Defend the Right to Peaceful Protest – Joint Statement by 22 UK Union Leaders

17th July 2025

1 Commenton Defend the Right to Peaceful Protest – Joint Statement by 22 Union Leaders

“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.” 

By the National Education Union

Twenty-two general secretaries of the trade union movement have issued a statement expressing deep concern about the erosion of the right to peaceful protest. 

Following a peaceful march for Palestine on January 18 in London, charges were brought against prominent activists, including former NEU executive member, Alex Kenny. 

The statement below calls for the charges to be dropped.

Defend the right to protest – trade union statement 

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 18th. 

These charges follow the decision to prosecute Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition vice-chair, and Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director. 

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

He was the chief steward for the NEU national strike demonstration in March 2023. 

He has played a leading role in many demonstrations organised in the TUC region covering London and the south east. 

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. 

Signed by the following Trade Union General Secretaries: 

Paul Nowak – TUC
Christina McAnea – UNISON
Sharon Graham – Unite 
Daniel Kebede – NEU 
Matt Wrack – NASUWT 
Fran Heathcote – PCS 
Dave Ward – CWU 
Jo Grady – UCU 
Eddie Dempsey – RMT 
Paul Fleming – Equity 
Paul Whiteman – NAHT
Steve Gillan – POA 
Steve Wright – FBU 
Mick Whelan – ASLEF 
Maryam Eslamdoust – TSSA
Sarah Woolley – BFAWU 
Gawain Little – GFTU 
Zita Holbourne – Artists Union 
Daniel Garnham – Security Industry Federation 
Brian Linn – Aegis 
John McGowan – Social Workers Union 
Julia Georgiou – NHBC staff Association 

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• This statement was originally published by the National Education Union on 15 July 2025.