On 24 March, a large crowd of protesters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates Court to show their support for our comrade Sarah, one of the SOAS 2, as she attended her first court hearing. Supporters of the SOAS 2 also filled the court’s public gallery. This powerful demonstration marked the beginning of a campaign to defend the SOAS 2, students who face terrorism charges for defending the right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation and genocide by the Zionist state.
The protest was organised by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and joined by supportive organisations, including International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK, Movement for Justice, the Partisan Defence Committee and Young Struggle. Each group took to the open microphone to express their solidarity with Sarah and her co-arrestee, who has yet to be formally charged.
A representative from the Revolutionary Communist Group emphasised the importance of this case for all those who are up against the British state: ‘As we know, first they come for the communists, the socialists, the anti-imperialists and, as we’ve seen, environmental campaigners – and eventually they will come for all those who speak out and organise, against racism, deportations, poverty, injustice of any kind. This is a struggle that concerns us all.’
The Partisan Defence Committee called for principled unity between left organisations. ‘It’s clear that the state is bent on making an example of anyone who would stand up to the oppression of British imperialism’.
A Movement for Justice speaker urged, ‘Everyone in the movement has to come and mobilise and defend our comrades who have made a stand to help our sisters and brothers in Gaza, in Palestine.’
A Young Struggle speaker also emphasised the connection between struggles: ‘remember the raid on the Kurdish Community Centre [in North London in November 2024] …it is the same racist police, the same racist British state, that is attacking communities, especially communities struggling for national liberation’.
An International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK speaker compared the struggle against the Zionist state to the struggle against the former apartheid regime in South Africa.
In a powerful moment, comrade Sarah and other supporters who had been in the hearing emerged from the court building to the sound of massive cheers and chants. Comrade Sarah told the crowd: ‘We will not be silenced!’ The crowd assembled behind a six-metre banner spanning the entrance of the court, reading ‘Defend the right to protest for Palestine! Drop all charges now! Resistance is not terrorism!’
The support on the streets was matched by expressions of solidarity from afar. A petition launched on 11 March on change.org demanding that the charges against Sarah be dropped has so far been signed by over 1,600 people from London to Lebanon. Additionally, an open letter to the Crown Prosecution Service demanding the charges and all investigations against the SOAS 2 are dropped has already garnered support from over 45 international organisations, academics, activists, artists, journalists, legal professionals and trade unionists.
This show of strength is a sign that the SOAS 2 have many comrades behind them – collective action will be the key to victory.
Join us to protest at the next SOAS 2 court hearing: 11 April at the Old Bailey
Follow @defendsoas2 for campaign updates
