This article was republished from Class Consciousness Project

As I write this, it has been six weeks since the brave Palestinian resistance began the Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th. Since then, there has been an ongoing struggle against the Israeli occupiers as they have subjugated Palestinians in the West Bank to horrific treatment and have launched constant rocket attacks at civilian targets in Gaza causing the deaths of so many that this attack has been tantamount to a genocide.

Israel has also intensified their blockade of Gaza by removing access to essentials, including water and the Internet, the latter being an attempt to stop the world from seeing the atrocities being committed on the Palestinian people. Add to this that the Israeli Defence Force has killed nearly fifty reporters in the past month who had sought to tell the world the truth about the occupation.

This is not a new tactic by the Israeli occupiers. They have constantly attempted to control the narrative, trying to create mass consent for the ethnic cleansing of the native population of the region. And this doesn’t stop with Palestinians. Even in the imperialist countries, people are subjected to this propaganda war: To silence anyone who seeks to tell the world the truth about the Zionist regime.

There have been demonstrations all over the world protesting against Israel’s vastly increased attacks on Palestinians. Today Israel has been reported to have killed an estimated 15,000 Palestinians in their strafing of Gaza. The people on these demonstrations want to see in an end to the genocide and an end to the occupation. The most recent demonstration in London was one of the biggest yet with what is believed to be 300,000 people in attendances. Our comrades in the CPGB-ML were there too holding a stall like many other communist groups selling literature and handing out leaflets. This time the police, or someone informing them, have taken umbrage with them trying to spread understanding and arrested 4 of those on the stall including an NHS Surgeon and a 16-year-old boy! Their justification was under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, namely:

Section 5: (uses threatening, or abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening or abusive)

Section 21:( A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.)

These public order offences were apparently triggered by the sale of a pamphlet featuring on its cover a Star of David with a swastika entwined within it that conflates Zionism with fascism. The pamphlet itself is filled with actual historical events and helps to create an understanding of how Zionism came to fruition and how the state of Israel became what it is today. None of this had anything to do with the arrests made over the weekend. Only the symbolism on its cover.

Dr Ramjet Brar was arrested by police along with three other people, including a 16-year old, for distributing booklets which criticised Zionism

(picture: al Mayadeen)

I’d cast doubt on the arresting officers having any understanding of the contents of the pamphlet, even if they did attempt to read it. The police obviously knew what they were looking for and had decided to make an example of the those looking after the stall. They knew full well that these trumped-up allegations would not carry any weight, but they seem to be hoping to quieten down those that are offering unequivocal support of the Palestinian resistance.

The Class Consciousness Project utterly condemns this cynical act of policing of the distribution of information. These arrests are nothing short of harassment in an attempt to scare activists from participating in their activism. Rishi Sunak has already done as ordered and offered his unwavering support to the Israeli occupation. The capitalist classes will allow a certain level of protest: It’s quite apparent that Labour and their Trotskyite lackeys are left to wave their fists dramatically, but when it cuts closer to the bone, they demand examples are to be made.

We should not allow this “policing” to silence us. We should follow our comrades in the CPGB-ML and show unequivocal support of the Palestine resistance and to the truth about Zionism. We need to push harder, shout louder and not let their petty harassment knock us off course!

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!