Building community led solidarity in the Stroud district to oppose the hatred of minorities and oppressed people arising from false and harmful information
Join us and other groups across Gloucestershire on Saturday 30th August from 12.30pm outside the Ibis Hotel in Gloucester, GL4 3DG
Take a stand in solidarity with people seeking asylum who are being threatened by a far right protest advertised to take place at 2pm at the Ibis Hotel in Gloucester where people seeking asylum are living.
Groups across Gloucestershire are working together to hold a non-confrontational counter protest. We won’t let the far right scapegoat people seeking refuge for the problems in this country – we won’t be divided.
Groups supporting the counter-protest include the Unite Community branch for Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Swindon; Gloucester Trades Council; the South West region of the Public and Commercial Services Union; Unison Local Government branch; Stroud Against Racism; Stroud District Together With Refugees; Forest of Dean Stand Up To Racism, Palestine Solidarity Campaign Stroud District, Na'amod Gloucestershire, The RYSE, Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition, Stroud District Green Party, Communist Party Gloucestershire, and us at Community Solidarity Stroud District.
Please join us and spread the word!
Key info & guidance
The far right say their protest will start at 2pm, we need as many people as possible to be there plenty of time beforehand – so we are meeting from 12:30pm.
The location is a 35 minute walk from Gloucester train/bus station, but there are buses. Bus 8 to Brockworth at 12noon leaves a walk of 17 minutes.
Bus 62 at 11.10am Stop C Stroud Merrywalks will connect with Bus 8 to Brockworth.
Please ensure you travel to and leave the site with others if at all possible, we do not know what the far right protest will be like but counter-protestors are often targeted for violence. Stay safe – don’t travel alone.
Tell people where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
Wear ordinary clothing, cover up any campaign clothing and carry any campaign materials in a concealed way. It is best to leave jewellery at home. Please bring appropriate sanitary products if appropriate (it will be difficult to access a toilet)
Please bring water and snacks but please do not bring alcoholic drink or drugs
Bring medication that you may need (preferably in a prescription bottle) including inhalers if you are asthmatic, and keep a copy of emergency phone numbers and any medical information that someone may need to know
Don’t bring anything that you wouldn’t want to get searched by the police or arrested with – including anything that could be interpreted as a weapon such as a banner that requires poles
Please leave valuables at home
If bringing a phone, make sure it is fully charged. If arrested, the police have the power to take your phone and search it for evidence. Make sure it is locked with a passcode and switch off any facial and fingerprint unlocking technology. You may wish to bring a portable phone charger if you have one.
Do not engage with anyone who you think is far-right before you arrive at the point of counter protest – including shouting slogans. You have no idea what is around the corner
Please identify and listen to the stewards on the day. They are managing the event – please follow instructions to leave when they are made, in the safest way possible
Bring a notepad and pen to keep notes of any issues and the shoulder number of police officers.
Write key numbers on your arm (preferably under a sleeve). Include: an emergency contact, the number of the Green & Black Cross Protest Support line (London: 07946 541511). If you get arrested it’s important to be able to get in touch with the people you need to – even if your phone is out of battery. It’s a good idea to write down a friend or family member’s number and keep it with you.
Leave in groups, do not linger.
If you go to a cafe, bar, or pub after the event, do not do so in the vicinity of the protest. This could leave you behind and possibly going to the same place as members of the far right who could abuse you
When you know you are safe, let the people you informed about your intentions that you are safe
This guidance is not about being meek. It is about being smart and being able to contribute to the campaign work in the short, medium, and long run. It is about being organised. Stay safe so we can grow stronger.
Community Solidarity Stroud District exists to build community led solidarity in the Stroud district to oppose the hatred of minorities and oppressed people arising from false and harmful information.
The statement states: “The council is aware of planned protests scheduled to take place during the day on Saturday outside a hotel on the outskirts of the city, which is currently housing asylum seekers placed by the Home Office.
“The council recognises the right to peaceful protest, but strongly condemns any actions or rhetoric that incite division, fear, or hostility within our communities. Gloucester is proud of its long-standing commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive city, and we remain steadfast in our approach.”
Gloucester City Council leader, Jeremey Hilton (Lib Dem) said: “We will not tolerate intimidation or hate speech in our city.
“We understand that immigration and housing are complex issues that evoke strong feelings. However, we must ensure that public discourse remains respectful and rooted in facts. The safety and dignity of all Gloucester residents — including asylum seekers — is paramount. We will not tolerate intimidation or hate speech in our city.”
The council statement adds: “We are working closely with Gloucestershire Constabulary and our partners to ensure public safety throughout the planned demonstration.
Inspired by the symbolic ‘red line’ protests around the world, on the 16th of August CSSD joined hundreds of others to form a “Red Line For Gaza” stretching the full length of Stroud High Street. The line was a powerful demonstration against the daily atrocities occurring in Gaza by the IDF, a call for an end to the breaking of international law by the Israeli government, and a demand the UK government halts its supply of hardware and training to the Israeli military.
RED LINE FOR GAZA – SATURDAY AUGUST 16 11am – STROUD HIGH STREET
Join us on Saturday 16 August at 11am for the Red Line For Gaza – an action organised by the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition.
