Protest is not terrorism

At least 1500 people have joined a mass action of defiance to the proscription of Palestine Action and the British government’s complicity in genocide in Gaza. A delegation of trade unionists and signatories to the Protest is not Terrorism open letter is in Parliament Square to witness and condemn the repressive consequences of the ban on Palestine.

Louise Regan, a member of the National Education Union National Executive, which has collectively signed the letter, joined the delegation. She said:

“Obviously I am here today in a personal capacity, but I think it is very important that people come and witness what is happening, with this shutdown and the authoritarian nature of our government currently in terms of clamping down on what all of us believe is legitimate protest.

We are now nearly two years into a genocide in Gaza and our government should be putting sanctions on Israel and tackling Israel over their actions, yet we see the reverse of that and the government is charging people who are legitimately protesting against genocide.”

The delegation includes representatives of a number of UCU branches and regions, including London Region, KCL, Imperial College, Leeds, Kingston, Westminster. Health workers from UCH Unison have also joined.

Other civil society organisations taking part in the witness circle at the Square include the National Palestine Coalition organisations who will be sending a delegation from the national march for Palestine. Cage International, the General Federation of Trade Unions, BLM UK, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and a group of Holocaust survivors and descendants.

Roddy Slorach, branch secretary Imperial College UCU said:

“I am here as part of the witness circle for those facing arrest by the police today which is something we find absolutely disgusting. What’s happening today is that protesters against violence and war and terrorism are being criminalised as terrorists. This is something which has been happening in the university sector as well over the last two years with the movement against the genocide in Gaza. We have seen University employers acting in complicity with the government to increase repression.

It is really important that trade unions place themselves front and centre of the resistance movement. The reason the government is turning to more repression is because their arguments are not working. They are losing the argument and that is why they are turning to more authoritarian methods.

I believe that this ban can be overturned and that the mass movement is continuing to grow. We have seen over 2 million people demonstrating for Palestine over the last two years. There are people here with me from Imperial College and also in our delegation on the national march for Palestine who have never been on a demonstration before.”

What you can do:

Sign the open letter opposing the ban on Palestine Action here