Trial #2, Day #1
Today was the first day of our comrade Sarah Cotte’s retrial. This is a desperate attempt by the British state to criminalise the pro-Palestine movement after failing to convict her in June under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
In court, the jury was selected and the prosecution made its opening remarks and began presenting its ‘evidence’. This included a video of Sarah speaking, private texts to prove her state of mind, as well as political petition sheets and newspapers.
Outside the court, the SOAS 2 Defence Campaign and Revolutionary Communist Group kept up a constant and militant protest for the duration of the hearing. We were joined by representatives of many different organisations, who came to extend their solidarity with Sarah and their support for the democratic right to free speech. These included IJAN, the Spartacist League/Partisan Defence Committee, Movement for Justice and Global Women’s Strike.
We also heard speeches from comrades also subjected to state repression:
- Kwabena Devonish, who was victorious in her fight against the same s12 charge Sarah now faces;
- Haya from the SOAS Liberated Zone, who is being prosecuted for using the inspirational Arabic word ‘Intifada’;
- The Filton 25, seven of whom were also in court today following an earlier failure to convict them and who face a retrial in 2028.
The pro-Zionist British state is desperate to convict activists who stand with the risen people of occupied Palestine in their just fight for freedom. But their police, courts and prisons do not intimidate us. We stand alongside Sarah and all those who face criminalisation for their steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
We will be back at the Old Bailey on Tuesday 15 September from 10am and Wednesday 16 September from 1.30pm. Join us! An injury to one is an injury to all!
