TRADE unions and civil society groups vowed today to form a “Witness Bloc” at the Defend Our Juries mass protest this Saturday.

Black Lives Matter UK, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Cage International and International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK are among civil society groups, representing more than 500,000 people, that will join to “bear witness to Metropolitan Police’s use of terrorism powers.”

The general secretaries of the National Education Union and Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union were, meanwhile, set to address an emergency meeting last night to “discuss how we can unite and push back against repression while building a mass movement which can bring the machinery of war and genocide to a permanent halt.”

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote told the Morning Star: “This Labour government will go down in ignominy for being the government that oversaw the largest mass arrest in a single day in British protest history — when nearly 500 peaceful protesters were arrested.

“That was the result of Labour’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action under counter-terrorism laws — placing a direct action group in the same category as al-Qaida and Isis.

“PCS will be taking this issue to the TUC next week: seeking a united position from the trade union movement that the proscription of Palestine Action was authoritarian and wrong.”

The announcements come after the Metropolitan Police announced 114 people have now been charged under terrorism legislation, with ages ranging from 21-83, for allegedly supporting Palestine Action after its proscription on July 5.

Counter-terror police conducted dawn raids on the homes of seven key Defend Our Juries spokespeople, arresting them under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, hours before a planned press conference by the group.

All seven have been charged with terrorism offences and were released on bail today following appearances at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Black Lives Matter UK national organiser Kojo Kyerewaa said: “The Met’s own figures show the scale of this disturbingly authoritarian crackdown. Over 700 arrests for a simple phrase on a placard is not policing; it is blunt political repression.

“We are compelled to join this Witness Bloc because Yvette Cooper cannot be allowed to use terrorism laws to silence dissent against a live-streamed genocide.”