Protesting is Not a Crime: But the Labour Party Treats It Like One

As the UK continues to arm Israel’s war machine and criminalise those who resist, we must act with urgency and unity.

On Monday 7th July, Chris Nineham, co-founder of Stop the War Coalition, and Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will be on trial for peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest. The police have also charged our chair Alex Kenny and the general secretary of CND Sophie Bolt. And last night, MPs voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Let that sink in: a direct-action group targeting the arms trade is being treated like a threat to national security, while those profiting from a genocide walk free.

This is not about public order. This is about silencing opposition to genocide, imperialism, and the military industrial complex. But we refuse to be silent while the UK government supports genocide abroad and tramples on civil liberties at home. Whether you stand against war, police brutality, arms companies, or authoritarian control — now is the time to resist and join Stop the War.

We are not alone, and we are not afraid. Every action makes a difference. Let’s show them that the resistance is growing — and we’re not backing down.