Defend our Juries!

another defiant protester arrested

By New Worker correspondent

The Met police arrested over a hundred anti-genocide supporters outside Westminster Magistrates Court at the Defend Our Juries Graduation Day which began at midday on 30th July. Sir Jonathon Porritt, advisor to King Charles for 30 years before he was crowned, was one of them. As police escorted him away he said “I am a supporter of Palestine Action. Trying to save lives is not terrorism. Exposing this Governments complicity in genocide is not terrorism”.
They were protesting outside the Court where the hearings relating to 1855 people charged under the Terrorism Act for holding paper signs were proceeding. The court is refusing to explain why these hearings are listed, when many of those to whom the hearings relate have been told that it would be adjourned. 
Two campaigners were arrested while trying to access the court area for the listed hearing, and two others were held under an unspecified charge while they were setting up a small stage for the event. Others were arrested under the terrorism act for “addressing a crowd” and, separately, for declaring their support for Palestine Action.
This is all the result of Labour’s absurd ban on Palestine Action, a direct action group whose only purpose was to dismantle weapons used in Israel’s genocide.

Keep talking about Palestine!

by New Worker correspondent

Irish rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara (My Friend), appeared in a London court to fight a terrorism charge over allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. Surrounded by hundreds of supporters, the Kneecap band member said the case was a distraction from Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The Kneecap rapper was released on unconditional bail after appearing in court over terror charges, after he was allegedly seen in concert videos waving a Hezbollah flag.  Outside the Westminster Magistrates’ Court after the hearing, O hAnnaidh told fans to “keep talking about Palestine, keep calling out genocide, that’s the real story,This is just another distraction”.

Kneecap supporters rally outside court

by New Worker correspondent

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court this week to support a member of an Irish rap group charged under the terrorism laws of displaying a flag of a proscribed Lebanese resistance movement at a gig.
Kneecap founder Mo Chara, the stage name of Liam O’Hanna, appeared in court charged with displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the 02 Forum in north London on 21st November. The Kneecap trio have rejected the charges claiming it is "political policing" and saying that they will "vehemently defend" themselves.  
 Meanwhile, real war criminals get to evade justice with the full backing of the British government, while innocent unarmed men, women, and children are being slaughtered in the name of 'self-defence'. Despite the pandemonium, the large crowd was buoyant and defiant in their support with a range of speakers and music present.