Counterfire here publishes the press release from independent Preston councillor Michael Lavalette on the police action to which he is being subjected for Palestine solidarity action

In the latest in a series of political attacks on Palestinian support and solidarity, Lancashire County Councillor Michael Lavalette has been invited to attend a ‘voluntary police interview’ to discuss a Facebook post relating to the current genocide in Gaza

Lavalette is a long standing advocate for Palestinian rights and an Honorary member of the General Union of Palestinian Writers. In May he was elected to Lancashire County Council as a ‘Preston Independent’ part of the pro-Palestine, anti-austerity network coagulating around the new left project of MPs Zarah Sultana, Jeremy Corbyn and the Independent network in Westminster.

Lavalette becomes the latest elected politician to be questioned by police in relation to Palestine solidarity and activism. Labour MP John McDonnell and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn were interviewed in relation to the National March for Palestine on 18th January this year. Although neither of the MP’s was charged, several organisers of the march are awaiting trial for Public Order related offences.

More recently, over the last two weekends there have been significant numbers of arrests of protestors demonstrating against the proscription of a non-violent direct action group.

The police clamp down comes at a time when numerous opinion polls have shown that the majority of Britons support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and support an arms embargo on Israel.

The growing attempt to criminalise support for Palestine has led to a statement signed by 22 general secretaries of Britain’s trade unions (including, amongst others, representatives of the TUC, Unison, Unite, NEU, CWU, UCU, RMT and PCS) defending the right to protest and “the freedoms to organise, of assembly and of speech”.

The latest move by Lancashire police is another example of the attempt to criminalise pro-Palestine campaigning in Britain and is also an attack on the established rights to freedom of speech in Britain.

Cllr Lavalette said:

A post on FaceBook supporting the rights of Palestinians should not lead to a police inquiry. This is an attack on the Palestinian movement, but broader than this, it is an attack on our established freedoms of speech and action.

This Labour government has become one of the most authoritarian in recent memory. The complaint originates from local Reform supporters and local supporters of the genocidal Israeli regime – it is the establishment trying to tell us what we can and cannot say and do. But I want to make it clear: I have done nothing wrong and I will defend myself and the Palestinian movement vigorously. We will not be silenced whilst a genocide is taking place.”

Fellow Lancashire councillor Almas Razakazi added:

This is an attack on our right to speak out and organise against the horror in Gaza. The establishment want to silence us, but they won’t succeed and we will organise to defend Michael against this politically motivated investigation.”