hind Mark Hollinrake, PCS Denise Howkins Gary Howkins Rosemary Kate Hughes, Unison Bee Hughes, UCU Zoe Hutton Judith Instone Diana Jeater, UCU Laura Jones Kai Xuan Lim Richard Lund Kevin Malone Catherine Markey Fiona McDavid Fangda Mei Jenny Melbourne, NEU Andrea Michael, Unite John mulligan, Unite John Murphy, UNITE Vernetta O’Loughlin, N a Kevin Osborne, CWU Stuart Penwarden, Unite Finance and Legal Liz Quinn Karen Reissmann, Unison Graham Richards, UNISON Chris Roberts, Trafford4Palestine Adam Rose Jemma Russell Joyce Rutherford, Unite Community Lisa Ryan Smina Sadiq Pat Sanchez Anne Saxon, RS21 Lynda Sergeant, UNITE Jo Shuttleworth Stephen Slator Gail Steward Jane Touil, Extinction Rebellion Rochdale Anne Tucker, Unite community Chris Waldon Linda Walker, High Peak Against Racism
Yorkshire // Leeds
Gabriella Alberti, University of Leeds Gill Barn, Unison Stella Barnes, Artists Union England rich bell, UCU Mick Calvert, Unite Community Mick Calvert, Unite Community beth cassani, UCU Ellie Clement, Commonweal Trust Andrew Cooper Ruth Daly, Leeds UCU James Dickins, ucu Tracey Farrar, Unite Community Alan Fenton, RCN Lynne Fordyce Gillian Gillespie, Unison Anne Goggin Chris Green Ian Greenwood, Unite Asif Gul, Y Kate Hardy, UCU Emily Hart, UCU Lou Harvey, University of Leeds Rosemary Hedges Simon Hewitt, UCU Ben Hills, Unison Nick Hodgkinson Karen How Madheea Iqbal Beverly Jessop, Unison Ian Jobson June Jones, Unison Pat Jones, Unison Marie Kenny Hannah Kent Roisin Keogh, University of leeds Sally Kincaid, Unite Community/NEU Anja Komatar, UCU University of Leeds Nely Konstantinova, UCU Deborah Maccoby Rodger Martin, Retired Fraser McQueen, University of Leeds Sally Morgan, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Justice Coalition Marc Neal, W Yorks Jews against Israeli Apartheid Ian Nichol, Unite Community Maria Perez, Retired MEGAN JAMES POVEY, UCU Fiaz Rashid Stefania Robinson Ellen Robottom, Unite, Campaign Against Climate Change Jack Rutherford, UCU Mark Sayers, Unite community M Shafique Noreen Shah, NUT Syra Shakir, LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY Ingrid Sharp, UCU Omar Shefta Rebecca Simmons Devinder Singh Steven Skinner, UCU Margaret Smith, Unite Community Iason Sofos, The University of Leeds Susan Talbot, Unison John Taylor, UCU Ellie Terry, Gmb Margery Toller Haworth Towler, University of Leeds Frances Turner, Individual Helen Tytherleigh Gwen Vardigans, Unite Community richard waddington Rosamund Walsh, Retired Sarah Waters, University of Leeds Janet Watson, UCU Jenny Whelan Andy Wood, UCU Maria Yeaman
Sheffield
Thomas Archer George Arthur, Barnsley TUC Sean Ashton Jayne Atherton, Unite Anne Barr Geoffrey Bottoms, Unite Maxine Bowler, Unite cyp & Nfp NE403/5 branch Chris Brace, Unite / York PSC Michelle Brown Emily Burkett David Campbell, Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign Sarah Choonara Owen Clayton, UCU, Vice Chair Jon Cowley, Unite Joao Craveiro Diane Dale Peter Darlington, Retired Andy Davies James Dimond Zak Dimond Alexi Dimond, Sheffield Green Party and Unite the Union Ciara Ellis, Unite South Yorkshire Maleiki Haybe, Sheffield Green Party Simon Jenkins, Unite NFP sheffield Leonie Kapadia, Unite ANDREW KING Bernard Little Tessa Lupton, Green Party Toby Mallinson Angela Martin, UCU Martin Mayer James Meehan Roy Morris Minesh Parekh, Sheffield City Council Jenny Patient, Unite Julie Pearn, NEU John Rogers, Unison Jawed Siddiqi, The Monitoring Group Marion Speed, Unison Phil Swift Amanda Wells Graham Wroe, TelltheTruthSheffield.org
London
