TWENTY-TWO union general secretaries raised “deep concern about the erosion of the right to peaceful protest” in an open letter today, urging the Metropolitan Police to drop charges against four Palestine march leaders.

Paul Nowak of the TUC, Christina McAnea of Unison, Sharon Graham of Unite and the National Education Union (NEU’s) Daniel Kebede were among those who said that the charges against former union members who took part in peaceful protest on January 18 mark “an attack on our right to protest.”

The signatories together represent the vast majority of British trade union members.

The former NEU executive member Alex Kenny and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Sophie Bolt were arrested alongside more than 70 other people including director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham, the vice-chair of the Stop the War coalition.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell were also voluntarily interviewed under caution in relation to the march.

In the joint statement — whose signatories also include Matt Wrack of the NASUWT, Eddie Dempsey of the RMT, Fran Heathcote of PCS, Steve Wright of the FBU, Dave Ward of the CWU and Mick Whelan of Aslef — the union leaders said: “We are deeply concerned that the Metropolitan Police are bringing charges against former NEU executive member Alex Kenny and Sophie Bolt, CND secretary, following the peaceful protest for Palestine in London on January 18. 

“Alex Kenny is a long-standing, and widely respected, trade union activist who has organised peaceful demonstrations in London for decades. 

“We believe these charges are an attack on our right to protest. The right to protest is fundamental to trade unions and the wider movement. 

“The freedoms to organise, of assembly and of speech matter; we must defend them. 

“We call for the charges against Alex Kenny, Sophie Bolt, Chris Nineham and Ben Jamal to be dropped.” 

Dozens of legal experts called for an independent inquiry into the Met’s policing of the demonstration earlier this year.

MPs, peers and Amnesty International also expressed concerns about the policing of it, urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to review legislation limiting protest which was introduced by the Conservative government.

Stop the War’s Mr Nineham welcomed the “strong statement,” adding: “The recognition that these charges are not just an attack on the leadership of the Palestine movement, but that they go to the heart of the wider movement and the freedom of assembly, is important.

“They are also a political attack designed to suppress solidarity with the Palestinian people, and to intimidate anyone wanting to protest peacefully against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as the message of our marches increasingly breaks into the mainstream. 

“We are confident that this kind of massive movement, with society-wide support, can put a stop to these most authoritarian of measures.”

A spokeswoman for Momentum said: “The right to protest is a basic civil liberty — and must be treated as such.

“We stand with the 22 trade unions in defending our democratic freedoms.”

Protesters demanded charges were dropped against Mr Jamal and Mr Nineham as the pair last attended Westminster magistrates’ court on July 7.

They had their trial date for alleged public order offences postponed to February 2026 — by when the charges will have hung over them for more than a year.

A further “defend the right to protest” demonstration will be held to demand charges are dropped against Ms Bolt and Mr Kenny outside the court in central London on July 31.

The pair were informed they would be charged as the Home Office pushed ahead with plans to ban Palestine Action under terror laws earlier this month.