Amended Motion 101
Defend the Right to Protest
That this Congress notes that:
- on January 18th 2025, the Metropolitan Police arrested upwards of 70 anti-war activists during the first national demonstration for Palestine of 2025;
- Chris Nineham, the demonstration’s chief steward, and Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, were arrested and charged under the Public Order Act (2023). Both Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonell were interviewed under police caution. Forty leading legal academics wrote to the Home Secretary following the demonstration warning of a ‘dangerous assault’ on the right to protest;
- this repression comes against a backdrop of escalating attacks on our hard-won democratic right to protest, targeting trade unionists, climate activists and many others. These abuses of the state’s power are, consequently, of our movement’s utmost concern;
- this repression does not stop at the border. In September, five peaceful protestors with Palestine Action Scotland were sentenced to between 12-14 months in prison; and
- furthermore, dozens of protestors have been arrested during peaceful Palestine solidarity activity in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow since October 2023. “The latest Aberdeen arrests followed a Police response that saw 16 police officers, including two firearms officers dispatched to deal with 11 protesters exercising peaceful BDS action.
“Congress calls on the STUC General Council to:
- submit a Freedom of Information Request to Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Justice Minister to establish their strategy towards policing pro-Palestine demonstrations in Scotland and publish the response; and
- express solidarity with those facing prolonged prison sentences for peaceful protest now and in future.”
Mover: STUC Youth Conference
Seconder: Aberdeen Trades Union Council
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