Monday saw a well-supported rally for Preston councillor Michael Lavalette as he went to be interviewed by police over posting in support of Palestine, reports Penny Hicks

Michael Lavalette, Preston Independent Councillor and Counterfire member, was met by a large and loud rally as he entered Preston Police station for a ‘voluntary’ interview under caution on Monday morning.

Michael was interviewed in relation to an online post in support of the Palestinians of Gaza. The complainants (both well-known local Zionist activists) claimed his post was an ‘incitement to racial hatred’ because of his use of the word ‘intifada’. Michael’s fellow Lancashire County Councillor, Almas Razakazi told the rally that we should all ‘stand with Michael’ and that when we ‘come under attack, we all fightback’.

There were union banners and delegations from Preston and Ribble, Blackpool and Fylde Trades’ Councils, Lancashire Association of Trades’ Councils, Lancashire NEU, Unite Community and Wigan Unison. Their banners stood alongside those of Preston Stop the War, and Preston People’s Assembly in an impressive display of organised working-class support for Michael and against attacks on our freedom of speech.

Before entering the station, Michael thanked people for their support and said ‘it’s not really about me! If they get away with attacking and charging one of our councillors, it is an attack on our labour and social movements. It’s an attack on our right to free speech. And of course it’s an attack on the Palestine movement. If they get away with it here, it will make it easier for them to arrest and persecute others in our movements.’

Outside the police station, speeches in support of Michael were interspersed with loud chanting that we hoped could be heard inside – something Michael later confirmed! The speeches aimed to broaden and strengthen the movement in the face of increasing state repression. The fact that a person of such great reputation could be seriously considered by the police as worthy of investigation is beyond belief.

The strength of the movement is forcing the state and those politically opposed to the Palestine movement, the appeasers of genocide, to increase repression. The state have brought Public Order Offences charges against four organisers of the national demonstrations relating to our demonstration on 18 January this year.

It’s important we stand up to the increased repression. Solidarity to all those facing this directly: we will not be silenced!