We will all gather at the top of Stroud High Street and assemble into a long line of people from the top to the bottom of the High Street.
WEAR RED.
We will be accompanied by the Stroud Red Band and a lone drummer will walk down the line, encouraging everyone to say in turn “This is my Red Line for Gaza”.
If you would like to say a reason for it being your Red Line, please do, for example “Starving children – this is my Red Line for Gaza”
The action will last for approximately 30 minutes after which everyone is invited to come down to Bank Gardens to gather and share thoughts about what this means for all of us.
Everyone is welcome, this is an inclusive event and hate speech will not be tolerated.
Meet at the top of the High Street at 11am for the event briefing and preparation
Far-right conspiracy theorists have claimed that the UN’s Agenda 2030 for sustainable development is a secret plan for a new world order that will control all our lives. Here we briefly outline Agenda 2030, examine the far-right’s myths, and list some genuine critiques of Agenda 2030.
What IS Agenda 2030 Really?
Agenda 2030 is the UN’s voluntary, non‑binding plan for sustainable development, adopted by 193 nations in 2015. It sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—from eradicating poverty to protecting ecosystems.
There is no enforcement mechanism. Each nation decides how, or if, to implement these goals.
How Did The Conspiracy Theory Begin?
1992 – The UN adopted Agenda 21, a similarly voluntary framework.
John Birch Society – A far‑right anti‑communist group reframed Agenda 21 as a plot for world government, property seizures, and “eco‑totalitarianism.”
Alex Jones – Infowars integrated Birch narratives into a larger “New World Order” storyline, linking Agenda 2030 with the “Great Reset.”
UK spread – Figures like Sandi Adams adapted these ideas to British politics, attaching them to planning issues like 15‑minute cities and low‑traffic zones
Myths vs. Facts
Myth
Fact
The UN will impose a one‑world government.
Agenda 2030 is voluntary; the UN has no enforcement power.
Agenda 2030 abolishes private property.
The SDGs promote secure land access and property rights.
15‑minute cities are a UN plot.
15‑minute cities are local planning ideas, not UN mandates.
Agenda 2030 is about depopulation.
The SDGs address healthcare, poverty, and equality; no population control measures exist.
Agenda 2030 removes national sovereignty.
Nations retain full sovereignty; each defines its own approach.
Legitimate Critiques: The Real Conversations
While conspiracy theories distract from reality, serious critiques exist—and they’re important:
Technocracy & Democratic Deficit
Critics argue that the SDGs are top‑down and overly technical, with limited democratic debate. Civil society often has token participation.
Neoliberal Framing
Scholars note that the SDGs work within a neoliberal growth model, avoiding systemic change in global economic structures that cause inequality and environmental harm.
Overambition & Lack of Enforcement
169 targets spread across 17 goals are difficult to track and fund. With no binding mechanisms, countries can sign on for PR without real change—what some call “SDG‑washing.”
Growth vs. Sustainability
Economists question whether endless GDP growth can truly be reconciled with environmental limits, noting a lack of transformative policy on consumption and energy.
Why This Matters
Conspiracies like “Agenda 2030 is a world government plot” create fear and mistrust—but also serve to shield the SDGs from the legitimate critiques they deserve. If we move past disinformation, we can have better debates about:
Whether the SDGs challenge or uphold the economic status quo
How democratic the process really is
Whether we need alternative models (degrowth, post‑growth, or Buen Vivir)
In short: Agenda 2030 isn’t a UN plot to control your life—but it is a political project worth debating on real terms.
How to stop the Fascist Creep, Sunday 11th May 2025
Estimated 2 minute total read time
Summary of discussions
What struck you about what you heard, any reflections?
Below is a word cloud generated from the reflections in the different groups. Larger words indicate more frequent mentions. Prominent themes include freedom, media, right, community, fear, healthcare, trust, inclusion, safety, and empathy — highlighting deep concerns around societal division, personal rights, and the impact of political narratives.
Below is a summary of group discussions on “What can be done to help prevent fascist creep locally?”
Build Stronger, Inclusive Communities
Create community hubs, youth clubs, informal gathering spaces, and projects like community games.
Encourage cross-cultural dialogue, twinning programs (e.g. Somali Kitchen & local farms), and events that bridge divides.
Promote welcoming, inclusive environments that actively counter “othering”
Foster Conversations & Human Connection
Hold open, non-judgmental conversations—even with those you disagree with.
Use compassionate communication and deep listening practices.
Avoid shaming; instead, encourage dialogue with “far-right hesitant” individuals.
Host Q&As, debates, and storytelling events to humanize perspectives.
Better Communication & Storytelling
Create compelling narratives through positive storytelling, arts, and media (especially social media).
Use branding, creative messaging, and counter-narratives to challenge fascist framing.
Start local blogs, stalls, and community media to amplify local voices, e.g. amplifystroud.com
Share facts with clarity—use cribsheets, history-based messaging, and simple language.
Education & Awareness
Encourage critical thinking, media literacy, and awareness of propaganda (including algorithms, influencers like Andrew Tate).
Develop youth-led political education projects and outreach.
Address unconscious bias and promote understanding of fascism, history, and social impact.
Action, Activism & Civic Engagement
Get active: attend events, support anti-poverty services, and show up visibly (e.g. in streets, at councils).
