The High Court ruled in February that the government’s ban on protest group Palestine Action was unlawful. On Saturday 11 April, over 500 activists were arrested for expressing support for what the government regards as a ‘terrorist organisation’ – it remains banned while the government appeals the court’s decision.
Meanwhile, far-right activist Tommy Robinson has called another ‘Unite the Kingdom’ demonstration for 16 May. This is scheduled deliberately to coincide with the annual Nakba demonstration to commemorate the Palestinian ‘Catastrophe’ – when thousands of Palestinians were forced from their land in 1948.
The Metropolitan Police has granted permission for the Tommy Robinson demo and refused permission for the Palestine protest organisers’ planned route. “London is ours on May 16th”, Robinson has posted on X.
Figures from the trade union movement have signed an open letter from Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) calling on the Met to change its decision. Several Labour MPs have signed too. But Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan has not. With responsibility “for setting the strategic direction of policing in London”, neither has he used his influence to apply pressure on the Met and the government.
It is clear that this Labour government is determined to restrict the right to protest and to intimidate activists and trade unionists, including using the police and courts in an increasingly repressive way. For example, by getting injunctions to stop striking Birmingham bin workers and support from picketing bin depots.
The trade unions must lead in the fight to defend the right to protest, linked to building a struggle against Starmer’s Labour government and its war and austerity agenda.
