Defend the right to protest for Palestine

As the protest movement for a ceasefire in Gaza grows, the government is threatening a crackdown.

Home secretary Suella Braverman has called the demonstrations “hate marches”, while prime minister Rishi Sunak has claimed that there is a risk that “war memorials could be desecrated” during protests – without any evidence.

The government has also claimed that flying a Palestine flag may be considered a crime and even said it could use its powers to ban marches.

Plans for a new legal definition of extremism also target pro-Palestinian groups – powers Amnesty says could “criminalise dissent”.

As Israel’s war on Gaza claims thousands of lives every week, we need to defend the right to call for a ceasefire now and the right to march for peace.