Promote bystander training, accountability, and community resilience programs.
Campaign for electoral reform, engage with MPs, and challenge disinformation.
Support public services (like free transport, housing, healthcare) to reduce social precarity.
Creativity, Culture & Hope
Use art, comedy, and shared experiences to connect and uplift.
Promote hope and empathy as guiding principles.
Model the behaviour you want to see—compassion, courage, and kindness.
If you’re interested in exploring any of the above in collaboration with us, please contact us!
Below are the references to Jade Bashford’s introduction, based on her decades of work in this area, and the text of Judith Large’s short talk.
If you’d be interested in being kept in the loop re what’s going on locally in Stroud District around food and growing, please get in touch and we can connect you.
“Over the past year we have seen a steep increase in the visibility of far right and fascist ideology in the UK- from the xenophobic and racist riots last summer, to a surge in support for anti-migrant parties like Reform. The food and farming world has been especially targeted by right wing ideologues, such as through the No Farmers NoFood campaign and protests. A lot of our members have been speaking out and mobilising against the right wing co-optation of landwork, rural communities and discourses around food sovereignty.
In this session we looked at the connections between agroecology and anti-fascism, deepening our understanding of how rightwing ideas creep into farming communities; and we explored how the LWA can take a stand against this.”
Who is hijacking fears about food and farming to recruit people to harmful ideas? [talk by Judith Large]
My thanks to the co-panelists for setting the scene so effectively.
Who is hijacking fears about food and farming to recruit people to harmful ideas?’ I have been asked to address this question and would like to do so in two ways; first by looking at well documented precedents, at Examples of the co-option of rural and farming concerns by populist/nationalist and ultimately fascist interests; and secondly by digging down into what is being said and promoted both in the public domain and in less visible social media from the far right to the wider farming community. Quite simply, when we see signs and merchandise saying ‘No Farmers No Food’ we do not always know what we are looking at. My concern is the raising of awareness, such that we may be better equipped to build resilience and offer healthy alternatives for the future of farming. .
So first to a bit of history, the time would be 1929 to 1939 and beyond, and a key name is Walther Darre, (do remember this name as we’ll refer to it again in about five minutes) who was influential during this decade Germany for promoting the ideology of ‘Blut und Boden’ which means Blood and Soil where “blood” represents race and ancestry, while “soil” expresses the concepts of territory, land. The essence of the theory is a mutual and long-term relationship between a people and the land that they occupy and cultivate. It is critically important here to remember that Jews were prohibited for centuries from owning land in much of central Europe. For so-called ‘white Aryans’(as promoted by Hitler) racial purity was seen as rooted in the soil in an ancestral, almost mystical way – a belief which contributed both to Nazi race supremacy thinking and to the doctrine of Lebensraum,.or Room for Living which justified Nazi expansion into surrounding lands displacing and enslaving peoples like the Slavs. Farmers, in this case still regarded as peasants were elevated to a central position in the Reich propaganda, and Darre was promoted from senior SS command to Reich Minister for Agriculture. Please hold this thought-as we move forward.
For there is no doubting the importance of farmers to any society, to any state, and in light of low food prices, the lifting of food subsidies or differences on climate policy they have flexed their muscle through tractor protests end mobilisation. Furious Dutch farmers changed the course of national politics between 2019 and 2023 in opposition to potential changes in regulation on nitrogen emissions – at one point 2,200 tractors blocked Dutch roads in the largest congestion display ever seen in the country. The official Farmers’ party now sits in coalition with the right wing in the Netherlands government. We have seen similar mass protests during the last year in France, Poland, Spain, Belgium and Hungary. In each case there are country-specific grievances and leadership. But a militant group the Farmers Defence Force is receiving direct assistance from a Hungarian think tank under Victor Orban, the self styled authoritarian promoter of the EU’s first illiberal state.
And what of Farmers Protests here? ‘No Farmers No Food’ is an effective slogan with a terrific offering of online branded merchandising. The simplicity of the slogan will appeal to many who feel disgruntled or fed up with government policies or their own personal predicaments. It boasts a larger membership than the National Farmers Union and was founded by one James Melville, a public relations specialist.
James Melville also sits on the board of Together, which has run campaigns against Covid-19 lockdowns, the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London and now Anti–Net Zero. Melville appeared with Russell Brand in an interview seemingly supporting the ‘Reset Theory’ (that a cabal of multinational interests designed/created Covid in order to collapse societies so that they could move in and take over through financial and digital means.
‘Resett’ is one of several conspiracy theories in play for the Far Right. Another has been voiced recently by both Nigel Farage and Jeremy Clarkson. Last November, speaking in front of around 50 tractors at Belmont Farm in North London, Farage suggested that the Labour government had a “sinister agenda” to acquire “lots of land because they’re planning for another five million people to come into the country”. Jeremy Clarkson writing in The Sun newspaper, that he was “convinced” that Labour had a “sinister plan” to “ethnically cleanse the countryside of farmers” to make room for “immigrants and net zero wind farms.”
