Stop the War coalition Newsletter 04/07/25

Newsletter – 04/07/25

Drop the Charges – Defend the Right to Protest

Westminster Magistrates Court 9 am, 7 July

The state is trying to criminalise Palestine solidarity. Musicians on stage at Glastonbury, activists spraying paint and the leaders of the national Palestine marches are all under attack. 

The trial of Chris and Ben is now to be postponed. They and their family and friends will be left with the threat of criminal charges hanging over them, possible for many more months. The charges should never have been brought and are a political attack designed to suppress solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Four leaders of the Palestine marches have now been charged for alleged breaches of the public order act at our protest on 18 January. This is not only an attack on the leadership of our movement, but it is an attack on the millions who have taken part in the peaceful and democratic mobilisations for Palestine over the past 21 months. It is a fundamental attack on the right to protest.

Join us outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 July at 9 am to demand all charges be dropped.

Full statement below on the delay to the trial.

National march for Palestine – Saturday 19 July

Gaza remains under siege, with hundreds brutally killed on a daily basis – many while they queue for essential food aid. Talk of a ceasefire ignores the fact that Israel will probably be unwilling to withdraw its troops from Gaza. Without such an agreement any ceasefire is unlikely to be sustainable. 

Meanwhile the attacks on our movement, designed to intimidate and stop us protesting, must be resisted. It is crucial we remain steadfast. We will not be intimidated, our movement is not going anywhere, we will continue to march and protest until Palestine is free. This is why we march again in London on 19 July.

Please march with us on 19 July, when we will be demanding an end to the genocide and and an end to arms sales to Israel. Be there, book coaches, start organising!

London – Embankment Tube – Midday – 19 July.

Stephen Kapos Tour

Trump, Imperialism & the Middle East

Stephen Kapos, Holocaust survivor and Palestine activist, is touring the country with Stop the War this summer, discussing Trump, Imperialism and the Middle East. Stephen and others will be joining up the dots between Palestine, the wider Middle East and Western imperialism.

It is clear the Middle East is highly volatile, that Trump is increasingly unpredictable and that Netanyahu’s vicious and reckless actions know no bounds.

To help make sense of this increasingly dangerous world join Stephen Kapos, who will be speaking alongside prominent anti-war activists, writers and StWC officers. 

Find a meeting near you and hear how the anti-war movement should respond to these dangerous developments.

Tour dates & speakers:

• Woolwich – 15 July, Stephen Kapos, Chris Nineham,Yasmine Adam
• Birmingham – 16 July, Stephen Kapos, Salma Yaqoob, Chris Nineham
• Bristol – 17 July, Stephen Kapos, John Rees, Lama Qidan
• Glasgow – 22 July, Stephen Kapos, Andrew Feinstein, Alex Kenny, Sophie Johnson, Jonathon Shafi
• Newcastle – 23 July, Stephen Kapos, Andrew Murray, Nadine Absy, Parisa Panahi, Local PSC activist
• Manchester – 24 July, Stephen Kapos, Andrew Feinstein, Lindsey German
• Preston – 29 July, 7pm, Stephen Kapos, Chris Nineham, Michael Lavalette
• Liverpool – 30 July, Stephen Kapos, Andrew Murray, Haneen

Durham Miners’ Gala 

Tolpuddle Festival

It’s that time of year again! Let us know if you are heading to either the Durham Miners’ Gala next Saturday (12 July) or the Tolpuddle Festival (18 – 20 July).

Come along and introduce yourself at our stall – we will have an array of merchandise, stickers and information leaflets available for you to take away. Or join us with the StW banner on the gala parade.  

If you would like to volunteer to help out please email the office.

During this time of heightened activity we are asking all our supporters to help build the anti-war movement. Please consider donating to our campaign fund. 

This week’s anti-war briefing