National CND news

Those peacefully advocating for the rights of Palestinians and protesting against Israel’s genocide in Gaza remain under sustained attack from the British establishment – including CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt and other leaders of the Palestine Coalition. They are facing charges following a peaceful protest on 18 January 2025. Peaceful protestors should not be criminalised for calling for an end to genocide and for our government to abide by international law. Ahead of their trials – starting on Monday 23 February – we are helping organise a public meeting in London, calling for the charges to be dropped and to take a stand against ongoing attacks on the right to protest.  

• Thursday, 12 February, 7:00pm
• DLT, SOAS, London, WC1H 0XG 
• Register here

Please also help us spread awareness by sharing the details on social media: Instagram, Facebook. Threads, Bluesky, and X.

Their trials take place while the government’s new legislation to further restrict pro-Palestine demonstrations – and others – is going through Parliament. This includes measures that will give the police powers to effectively ban repeat protests – a direct attack on sustained protest movements like the one led by the Palestine Coalition.  

A lobby day in Parliament on defending the right to protest is also being organised on Tuesday 17 March. Backed by the Palestine Coalition and dozens of civil society groups, we’re asking those who can, to join us in Parliament. You will be able to meet with your MP directly and demand that they defend the right to protest rather than rolling back on your rights!  

Mobilising as many people as possible on this day is vital to building pressure against this legislation which will far-reaching consequences for all types of protests and campaigns.