This claim echoes the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which holds that progressive immigration policies are a mechanism to replace white people in the West, and has been cited by Donald Trump in recent months and derided by critics as white supremacist thinking. Then we have climate change denial as voiced by Justin Rogers, who co-founded Farmers to Action. Rogers, has spread conspiracy theories across his social media accounts. He has claimed that “climate change is one of the biggest scams that has ever been told”, propagated by “our governments and their puppet masters.” He claims that oil and gas are renewable, and that carbon dioxide cannot be dangerous because it “feeds plants”.
Rogers claimed that farmers were facing an “existential threat” from “anti-farming policies” including “net zero, solar panels, rewilding”. And it gets worse. In a video on his social media, Rogers criticises “greedy governments and corporations,” and says “they really do like to get their shekels”, a reference to Israel’s currency. This claim repeats an anti-semitic trope accusing governments of being controlled by a shady Jewish cabal.
And this brings us full circle, to the way the recognised neo-Nazi far right in this country are cultivating an interest in Farmers protests as well. I refer to the group Patriotic Alternatives. And I would like to read two direct quotes from their website, the first from 2022:
“Farming in this country, as a whole, is a White man’s job. Most of the ethnicities that are available to be documented don’t even show up: just over 99% of farming in the UK is done by White people… Fields, food, animals, the countryside, the community: this is all important to us, this is a bastion of who we are that we cannot afford to surrender to the flood of globalists who want to corrupt it and destroy it…. Nationalists who are looking for a plot of land and finding the right area to start their own small farms could negotiate with others before going all-in to purchase a farm”
Overall, the Blood and Soil mantra remains popular among the British extreme right. An article on the PA website names Walther Darré as part of “a rich pedigree” of far-right environmentalist thought. Unsurprisingly, such ideologies are steeped in antisemitism and racism, with Jews and immigrant populations portrayed as cosmopolitan, rootless, urbanising people, devoid of respect for, or spiritual connection with, the land, and so posing an intrinsic threat to nature and rural traditions.
Once again rhetoric overlaps with the “White Genocide/Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which alleges that sinister, often-Jewish elites are encouraging migration into the West as part of a plot to destroy the white race. An article on the PA website titled “Ecocide” takes aim at George Soros, a frequent target of anti-semitic conspiracy theory, and his “co-conspirators”:
Another article on the PA website titled “Ecocide” takes aim at George Soros, a frequent target of antisemitic conspiracy theory, and his “co-conspirators”:
“few have done more to damage both the ecological and human equilibrium that has sustained the planet for millennia. By means of their NGOs, they have ferried invasive species across the Mediterranean […] Actions that have culminated in national governments spending billions to cement over bucolic landscapes in their rush to build accommodation for the “New Europeans” and tarmac over ancient woodlands to provide them with roads to aid their rapid access to social security offices, mosques and community centres where they can congregate and displace the indigenous species.”
How important then to cultivate counter-narratives; to demonstrate inclusion, transitional thinking and both local and national relevance for farming and the future. I look forward tour discussions, and to learning a great deal from you all.
This statement is one of solidarity, and one of intent. It is a response to the Labour government’s stated aim – made by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper – to “proscribe [ban] Palestine Action under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A draft proscription order will be laid in Parliament on Monday 30 June. If passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action”. This would mean those who “join” or express support for Palestine Action could face sentences of up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action is “a direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”. We believe their actions have been proportionate – and effective – and that they have public support.
We demand that the government ends all diplomatic, economic and military support for Israel, and withdraw their threat to proscribe Palestine Action.
In 2004, current Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended a man who broke into the nearby RAF Fairford base (which hosts US bombers) and attempted to set fire to military aircraft. This was part of a trial of five people who had broken into themilitary air base in 2003 and disabled equipment in order to disrupt military operations at the start of the Iraq War. Starmer argued in Court that the activists’ actions were justified because they were to stop an ‘illegal war.’ As in similar cases in which Palestine Action activists have faced jury trials, two of the defendants were acquitted in May 2007 after the jury accepted their actions were reasonable for trying to prevent war crimes. Palestine Action now faces proscription for the same protest action which Starmer had defended as legal – this time using only paint, not fire.
If the government goes ahead with their plans to proscribe Palestine Action, we signal our intention to make the proscription unworkable – to defy it, to encourage others to do so, and to assist people in taking actions similar to those taken by Palestine Action.
It is necessary to directly disrupt the production of weapons used in the genocide in Gaza and in the illegal occupation and apartheid conducted by the Israeli state, and to protest the companies and institutions complicit in this.
We know that not everyone who reads our statement will know who Palestine Action are, and may not support their actions. We don’t agree with everything people involved with the group have ever said or done. Crucially, we don’t think criminal damage or encouraging it with the aim of preventing killing should be prosecuted as terrorism.
We ask you to read more on our website (below), and consider the implications of defining these actions – even if you don’t agree with them – as “terrorism” very carefully. If you agree with our statement, we encourage you to take action, alongside us and many others:
What can you do?
Make similar public statements yourself, or through organisations you are members of – especially unions
To accompany our statement on Palestine Action we provide these additional notes to address the following questions:
Why is Community Solidarity Stroud District making a statement of solidarity?
How Israel is breaking International Law
What is Palestine Action?
Why did Palestine Action target RAF Brize Norton?
Is action by Palestine Action effective?
Is there public support for Palestine Action’s cause?
