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Defend Solidarity With Palestine! Zionism Is Racism!

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On Saturday 8 February, Daniel Green, a black pro-Palestine activist was singled out for arrest on an anti-Zionist demonstration organised by the  Revolutionary Communist Group  in Nottingham. The picket was of HSBC, targeted for its funding of arms companies supplying the racist Israeli state. Daniel was the only black person on the protest, and the only one to be targeted. This wrongful and racist arrest must be put into the context of the ongoing campaign to criminalise opposition to Zionism (a form of racism) – both in Palestine itself, and in Britain especially following the adoption of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. An example of ‘anti-semitism’ under the IHRA is the statement that ‘Israel is a racist endeavour’. The arrest of this activist shows that the criminalisation of support for Palestine is well underway.  To get involved in defending the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle and against Isr
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Fighting the Criminalisation of Palestine Solidarity

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On Saturday 14 March, we held a public meeting titled ‘Fighting the Criminalisation of Palestine Solidarity’. We were delighted to be joined by Tony Greenstein, Brighton-based Jewish anti-Zionist activist and founding member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Charlotte Kates, international co-ordinator for Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Support Network. Both were early supporters of the Zionism Is Racism Defence Campaign. The final speaker was Daniel - the campaign member around whose racist arrest on 8 February our campaign has been built.  Greenstein spoke first and recounted the history of the IHRA definition of anti-semitism which is, in fact, neither a definition nor concerned with anti-semitism but is he said instead a tool for silencing free speech on Palestine. Greenstein denounced Zionism as an anti-semitic standpoint because Zionism adopts the anti-semitic view that Jews are not in fact of the nation in which they live. It was not lost on him that the earlie
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Victory! Investigation dropped

We have received confirmation that Nottinghamshire Police are dropping their investigation against Daniel! Thanks to everyone who has supported the campaign to achieve this victory.  We will continue to push ahead with our legal case against the police - we are taking them to court for unlawful arrest to show them that they cannot get away with their attempts to intimidate Palestine solidarity activists.  We will also still be hosting our two upcoming events (See below). Having successfully fought off this attempt to criminalise Palestine solidarity, we will continue to stand up in solidarity with the resistance of the Palestinian people.  Zionism Is Racism!  Defend Solidarity with Palestine! ————— Event 1: Public Meeting: Fighting the Criminalisation of Palestine Solidarity | Saturday 14 March | 1pm | Room BTS329, Boots Library, Nottingham Trent University, Goldsmith Street NG1 5LS First up, we will be hosting our Public Meeting 'Fighting the Criminalis
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Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign pledges its support

We thank Nottingham Palestine Solidarity for their pledge of support for our campaign and are delighted to publish their statement of support: "Zionism in the 21 st century can be understood as a political ideology that seeks to maintain a Jewish state that privileges the rights of Jewish Israelis above Palestinians, and that seeks to maintain a permanent Jewish majority, via a range of policies and laws that discriminate against Palestinians. To confuse – whether deliberately or otherwise – legitimate criticism of the laws of the Israeli state or acts or policies of Israeli Governments with antisemitism only serves to undermine the struggle against racism.   We must protect our right to stand up against the dispossession of a people and to oppose the continuing oppression of Palestinians, whether living in the occupied territories, resident as second class citizens in Israel or living elsewhere as refugees. The racist laws acts and policies of the state of Israel must be amon
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Important Upcoming Events

Our campaign is continuing to build its fightback against the criminalisation of solidarity with Palestine. We have two major events coming up this month. Please join us and get involved in the fight. If you can't join us, promote the meetings far and wide! 1.  Public Meeting: Fighting the Criminalisation of Palestine Solidarity | Saturday 14 March | 1pm |  Room BTS329, Boots Library, Nottingham Trent University, Goldsmith Street NG1 5LS First up, we will be hosting our Public Meeting 'Fighting the Criminalisation of Palestine Solidarity' - this meeting will be an important chance to discuss where those who stand in solidarity with Palestine should go next. All are welcome. Exact panel speakers are yet to be confirmed.  Facebook event: https://tinyurl.com/rbyay2a 2. Demonstration: Speak Out For Palestine | Saturday 28 March | Meet at 11am outside HSBC, Clumber Streetm NG1 3GA, before moving off to picket Nottingham Central Police Station.  Join us outside HSBC (w
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New message of support from Rhea Barnes, 2019 Labour parliamentary candidate for Argyll and Bute

We have received the following message of support from Rhea Barnes, 2019 Labour parliamentary candidate for Argyll and Bute: "I am extremely concerned by and condemn the arrest of a young left wing activist by Nottingham Police Force.  In the footage taken of the incident the activist makes the connection between Zionism and racism and for this he is forcabiliy handcuffed and arrested. Criticism of Zionism and the actions of Israel are not antisemitism and it is dangerous to make this assertion. To do so stifles and silences free speech and criticism of Israel's past and present crimes against the Palestinian people.  Instead of arresting young activists on politically motivated charges of antisemitism, perhaps that energy could be better spent tackling real incidents of racism and bigotry that menace our society and the very real threat presented from the resurgent right in the UK.  I sincerely hope that this incident does not become a regular occurrence and
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Taking Nottinghamshire Police to court

On Monday we submitted all the necessary documents to our solicitor to open our case against Nottinghamshire Police. We are taking them to court for unlawful arrest. We will not sit back and allow Nottinghamshire Police to criminalise solidarity with Palestine. Zionism Is Racism; we have a right to say so; and we will not be intimidated! Keep an eye out for progress on the case.
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Pledge your support! Join Samidoun, Tony Greenstein, The Revolutionary Communist Group, and more

The Zionism Is Racism Defence Campaign welcomes support from everyone who stands in solidarity with the Palestinians. Offering us a pledge of support will help us to let Nottinghamshire Police know that people are paying attention and that their actions will not go unresisted.  Our latest message of support has come from Tony Greenstein, longstanding Jewish anti-Zionist who was kicked out of the Labour Party for his support for the Palestinian people. He wrote: Of course I support you. The decision of Nottinghamshire Police is outrageous, an attack on free speech and when the comrade concerned is cleared, as I'm sure he will be, then the bastards in Nottinghamshire Police should be sued for false and malicious arrest. Tony’s name has been added to our growing list of supporters: Revolutionary Communist Group Samidoun Prisoner Solidarity Network Tony Greenstein, Anti-zionist Jewish activist Rhea Barnes, Former Labour Candidate for Argyll and Bute אֶסְתֵּר ,
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