George Andrews John Stuart Archbold, Universities & Colleges Union Zahir Aziz, None Soodabeh Balali sharon banzhaf Michelle Barnes, Extinction Rebellion Dean Battell, RMT Jennifer Bell, NEU and HDPSC Amanda Bentham, National Education Union, PSC, Member Zaid Bin Zafar Justin Blakebrough Ann Bliss, Green Party member Carla Bloom, Unite Keith Bradley Ray Campbell, UCU Rah Carter Alan Carter Rebecca Cartwright Laura Clarke, Unison Thembisa Cochrane Sarah Cox, NEU Graham Cox Stephanie David Robert Day Wojciech Dmochowski, UCU Joseph Dobson, JKG London Will Dodds, Green Party Gil Doron Pippa Dowswell, Neu Nadia Edmond, UCU Philip edwards, Unite Retired Daniela Esposito, Defend our juries Priscilla Eyles Giulio Fella, UCU, Member David Fellows, Unison – East Sussex Area Branch Sylvia Finzi Shenai Fiore, UoW Student Staff Solidarity with Palestine, Student Martin Fisher Ayesha Garrett Danny GAZZI Jay Ginn Rodney Godfrey, FBU (out of trade member) Matt Goldborough Mel Gould, Brighton & Hove Jews Against The 0ccupation Lissy Greenfield Yvonne Hall Sarah M. Hall Peter Hallward, UCU (Kingston), member Dave Hampton Susan Hampton William Harrington-Roberts, IWGB Yvonne Hayward David Holloway, Power In Our Hands Natalie Howard, UNITE Sacha Ismail, UNISON and FBU member Hilary James, GMB Helen Johnson Ann Jungman LAURA Katesmark Ameerzeb Khan, Dwp Tariq Khawaja, Prospect Mary Kitson, RCM Agnes Kory Ann Kramer, NUJ; PSC Barbara Labiejko, UCU Steve Lawless Anna Livingstone, Unite the Union and BMA Elizabeth Lloyd Diana M Neslen, Unite the Community Hassina Malik, UNISON Amina Mangera, Unite Community Claire Marris Molly Martin Eames Gary McFarlane, NUJ London Magazine Branch, Media Workers for Palestine Steve McKenzie, Unite Greenwich Lewisham and Bexley Community branch Layla Mohamed Sarah Morgan Conor Muller Sally O’Donnell Deborah O’Farrell Lara Pawson Noah Payne Kerry Pickett, Brighton & Hove City Council Dorothea Pio Saba Qureshi, Independent Activist Ali Raiss-Tousi, Birkbeck College Gwydion Rhys Susanna Riviere, Wimbledon Quakers Kim Roper, Unite Miriam Scharf, Newham NEU Amanda Sebestyen, jews fpr justice for palestinians Cath Senker, Na’amod Greg Shields Sasha Simic, USDAW C133 Central Books branch Sue Simmonds Keith Simpson, UCU Thisha Sivakumar Deborah Stack, Unite Paul Stephens, Met Police Dave Stokes Anthony Stoll Helen Stollar Martin Strivens Keston Sutherland Gian Marco Tesei, UCU Annete Thomas, Islington Pensioners Forum Bronwen Thomas Giovanni Todeschini, Bectu Ian Townson, Unite Katy Treverton Abeda Uddin, GMB Roberto Veneziani Maz Vivier, Unison Hazel Waters Oliver Watson Peter WICKENDEN, Unite Richard Wistreich, UCU Margaret Woldu Tristram Wyatt, UCU Vicky Wyer
North East // Newcastle
Marika Asgari, UCU Newcastle Helen Caney, Unite Harris Dousemetzis, Durham University Alice Finden, UCU Silvie Fisch James Hutchinson, Gateshead NEU John Metson John Metson, Co Durham PSC Emily Jones Frank Kennedy, Climate Action Durham MAJA KUTLACA, UCU Thembi Luckett Chris Spence, USDAW Sara Uckelman, Durham UCU Pam Wortley
East Midlands // Northampton
Zoe Collins Hilary Haynes, CSP Tina Matthew Shaylee Tosney
Nottingham
Jeni Acelas, Unite Karen Bannochie Kiran Chudasama, Leicester Palestine solidarity campaign Jessica Cooke Stephen Flaherty S Gartland Oliver Gould Kate Hubbard C Humphreys, Unison Carla m obrien Angie Mindel Colleen Molloy Andrew Reeves Prakash Ross Stephen Wagg Gail White, PSC Caren Wildin, Unite Community
South East // Oxford
Halima Brewer Dylan Carver, Oxford UCU Ellie Cawte Chrissie Charvill, Palestine Solidarity Campaign Oona Ellis, Lecturer David Ewing, Oxford University UCU Sarah Hoey Emma Jones Ian McKendrick, Oxfordshire UNISON Health Branch (pc) Doke Ostle Nick Owen Malcolm Parker Paola Quevedo, Unison Andreea Raslescu, UCU Oxford Maria Trapatseli John Walker Katherine Zhou, Oxford UCU
UK-wide signatories
Annah AbdulGhaffar, Masjidullah Mark Abel, UCU Taraneh Ahmadi-Parker Karen Allison, Green Party Philip Arrowsmith Jane Ashbridge David Ashton samantha Barnsley-Bridger, UCU Trevor Batchelor, Unite Community Rukshana Begum bernard bellingham Ray Brassier Rachel Brereton Lesley Bryan Prabhat Chauhan Dinah Clarke Rob Crisp, Musicians Union Nigel Crossley Erika Curren Ginny Davies Mike Davies Mike Dennis, United Reformed Church Pauline Devine Stephen Eastham John Evans Nigel FOUNTAIN, Nuj Alison Freshney Mike Glover allen goody Isaac Gray Dorothy Griggs Rupert Gude Dai Gwynne, G Squared Architecture Amba Hale Susan Hampton Thasnim Haque Roger Harrison, Nasuwt Sebastian