But isn’t what Palestine Action do fairly described as terrorism?
Isn’t Palestine Action antisemitic?
How can I get more information from Community Solidarity Stroud District?
Why is Community Solidarity Stroud District making a statement of solidarity?
We are making this statement because solidarity with other activist groups is important – we will not allow the government to single out a protest group in this way. We are making this statement alongside dozens of other organisations. This is necessary to show how farcical it is for Yvette Cooper to say that banning Palestine Action “does not affect lawful protest groups and other organisations campaigning on issues around Palestine or the Middle East”. We want the government to understand that if they “make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action”, they will be targeting us, as well as Palestine Action.
We are making this statement because the decision does not come in isolation – it continues a creeping authoritarianism and restriction of the right to protest. Some hoped that the new government elected in May 2024 would reverse or at least halt this trend, but the government is pursuing further restrictions that mean “the UK is moving out of line with other democratic states and closer into step with Russia and China”, according to experts. More than 20 legal organisations from around the world had already condemned “credible reports of serious violations of fair trial rights and other human rights of Palestine Action activists” and “called on the British authorities to “urgently cease the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation against the Filton 18” – 18 people imprisoned since August 2024 accused of “terrorism-connected” offences for action at the Filton, Bristol premises of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons company.
As Liberty say: “This a concerning escalation of how the Government treats protest groups and uses terrorism powers. Proscribing a direct-action protest group in this way potentially sets a new precedent for what we do and do not treat as terrorism.
“We’re worried about the chilling effect this would have on the thousands of people who campaign for Palestine, and their ability to express themselves and take part in protests. Proscribing Palestine Action would mean that showing support for them in any way – for example, sharing a post on social media or wearing a logo – could carry a prison sentence.
We are making this statement in the spirit of our core mission to oppose the hatred of minorities and oppressed people. The Palestinian people are an oppressed people – experiencing apartheid and occupation and – right now – a genocide; a “war of annihilation” waged against them by Israel (in the words of activists from the Israel-based organisation Standing Together);.
Finally, we are making this statement as a community group that values the power individuals and community groups have to shape the world. We believe politics is about more than elections, that protest is about more than placards. In explaining their approach, Palestine Action say “Rather than begging those who are complicit to gain a moral compass, we go straight to the source and shut down the production of Israeli weapons.” We believe taking action in this way can be proportionate, effective, and have broad public support – as in this case.
The actions Palestine Action takes are proportionate – their intention is to prevent killing, the destruction of property, and complicity in apartheid, occupation and genocide (see our section below on how Israel is breaking International Law).
The actions Palestine Action takes are regularly effective. In their words “Palestine Action has forced Israeli weapons factories to permanently close down, companies to cut ties with Elbit [Israel’s biggest weapons producer] and lost Elbit lucrative contracts worth £billions”
The cause of Palestine Action has public support. Juries have found individuals who have taken action on behalf of the group “not guilty” in several cases, having heard arguments that the actions were necessary to protect lives and property in Palestine.
The UK government is an active participant in the genocide in Palestine. It is supplying weapons – “The UK government approved $169m worth of military equipment to Israel in the three months that followed the Labour government’s partial suspension of arms exports over concerns they could be used unlawfully in Gaza”. The UK government is also collaborating with the Israeli military – through cargo transports, refueling, and ongoing training.
How Israel is breaking International Law
The actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and in the West Bank have been widely condemned, including as unlawful. On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “declared that Israel’s occupation of the Gaza strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful, along with the associated settlement regime, annexation and use of natural resources. The Court added that Israel’s legislation and measures violate the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. The ICJ mandated Israel to end its occupation, dismantle its settlements, provide full reparations to Palestinian victims and facilitate the return of displaced people.” On the 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, holding him “Allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.”
Even the UK Government’s formal position on Gaza and the West Bank acknowledges that the occupation of these territories and Israeli settlements within them are illegal: “The UK has a clear position on Israeli settlements: The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel since 1967. Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.”
We are a founder member of the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition because of these realities. This involves us attending weekly vigils, and sharing information about events organised by partner organisations in the coalition with our supporter audience of around 800 people.
What is Palestine Action?
In their own words, “Palestine Action is a direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime. Using disruptive tactics, Palestine Action targets corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex and seeks to make it impossible for these companies to profit from the oppression of Palestinians.”
Why did Palestine Action target RAF Brize Norton?
Flights leave daily for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East. The base is used for UK and US military cargo transports to the Israeli military, and for surveillance missions flown by the RAF in support of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The planes targeted were Airbus Voyagers, which can carry military cargo and have used to refuel Israeli/US/UK military aircrafts and fighter jets
Is action by Palestine Action effective?
Palestine Action say over a dozen companies have cut ties with Elbit, Israel’s largest weapon’s manufacturer, as a result of their actions to date. Here are some examples:
A machinery supplier took steps “as a direct result of [Palestine Action’s] targeted actions” to ensure they are no longer associated with Elbit Systems”, prompted by “activists abseiling inside Hydrafeed to dismantle their equipment, smashing through the front doors and spraying their premises in blood red paint”.
