Unions urge Met to drop charges against peaceful pro-Palestine protesters

More than 20 union leaders have expressed their deep concern over the apparent erosion of the right to peaceful protest, piling pressure on the Metropolitan police over its handling of pro-Palestinian marches at the start of the year.

- Aletha Adu

Paul Nowak of the Trades Union Congress, Christina McAnea of Unison, Daniel Kebede of the National Education Union, Matt Wrack of the NASUWT and Eddie Dempsey of the RMT are among 22 trade union general secretaries who have criticised the Met's decision to arrest and charge former union members who took part in a peaceful demonstration on 18 January.

The joint statement from the union leaders follows frustration shared over the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action, despite concerns the move could risk criminalising legitimate protests.

While the statement does not express support for the proscribed group, they say the arrest and subsequent charges brought against those who attended the peaceful pro-Palestinian march on 18 January mark an "attack on our right to protest".