Shaun Harkin, a People before Profit councillor in Derry City, spoke to Protest is not Terrorism at a meeting marking the 20th anniversary of the Raytheon occupation which led to the eventual decommissioning of the weapons manufacturer’s Derry factory. The meeting was addressed by Eamonn McCann, veteran anti-war and civil rights activist and Jordan Devlin of the Filton 25.

Shaun is also a trade unionist, a member of Unite and a delegate to the Derry Trade Union Council. He said:

“I think it is really important we continue to push against the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity activists. I think there is an opening right now because the British government is on the retreat on this very issue.

One of the things we were able to do through the Derry City and Strabane district Council was pass a motion, opposing the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity, to stand in solidarity with people who have been charged and convicted and to press against it, on the grounds that protesting genocide is not a crime. I would encourage people to use that motion with their local councils.

Secondly, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions passed a really excellent motion brought by activists across a lot of different unions to stand in solidarity with the Palestine solidarity movement and to oppose the proscription of Palestine Action and to support anyone who has been criminalised as a result of their Palestine solidarity activism.

Trade union activists can utilise that if they want to build a campaign around a particular incident, but we need to champion the idea that our trade unions should be actively involved in campaigning against repression as we continue to resist the genocide in Gaza.”

• Find our model motion and other resources here.