Metal casting manufacturerDean Group International “severed all ties with Elbit Systems UK subsidiary Instro Precision, and has promised never to work with Elbit Systems or its subsidiaries in the future”, less than three weeks after Dean Group was targeted by Palestine Action in a direct action campaign (in April 2025).
Is there public support for Palestine Action’s cause?
Recent polling (Opinium Research between 30 May and 2 June) showed “57 percent of people think the UK should impose a full arms embargo, with only 13 percent opposed. The poll also found 53 percent of people think Israel should be expelled from the United Nations, while 50 percent said Israeli products in supermarkets should be boycotted.”
This polling is consistent with earlier polling – in May 2024 “55% of people support[ed] the UK ending the sale of arms to Israel for the duration of the conflict in Gaza. Only 13% want[ed] to see the continuation of arms sales”. At that time “73% of people support[ed] an immediate ceasefire in Gaza… Only 8% believe[d] that there should not be one”. At that time “Only 18% of people polled approve of the [then Conservative] UK Government’s response, while even fewer, just 12%, approve of the response from Labour.”
While there is not polling indicating public attitudes to the disruptive action taken by Palestine Action, juries have found people not guilty when they have used arguments arguing the damage they have caused is justified by seeking to reduce killing and the destruction of property:
“On Thursday 5th October 2023, a jury unanimously found an activist from Palestine Action, Sohail Sultan, not guilty of criminal damage against Arconic… Arconic manufactures components and materials for Boeing Apache Helicopters and Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Jets. Both of these are routinely deployed by the Israeli military in aerial assaults on Gaza, including in the May 2021 bombardments which killed 230 Palestinians including 65 children”. A “not guilty verdict was reached after the jury deliberated on whether or not Sohail’s action was taken to immediately protect property in Palestine and in necessity to save lives.”
In December 2023, “eight Palestine Action activists who used direct action to shut down the Israeli weapons trade [were] acquitted of a total 12 charges which included criminal damage, burglary and encouraging criminal damage”. All eight had pled “not guilty to all charges on the basis that Elbit and Israel are the guilty party, not Palestine Action”, following occupation of three Elbit Systems drone/weapon factories, their London offices, and the offices of their landlords, Jones Lang LaSalle.
In May 2024, “Two activists from Palestine Action were unanimously acquitted of criminal damage by a jury in Leicester Crown Court”, having argued “the action taken was necessary in order to save lives and prevent the greater property damage in Palestine”. They had occupied the roof of UAV Tactical Systems, an Elbit drone factory in Leicester, “spray painted messages including “Shut Elbit Down” and “Free Palestine”, damaged a skylight to reveal a military drone inside and sprayed the building in blood red paint”.
But isn’t what Palestine Action do fairly described as terrorism?
In the context of the harm caused by Israel, this argument can seem preposterous, but it is a question worth answering.
Firstly it is worth noting that, in 2023, then Policing Minister Chris Philp stated that “Palestine Action does not meet the threshold for proscription as they do not commit, participate in, prepare for, promote, encourage, or otherwise be concerned with acts of terrorism.”
The definition of terrorism in the Terrorism Act is very broad, and in 2014 the senior lawyer tasked with reviewing the government’s terrorism legislation argued it had “begun to catch people it never really intended to catch”. The word is often selectively applied in ways that reflect an institutionalist Islamophobia or anti-Palestinian racism. “Prevent makes Muslim children unsafe. It renders schools sites of criminalisation and teachers informants in our classrooms… the intrinsic Islamophobia is no accidental byproduct: it is by design”.
In the past, destruction of weaponry has been treated as criminal damage – legal sanctions already exist without escalating consequences to the level of “terrorism”. And – crucially – juries have also acquitted people who have taken part in such activity in the past. In addition to the Palestine Action cases mentioned above, and the 2003 RAF Fairford example mentioned in our statement:
In 1996 four women disarmed an RAF jet bound for Indonesia with hammers, causing £1.5 million in damage – their argued they were preventing British complicity in East Timor genocide – a jury found them not guilty.
In 2017 two activists attempted to disarm Typhoon jets allegedly bound for Saudi Arabia. They were acquitted using a defence of acting in the greater good – trying to stop the UK government’s complicity in the destruction of Yemen
As Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director, Areeba Hamid, says: “Proscribing Palestine Action would be a grave mistake. Unlike al-Qaida, Wagner group and the other groups classed as ‘terrorist organisations’, Palestine Action does not advocate for violent armed action or for people to be harmed. They exist to decommission the weapons used to commit war crimes. Proscribing them would mark a dark turn for our democracy and a new low for a government already intent on stamping out the right to protest. The police already have laws to prosecute any individuals found guilty of a crime. And as a non-violent organisation with ‘peace’ in our name, we would never defend violence. But outlawing an entire organisation and all of its supporters would be a dangerous step.”
Isn’t Palestine Action antisemitic?
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) have claimed their dossier and demands for proscription have motivated Yvette Cooper. They argue “Palestine Action is at the vanguard of an activist movement that is severely disrupting the lives of British Jews” and that the group has “vandalised Jewish premises with impunity”. Neither of these claims bears any scrutiny.
