Analysis

Words, pics, video: the ‘terrifying and brutal’ arrest of Stop the War founder Chris Nineham

Assault of Starmer’s police-state regime on anti-genocide, pro-human rights activism and journalism continues

Chris Nineham, a founder member of Stop the War and chief steward at today’s march for Gaza was violently arrested as he tried to speak to police on behalf of the peaceful marchers, many of whom were from Jewish anti-genocide groups. Around forty other apparently peaceful protesters were also arrested, including some with violence before the march even began.

Kathy McCubbing, who witnessed Nineham’s arrest, posted images and footage of the march. Palestine Solidarity Campaign posted video of the arrest, which is shown at the end of this article. McCubbing described the ‘terrifying and brutal’ treatment of Nineham by police, who blocked the march from following its agreed route after pressure from pro-Israel groups:

Great solidarity at today’s rally in London for Gaza… spurious reasons had been put forward to stop the march to the BBC, whose coverage of Gaza has been scant and misleading, and very, very biased (even according to its own journalists).

The crowds broke through police cordons at the top towards Trafalgar Square and then the crowds were asked to move aside to let the march organiser coalition lead the march.

They reached another police cordon by the Sainsbury wing of the National Gallery and halted. Chris Nineham from Stop The War said “there are 50,000 people behind us” and he was snatched, jumped on and dragged along the ground to waiting police vans where he was arrested. It was terrifying and brutal. I’d be surprised if he isn’t injured.

Large numbers of those arrested in Trafalgar Square are said not even to have broken the police line in front of the march, but to have arrived in Trafalgar freely from Charing Cross Station, a direction that was not blockade, before being kettled and many arrested, including potentially tourists trying to visit the Trafalgar Square tourist attraction.

Former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s comment on Nineham’s arrest.
A pregnant woman was physically dragged away by police as the march progressed.

Police attempted to force the marchers to disperse:

After going forward to try to explain that with 50,000 people behind him it wasn’t possible to change course and that the marchers were looking to lay wreaths to commemorate murdered Palestinian children, Nineham was brutally arrested:

While the march was peaceful, a pro-Israel demonstrator was arrested after repeatedly punching a pro-Palestine marcher in the face.

The Starmer regime’s war on anti-genocide, pro-human rights activism and journalism continues to escalate. Pro-Palestine groups have called for urgent support at demonstrations outside four London police stations where the arrested peace activists are being held.

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4 comments

  1. Aktion T4 rolling along with out much of a ado untill the peasants wake up to this government

  2. The fundamental question to ask at this time should be concerned with the issue of why our government is prioritizing the interests of a genocidal settler-colonial project over the basic right of the citizen to peacefully protest against official support for such an entity.
    Just as with the situation in Ukraine, our government are heavily invested in the losing side.
    Basically, the system under which we live is now in terminal decline, and the powers that be have entered “survival mode” in order to protect a status quo that intelligent people can see through.
    The “Corbyn Moment” was stymied, but the ideas are still there, waiting to be taken up again, and that frightens the Establishment.

  3. DEFUND BBC NEWS. Murdered Palestinian children have names. BBC News doesn’t even consider them statistics worth knowing.

    Defund BBC News. Its coverage of Gaza is scant, misleading and biased.

    Defund BBC News. It only tells us what our rulers need us to believe.

  4. “The fundamental question to ask at this time should be concerned with the issue of why our government is prioritizing the interests of a genocidal settler-colonial project over the basic right of the citizen to peacefully protest against official support for such an entity.”

    And Ludus not just that. but apparently prioritizing those interests over fixing a legal system trashed by the Tories where victims of serious crime wait literally years for any semblance of justice and the prisons are filled to overflowing.

    And not least, we are daily told of those ‘tough/difficult choices/decisions’ which result in ever growing poverty. Apparently though it is a very easy decision to spend taxpayers’ money on persecuting peaceful protestors….

    Starmer brings shame on the UK and how any right thinking person can remain in the Labour Party I do not know.

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