'Keep speaking up for Palestine' say campaigners at rally for Kwabena
A hundred join demonstration at Bristol Crown Court
A hundred activists rallied outside Bristol Crown Court on 17 January in solidarity with Kwabena following a pre-trial hearing in her case after being charged under the Terrorism Act in connection with a speech at a demonstration in November 2023.
The Justice for Kwabena campaign has attracted support from a wide range of organisations, launched a petition which has gathered over 3000 signatures including trade union leaders and figures from national campaigns including Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Supporters of the Cardiff-based activist gathered outside the court at 12 noon on 17 January in a show of solidarity.
Hussein Said for the Justice for Kwabena campaign said:
“In the months since Kwabena heard that she was being charged, we’ve seen Israeli leaders indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Meanwhile Israeli forces have continued to destroy hospitals, commit mass atrocities and kill healthworkers, journalists and thousands of Palestinian civilians. Yet the Crown Prosecution Service is continuing to pursue a political trial against Kwabena. Thousands of people are outraged by this attempt to bully and silence a courageous campaigner for justice.
Protests at these hearings are so important. We are grateful for the support of the Bristol community and the Cardiff community which has travelled to Bristol to say that they do not stand for these charges and that they stand for Kwabena, and they stand for justice and they stand for Palestine”
The Muslim Association of Britain said in a statement read out at the protest:
“Successive UK governments have displayed a troubling obsession with silencing criticism of Israel. Suppressing activists like Kwabena, who advocate for human rights and the enforcement of international law, reflects an authoritarian approach to political dissent. The Muslim Association of Britain believes the government’s protective stance towards Israel reinforces its sense of impunity, undermines Britain’s core values, and erodes freedoms that generations fought hard to secure. Silencing Kwabena’s pursuit of justice is yet another example of the ongoing erosion of free speech in this country.”
Local trade unionists and activists joined the demonstration, including Jon Reddiford from the National Education Union, who told the protest:
“The attempts to re-route the national march for Palestine tomorrow and prevent the national march assembling at the BBC are part of the same attempt to clamp down on protest movements that we see in the court in Bristol. That’s why we will be marching on the streets of London and why it is vital we continue to resist. It is vital we show our strength on the streets as a movement, because that is the only way we are going to defeat this repressive legislation and end the awful treatment of people like Kwabena and other protesters who have quite legitimately come out in support of the Palestinian people and their right to resist. The National Education Union entirely supports this campaign because we understand that repressive legislation which is used against Palestine protesters today will be used against trade unions tomorrow. We are part of the same fight.”
Faiza Mahamud from Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign said:
“The prosecution of Kwabena’s is a prosecution directed at all of our freedom of speech. I have had the pleasure of hearing Kwabena speak, not only on topics like Palestine, but also about imperialism, anti-racism and the ongoing colonialism in the world. Infringing this freedom of speech right now is the thin edge of the wedge. If we don’t stand up for Palestine, it will infringe on other things we are passionate about, other rights that we have. It is very important for us to keep using our voices.
What Kwabena said in Cardiff isn’t unique, we have been screaming and shouting this across the UK, and been asking for the end to UK arms sales to Israel, but just a bus ride away, these weapons are still being made. We have very, very brave people putting themselves on the line, and putting themselves in harm’s way, for the Palestinian right to live. It’s scary but we should stay vocal in our workplaces, in our schools, so don’t shy away from speaking about Palestine.”
What you can do:
Donate to the fundraiser: https://gofund.me/eb62b991
Ask friends, colleagues and family to sign the solidarity statement https://www.change.org/justiceforkwabena
Pass a resolution in your union branch: https://justice4kwabena.substack.com/p/call-to-action-mobilise-for-kwabenas
Follow us on social media and share to spread the word https://www.instagram.com/justice4kwabena/ https://x.com/Justice4Kwabena
Kwabena’s next court hearing in this case will be 1 August - put the date in your diary