The “Jewish premises” vandalised was the London-based landlords of ‘Discovery Park’ business park which Elbit’s Instro Precision weapons factory is situated in. Palestine Action said of the action: “Palestine Action’s direct action campaign involves targeting all those who facilitate, enable and profit from the operations of Israel’s biggest weapons producer. This includes landlords, recruiters, investors, suppliers, lobby firms, logistics firms and more. As a result, over a dozen companies have cut ties with Elbit to date. […] Instro Precision is a weapons maker owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons producer. The factory, which produces targeting gear for the Israeli military to commit genocide, is based in and leased by Discovery Park Ltd.”
The business was not targeted because its owners were Jewish, as is evident from the targeting of many businesses which are not Jewish owned, but which similarly have involvement with Elbit.
There has been a very concerning rise in antisemitism in recent years, and supporters of CSSD will know we have done what we can to challenge this locally (including on occasion with reference to work by the CAA). However, it is inaccurate to say that the Palestine Solidarity movement broadly or Palestine Action specifically are “severely disrupting the lives of British Jews” – this is a moral panic, and one that has an ugly taste in the context of a rise in other forms of racism including anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia, not to mention the genuinely “severe disruption” of Palestinian lives. Our anti-racism should be consistent – throwing baseless accusations of antisemitism as a strategy to undermine Palestine solidarity is entirely counterproductive to efforts to tackle and eliminate antisemitism.
Jewish people as individuals and organised in groups hold a variety of positions on Israel and Palestine. Many Jewish people feel affinity with Israel, and/or have family and friends who live there. Regrettably, some Jewish organisations who have strong ties to Israel seek to excuse or justify the recent actions of the Israeli government, and/or support Israeli policies that break international law, or far-right members of the Israeli government who express open hatred and genocidal intent. However, other Jewish groups oppose these positions, and campaign in solidarity with Palestinians. One example is Na’amod – a movement of Jews in the UK seeking to end the Jewish community’s support for Israel’s occupation and apartheid, and to mobilise it in the struggle for freedom, equality and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis. Several of the Jewish members of CSSD are also members of a recently formed local branch of this organisation: Na’amod Gloucestershire.
Na’amod UK says: “Plans to proscribe Palestine Action signal an alarming escalation of the UK government’s repression of our democratic rights. Branding the group a ‘terrorist organisation’ would render support for the group and its nonviolent tactics a criminal offence, with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment. The UK still provides military support to Israel as it massacres Palestinians daily. It is an indictment that rather than uphold its legal obligations to stop arming genocide, our government criminalises nonviolent action to disrupt it. We stand in solidarity with Palestine Action & against this attack on our freedoms.”
Nonetheless, it is worth adding some advice. There is evidence that the British government’s approach to Israel and to Palestine Action is influenced by lobbying. Referring to the factual details of this is obviously not antisemitic. But going beyond this to imply that this represents a foreign state or ‘Jewish conspiracy’ “pulling the strings” in Britain is worth avoiding. It’s not the case that either Israel, Zionists, or Jews run our government – rather, the British state has a long history of imperialism, colonialism, and applying the lessons learned repressing anti-colonial movements abroad here in Britain. After the British state’s actions in Iraq (to say nothing of the more distant past), the government’s current approach to Israel should not surprise us – it is sadly a far from unique example of involvement in violence, dispossession, and enshrining inequality in law. Yet, people living in Britain and in former (and current!) colonies have regularly forced the British state to retreat, and we hope this can be the case on this occasion.
How can I get more information from Community Solidarity Stroud District?
An open meeting hosted by Community Solidarity Stroud District
Sunday 25th May, 4-6pm, Trinity Rooms, Field Road, Stroud GL5 2HZ
Join us for an inspiring meeting learning from people involved in positive and practical projects around food and farming locally. We’ll explore people’s concerns about corporate control of the food system, the future of farming, and how concerns about food and farming are being hijacked to recruit people to harmful ideas.
Our speakers will discuss the following questions:
What can we do about food poverty? Many people cannot access enough/healthy food
Why are small farms struggling and failing? What will the impact of recent policy changes such as inheritance tax be?
What is working in farming like? How can working conditions in the UK and overseas be improved? How can we increase access to land for farming?
Will there be enough food for everyone in the future? How will climate change affect food security?
What is the impact of farming on biodiversity, the environment, and climate change, and how can we produce food more sustainably?
How can we challenge the power of supermarkets and other corporations?
Who is hijacking fears about food and farming – stoking fear and attempting to recruit people to harmful ideas?
What can we do about all this?!
Agenda:
4pm – event opens, time for settling and meeting people
4.10pm – Introduction by the Chair
4.20-5pm – Talks by our panel of speakers
4-5.30pm – Discussion in groups
5.30-5.45pm – Wrap up
5.45pm – Closing remarks by Chair and time to chat
6.00pm – Event ends
Chair and speakers:
Jade Bashford will chair the meeting. Jade is the Programme Manager for Ready Healthy Eat at the Real Farming Trust. She has previously worked on sustainable food projects for some years at a grass roots, national and international level. She was employed by the Soil Association for 14 years, in the Local Food Department. She has worked on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), set up a food hub and community orchards and has been the owner/director of an organic brewery and canteen. She has a smallholding in Stroud and keeps bees.
We will also be joined by Judith Large representing CSSD, Molly Scott Cato – local Green Party politician, economist and activist, and Eric – a farmer running Good Small Farms in Stroud.