Harrison Simon Hester, Hastings Trades Union Council Samaira Hussain Patrick Jeffery Claire Jenkins Jamie Johnson Jo Jones Michael Kennard, Unite Firdos Khan, UCU Chris Kirk, Unite Nicholas Lawrence, University of Warwick Heather Lawrence, Hastings Palestine Solidarity Jenny Lennon-Wood, PCS Giovanna Lewis, Unite community Fred Lindop, UCU Adam Litchfield Frances Love, CPSC Nasreen Mahmood, Stoke Palestine solidarity Kate Mann Stuart Markless Anne Marr Paul Martyn Lynn McAllister Una McCartan, UNISON, Member Akhtar Mehmood Michael Merchel Bruce Moore Martin Mowforth, – Orla Murray osman nasar, Drumshack Jason Noble Jane O’Donnell Daniel O’Gorman, UCU Debby Plummer, Green Party Harry Pratt Ana Redondo, University of Bedfordshire James Rider Bronwen Roberts Ben Rogaly, UCU Alix Shaw Jo Shippam Wendy Sindall Claudio Solano Samuel Solomon Corinna Sorrell Julia Subur Geraldine Swift, NHS Nicholas Tulloh Gwen Vardigans, Unite Community Tommy Williams Sean Wood Suzanne Wright Alma Yaniv Safyana Younas
Around 1000 people defied calls from Keir Starmer and the Met Police for the suspension of the Defend our Juries protest against the proscription of Palestine Action on Saturday 4 October. Trade unionists from round the country joined hundreds taking part in the witness circle around the DoJ protest in solidarity, having issued a statement explaining why they supported the demonstration going ahead.
There were branch banners and union members from UCU London Region, Kingston Uni UCU, Imperial College UCU, UCL UCU, City and Islington College UCU, Hackney College UCU, London School of Economics UCU, Lincoln Uni UCU, Greenwich Uni UCU, Birkbeck UCU, Camden Unison, Homerton Hospital Unison, Portsmouth City Unison, Portsmouth Trades Council, NEU Cambridgeshire, NEU Hackney, NEU Warwickshire and NEU Brent, plus members of Unite, NUJ and Bectu. Solidarity from other organisations included delegations from Cage International, Muslim Students for Palestine, XR, Quaker Palestine Solidarity, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and Stop The War.
Despite complaints about lack of resources the Met police in London chose to arrest 488 peaceful sign-holders on Saturday, while in Truro, demonstrating that very different choices can be made, Devon and Cornwall Police took the decision not to make arrests at a Lift The Ban sign-holding vigil earlier the same day. Instead two Police Liaison Officers were sent who described the demo as “lovely and peaceful” and defended people’s right to protest to a passing heckler.
There was solidarity with the protest in London from marchers on the million-strong demonstration for Palestine in Rome. Activists there held up the same signs to highlight the repression taking place in Britain. The Rome march took place one day after a historic general strike for Palestine across Italy in response to Israeli attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Trade unionists in London also held a banner showing their solidarity with the Italian strikes and recorded a message for workers in Italy.
Defend our Juries announces protests for November as Home Secretary plans further crackdown on protest rights
On Sunday 5th October, in response to the announcement of new powers allowing police to impose tougher conditions on static protests or marches by taking account of the “cumulative impact” of previous similar demonstrations, DoJ announced a “major escalation” and mass civil disobedience defying the ban across Britain over days from 18th November to 29th November around the Judicial Review, to show the Home Secretary “we will not accept this “dangerous, authoritarian escalation that threatens everyone’s right to protest in our country”. Read the full press release here
What you can do:
Join the Assembly at the start of the TU bloc on the national march for Palestine to debate how trade unionists in Britain can learn from the example of Italy and organise a general strike for Palestine. 12 noon, 11 October, Cleopatra’s Needle, Embankment. RSVP here
Protest is not Terrorism 