We have a major legal battle ahead of us and a tremendous amount of campaigning to do.

We have a major legal battle ahead of us and a tremendous amount of campaigning to do.

The disgraceful attacks on the Palestine protest on Saturday are a major assault, not just on the Palestine movement, but on our right to protest. The aggressive policing led to the arrest of an estimated 77 protesters, including chief steward and StW vice-chair, Chris Nineham. Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has now also been charged by the police. Two MPs, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, were called in for police questioning the following day, a move which will have been authorised at high government level.

This is a serious moment which threatens the entire labour movement and is taking place under a Labour government. Starmer is following in the footsteps of Suella Braverman who attempted to ban our marches in November 2023.

The encroaching restrictions and criminalisation of our protests has been the goal of successive governments. Labour has lost many votes over the question of Palestine and it wants desperately to end the movement. We refuse to let them.

We must urgently build a campaign to protect our civil liberties and resist the growing authoritarian nature of this government. These attacks will not be isolated to the Palestine movement, but will be extended to all those who challenge the government – strikers, NHS campaigners, environmental and peace activists.

It is crucial we come together to defend those arrested and demand the charges against them are dropped, and must oppose draconian laws and aggressive policing.

Stop the War has always campaigned in defence of civil liberties and today we are launching a fund drive to raise money to help us oppose these oppressive attacks. Please give generously.

Our strength comes from our numbers so we ask that you help us become even stronger by joining as a Stop the War member. We have a special membership offer for January which gives you the opportunity to join for only £25 for the whole year.