Summary and social share buttons:
Please join us for this public meeting on Sunday 25th May from 4pm to 6pm at the Trinity Rooms, Field Road, Stroud GL5 2HZ. Please come along.
Community Solidarity Stroud District was formed 3 years ago by people who were concerned and alarmed that disinformation and racism were being spread in our town by groups and individuals aligned to the far right distributing The Light paper.
Disinformation is in the mainstream and the far right is organising and gaining strength. We can see this in the USA under Trump where disinformation is spread by the whole Cabinet, Germany with the AFD, The National Rally in France and in the rise of parties supporting racists like Steven Yaxley-Lennon and Nigel Farage in the UK.
Fuelled by the owners of social media sites, such as Elon Musk, it is using disinformation and infiltration to take advantage of people’s anger over falling living standards and inequality to divide our communities. Whilst those who spread the far right agenda claim that they are defending free speech and ‘truth’, they use every opportunity to assault it by spreading false information and promoting transphobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, climate change denial, Holocaust denial, and support for attacks on refugees and women’s rights.
How do you feel about the rise of the far right?
What do we value that we may lose?
How do we stop the fascist creep in Stroud?
Community Solidarity Stroud District is hosting an open event on Sunday 11th May from 2pm to 4pm at the Trinity Rooms, Field Road, Stroud GL5 2HZ where we can come together to discuss what more Stroud can do. Please come along.
We are offering a space for supervision of children (any age) so that people with caring responsibilities can engage with the event. And also, where appropriate, so we can facilitate and support children to engage themselves with the content of the event. There will be pens and paper, toys and games. Tosca who will be running the space has an Enhanced DBS and works with young people in Stroud.
Agenda:
14.00 – 14.15: Welcome and introduction
14.15 – 14.20: Groups- Ground rules
14.20-14.30: Introductions in groups
14.30 – 15.30: Core discussion 20 minutes per question.
How do you feel about the rise of the far right?
What do you value that we may lose?
How do we stop the fascist creep in Stroud?
15.30 – 15.45: Group reflections and feed back
15.45 – 16.00: Closing, next steps, and thank you.
Every week the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition – of which CSSD is a member – holds a vigil from 6-6.15pm outside the Sub Rooms forecourt in Stroud. Speeches are made to open the silent vigil, with banners and placards displayed, followed by announcements about relevant events. Speeches are given by representatives of the different groups that made up the coalition. On Friday 28th March 2025, Jeremy Green gave a speech on protests in Gaza and Israel in the previous week. You can watch it or read the full text below, and there are links to share it on Facebook/Instagram.
Last week Lis Parker stood here and spoke about Standing Together, the grassroots movement of Israeli Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel that aims to bring together Arab Israeli and Jewish Israeli communities in the struggle for Israeli-Palestinian peace, equality and social justice.
This week more than 100,000 Israelis have taken part in demonstrations against the Netanyahu government’s decision to end the ceasefire and return to war. Polls show a majority of Israelis are against the end of the ceasefire and want negotiations to continue. Many feel this return to war is a betrayal and that Netanyahu and his government are forsaking the remaining hostages, leaving them to die in Gaza. Israelis are also protesting what they say is a threat to their democracy, as Netanyahu has renewed his push for overhauling the country’s judicial system.
Most Israelis are protesting the resumption of the war in regards to the safety and wellbeing of the Israeli hostages. Most have limited empathy for the victims of genocide and the occupation.
But a growing number are also acknowledging the suffering and killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. At that same protest Saturday night in Tel Aviv, a few dozen held a kind of vigil for children killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, holding photos of them in the crowd along with memorial candles. Others carried signs that said “Stop the Genocide,” referring to more than 50,000 Palestinians who have been killed in the war.
And in the same week Palestinians in towns throughout Gaza have taken to the streets to protest against Hamas and for a negotiated peace. If we call it brave when Israelis protest against their government and its genocidal war, and when some young people in Israel refuse to serve in the army, what word do you use for those Palestinians demonstrating against Hamas, in the full knowledge about how Hamas has treated protestors in the past?
The people demonstrating against Hamas are not fools or useful idiots for Israel, much as some Israelis want them to be. They want Hamas out, but they know that their main struggle is against Israel. “If we were freed from the shackles of the occupier and from its repeated wars, we and our children would live in safety and peace… The occupation is responsible for our suffering” is typical.
This is the Middle East, so everyone is trying to spin what the protests are and what they mean. The international media has shown not much interest in something that gets in the way of their narrative, and talked about “hundreds” of demonstrators – though in the clips I’ve watched it looks like a lot more. Hamas has said that the protests are against Israel, not against its rule, despite the chants and the banners – at the same time as it has claimed that they are orchestrated by Israel, or by the Palestinian Authority. In Israel the Netanyahu government is calling those who protest against it as “echoing Hamas propaganda”.
It would be naive to assume that the protests in Israel, and in Gaza, mean that the wars are about to end. Yesterday Israel attacked Beirut with drones. But let’s remember my favourite quote from Gramsci – “Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will”. It’s easy to find reasons for pessimism, let’s hang on to a brief moment of hope.
Community Solidarity Stroud District 