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‘It's crucial to keep the Palestine movement on the streets’
Stop the War Coalition vice-chair CHRIS NINEHAM speaks to Ben Chacko about the repression of Palestine protests, civil liberties and the left's priority tasks
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Khalid Abdalla (front row fourth from right) join people taking part in a national march for Palestine on Whitehall in central London. Picture date: Saturday January 18, 2025

STOP the War Coalition vice-chair Chris Nineham was violently arrested a fortnight ago at a national march for Palestine.

Huge mobilisations in solidarity with the Palestinians have been taking place for 15 months, since Israel’s invasion of Gaza began. Early on, there were efforts to ban them from then home secretary Suella Braverman, but these backfired — she was forced to resign after summoning a far-right mob that attacked the Cenotaph on Armistice Day. Why the sudden crackdown now?

“From the very start of this cycle of protest, there have been unprecedented restrictions put in our way,” Nineham says.

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