Dear friends, 

The government’s attempt to ban protests which have a so-called “cumulative impact” has been tabled as an amendment in the Crime and Policing Bill. CAAT has signed an open letter, backed by over 45 civil society organisations, in opposition to this repressive amendment. Please share widely to spread the word about the far-reaching resistance to the government’s latest draconian anti-protest manoeuvre. 

The bill also proposes the criminalisation of the following at protests - face coverings, pyrotechnic materials, and climbing on war memorials. The impact this could have on activists who wear masks for safety due to police surveillance and far-right doxxing, or who wear face coverings for religious, cultural or health reasons, is staggering. The restrictions on pyrotechnic materials may impact candle lit vigils, and activists often stand on war memorials at large marches to give speeches.

Although the Crime and Policing Bill has yet to become law, the government has also targeted the animal rights movement by restricting protest through an amendment to the Public Order Act (2023). This new amendment means that all animal testing facilities are now counted as key national infrastructure making it an offence, punishable by up to a year in prison, to take part in any protest that interferes with their operation. 

Furthermore, the government has been reviewing the National Security Act 2023 and Schedule 3 of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Our friends at Netpol have raised serious concerns about the risk this counter-terror legislation will be further used against activists challenging state and corporate interests, interests which perpetuate genocides around the world. 

Despite the government’s repressive moves, we know that direct action and other forms of activism are not terrorism. Elbit’s recent loss of a £2 billion British military training contract can be attributed to activists across the country who have taken direct action against Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, and to the historic hunger strike from inside prison walls which has fought to shut Elbit down. 

We still have the right to protest. On Thursday 22 January at 5:00pm, our friends at Palestine Solidarity Campaign are organising a demonstration against the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) Conference in Farnborough, Hampshire. IAV is where deals in death and destruction are made. Companies such as BAE Systems and Leonardo will be represented and the full exhibitors list can be viewed here. CAAT will be joining North Hampshire PSC in the streets and hope to see you there, if you are local to the area. 

The following week, on Tuesday 27 January, protestors will confront the arms trade once again, challenging the arms dealers, MPs and military personnel at the Aerospace, Defence and Security (ADS) dinner in central London. The arms dealers attending the £250+ a head ADS dinner have profited greatly from genocidal violence taking place in Palestine, Sudan and beyond.

CAAT could not do this work without your support, and as always we thank you for your determined efforts - whether you can join us in the streets, share our posts on social media, amplify our petitions, organise events with CAAT, lobby your MP and council or protest at arms companies directly. Your donations, if you are in a financial position to be able to consider this, are hugely appreciated as well. 

Please support CAAT in our continuing work to STOP the arms trade by making a donation to Keep CAAT Campaigning.

As you know, we have been asking you to consider making your donations to us by Direct Debit if you can: these are easy to set up and are very impactful. You can use the button above to set this up, and can stop at any time. Direct Debits are key to helping CAAT manage its regular budget and plan for the future.

As always, you are very welcome to let us know your thoughts and to alert us of anything you feel would be important for us to know. 

Thank you for your continued support in resisting the deadly arms trade, 

Zoe and all at Campaign Against Arms Trade