On Saturday, 25 October, as the United Friends and Family Campaign (UFFC) took to Trafalgar square for its 26th annual march in memory of loved ones who have died in police, prison, mental health and immigration custody, World Beyond War held #NoWar2025: Exploring Abolitionist Movements, which brought together peace activists from over 40 countries. As activists detained in British prisons under charges related to Palestinian liberation launch a hunger strike after their demands for justice were ignored by the Home Secretary, abolitionist considerations of alternative possibilities to the current justice systems have never been more pressing. CAAT stands in solidarity with Prisoners for Palestine and all 33 pro-Palestinian prisoners being held without trial in British jails.
Prisoners for Palestine, the United Friends and Family Campaign and #NoWar205: Exploring Abolitionist Movements highlight how domestic and international legal systems often fail to bring justice to the hundreds of thousands around the world who have seen their loved ones killed by police or bombed to death, often with the same weapons corporations profiting. Considering and learning from abolitionist movements rests primarily on what to do when the current legal and governmental systems falter, whether it be the Met police officer who murdered Chris Kaba being found not guilty, or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant continuing to walk free despite facing ICC arrest warrants.
CAAT was fortunate to be able to attend two panel sessions. The first, “Case Studies of Abolition”, featured Shirley Gunn, Jorge Barrientos, and Amelia Kirby, and was moderated by Reem Abbas. Gunn, who was recruited into the political underground and later the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC) to resist South African Apartheid, spoke about the need for life-long struggle while Barrientos discussed challenges facing contemporary Costa Rican society, almost 80 years since the country abolished its military. Gunn and Barrientos both highlighted how social violence and deep inequality continues in South Africa and Costa Rica due to the world’s dominating profit-based economic system, despite monumental historical wins for the peace and justice movements in both countries.
Kirby made connections between local struggles against new prison construction in an economically exploited area of the southern USA, Appalachia, and the global military industrial complex, while Abbas moderated and opened the discussion, speaking of her personal experiences having to flee her home in Sudan due to the genocide, a genocide we know is being waged with the use of British weapons. Kirby also discussed how distortions around “economic development” for the local Appalachian community were used by state actors to argue for more prison construction. We can see similar arguments made around jobs and the local communities in Lancashire that the British government has used to justify its grotesque Typhoon fighter jet deal with Turkey. There are alternatives to this narrative.
The second panel, “Learning from Abolitionist Movements and Cultivating Intersectionality” featured Dean Spade, Hajera Begum, Mohammad Huraini, and was moderated by World Beyond War’s Rachel Small. Begum, from Abolitionist Futures in the UK, spoke about the revolving door between British weapons and surveillance technology used for repression globally, which are also used domestically against activists and all who face racist state violence. Repression abroad and repression at home feed and reinforce each other.
Huraini from the village of At‑Tuwani in Masafer Yatta, South Hebron Hills, West Bank, knows the often lethal costs of this repression feedback loop on a very personal level. He spoke about his work with Youth of Sumad resisting Israeli settler colonial violence across the West Bank, and the systematic program set up to make life for Palestinians under military occupation unbearable. He shared the heavy sacrifices he has made and risks he takes daily, knowing the last price to pay may be his own life. He had to leave the conference for a few minutes as Israeli soldiers were outside of his home. Huraini also drew attention to the failure of the international legal system to stop the Gaza genocide, aligning with the abolitionist theme of the conference, which urged attendees to consider alternative possibilities to justice.
This is not to say that engaging with current legal structures and frameworks is not without merit, as these struggles too can play a key role in challenging the arms trade and all of its death and destruction. CAAT has taken on many legal challenges against the arms trade, and has supported countless others, and will continue to do so. CAAT extends unrelenting solidarity to Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq, sanctioned by the United States for its work fighting for criminal accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes in Palestine. CAAT hopes for a positive decision to Al Haq,s recent appeal hearing regarding the UK government’s F-35 fighter jet loophole, which allows the UK to continue sending spare parts for the deadly combat aircraft to Israel.
Long time activist and scholar, Dean Spade, concluded the second panel by sharing some key questions for campaigners to think about when considering whether to engage with legal systems:
- Will the legal challenge make a material difference?
- Is there a risk of it legitimising or expanding systems of oppression and injustice?
- Does it risk dividing communities into “deserving” and “undeserving” of support and solidarity?
- Is it being organised in a way that works to build capacity for mass mobilisation?
Defend Our Juries mass civil disobedience actions opposing the proscription of Palestine Action show very well that every activist fighting for the liberation of Palestine deserves support and solidarity, rightfully countering any attempts the government may be making to divide Palestine solidarity protesters. More Defend our Juries actions are planned this month, and the Palestine Action Judicial Review on its proscription as a terrorist organisation will take place from 25 – 27 November. The Crime and Policing Bill also continues to make its way through parliament, and please keep watch for coming opportunities to take action to oppose the oppressive anti-protest legislation proposed in this bill.
Ultimately, #NoWar205: Exploring Abolitionist Movements brought together an incredible group of speakers and participants, with the shared belief that a world without the global arms trade is possible. Thank you very much to World Beyond War for organising such a thought-provoking, critical discussion space.
