Twenty-two trade union leaders have voiced deep concern over what they describe as the erosion of the right to peaceful protest, criticising the Metropolitan Police's handling of pro-Palestinian marches in January. The joint statement, spearheaded by figures including Paul Nowak of the Trades Union Congress and Christina McAnea of Unison, condemns the arrest and charging of former union members who participated in a peaceful demonstration on 18 January.
The signatories, which also include Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union and Mick Whelan of Aslef, call for all charges to be dropped against those arrested, including Alex Kenny, a former NEU executive member, and Sophie Bolt, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. They argue that the charges represent an attack on the fundamental right to protest, assembly, and free speech, which are essential to trade unions and the wider movement.
The arrests occurred during a pro-Palestinian march in London, where over 70 people were detained, including Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Chris Nineham of the Stop the War Coalition. The union leaders stress that Kenny, a longstanding activist and chief steward for the NEU strike demonstration in March 2023, has organised peaceful protests for decades.
This criticism follows earlier concerns from legal experts, MPs, and Amnesty International about the policing of the demonstration, with reports of kettling and police violence. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell were also voluntarily interviewed under caution but released pending further investigations.
The union leaders' statement comes amid frustration over the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action, a move that critics fear could criminalise legitimate protest. While the statement does not endorse the proscribed group, it emphasises the need to defend the freedoms to organise, assemble, and speak out.
