Morning Star Editorial: Solidarity on trial – how the state is redefining the right to protest

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/solidarity-trial-how-state-redefining-right-protest

THE conviction of Palestine Solidarity and Stop the War leaders Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham is a perfect example of the way in which Establishment values underpin the functioning of the state, its coercive apparatus — the police, and the Metropolitan Police in particular — and, as clearly demonstrated today, the judicial system.

Last year’s January 18 protest was one in a series of Palestine solidarity demonstrations in response to the Gaza genocide. By and large they passed without public order incidents and the police, no doubt conscious of the huge public support for the issue, proved careful and courteous in dealing with both organisers and participants.

In this particular case, however, a different mood developed. The police and intelligence organisations know full well — through long experience and with excellent sources of information — that the solidarity movement is in the business of shifting public opinion, not causing disorder.

The charitable will put the police conduct on the day down to incompetence and confusion. The less charitable to conscious design.

Let the legal representatives of the defendants and their organisations speak to the judicial bias exhibited by the court and let us go beyond the surface appearances of bourgeois justice to see how these parts of the system work together.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/solidarity-trial-how-state-redefining-right-protest