Stop the War coalition Newsletter 28.8.26

Newsletter 28/08/26

The three years since the launch of Israel’s genocide in Gaza will be marked on 10 October with marches and demonstrations in many towns and cities around the world as part of the International Day of Action for Palestine. In London, we will set off from Victoria Embankment after assembling at noon.

We urge our groups, and all anti-war and pro-Palestine organisations, to book as many coaches as possible. We must make sure the pressure on Andy Burnham to take decisive action against Israel – including banning arms sales and imposing serious sanctions – continues to ramp up.

Let our office know your coach details and we will add them to thewebsite.

We will tell groups when we have leaflets ready to collect or to print locally.

Building the anti-war movement: model motions for StW groups and union branches

As we head into September we hope our groups will be holding AGMs. We’ve put a new model motion on our resources page for groups to pass, pledging support for the statement adopted by the International Conference Against War and to building the anti-war movement, including by organising for the international days of action in October and November.

Trade union branches and trades councils will also be starting their new cycles of meetings and it’s important that they pass the model resolutionagreed at the conference.

Please let the office know by email that it passed and we will publicise it on our social media platforms.

International days of action:

10 October
– International day of demonstrations for Palestine.

 30 October
– International day of dockworkers’ action.

 20-22 November
– International weekend against militarism and conscription, starting with the Youth Strike on Friday 20 November.

Tell Andy Burnham to Stop Arming Israel

Pressure is building on Andy Burnham to recognise Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.

A model motion is circulating ahead of Labour conference which calls on the government to accept the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry that Israel has committed genocide and to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, including a full arms embargo.

It also calls for a ban on all trade that aids or assists Israel’s military actions in Gaza or its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including all trade with Israel’s illegal settlements.

You can help increase the pressure on the PM by joining the Palestine coalition’s march and rally in Liverpool on Saturday 26 September – the eve of conference. 

There’s a coach leaving from London at 6.30am. Please let the office know if you’ve booked coaches from wherever you are.

Young people say NO to war

Students and young people refuse to be cogs in the war machine. Our Youth and Student Network is building for the 20 November Youth Strike against militarism and conscription.

Across Europe and beyond there will be student strikes, protests, assemblies and rallies to say no to war, militarism, and the new Defence Universities Alliance (UK).

Our online organising meeting at 6pm on 8 September will help you with ideas for what you can do in your university and college towns during freshers to really make a difference.

Free Bogdan Syrotiuk 

We are calling for the immediate release of 27-year-old Bogdan Syrotiuk, the Ukrainian anti-war activist sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on charges of “high treason” under martial law for opposing NATO and for calling for solidarity with Ukrainian and Russian workers. The Ukrainian courts accuse Syrotiuk of collaborating with a “foreign organisation” to spread “pro-Russian disinformation”. 

We have launched a Sign the Free Bogdan petition

August membership sale: 3 days to join!

There are just three days left to take advantage of our reduced annual membership for just £25. Standard membership costs £5 per month, so this offer saves you £35. 

You will receive a free set of Stop the War badges with your year’s membership and 10% off our shop. To take advantage of this offer you must join before midnight on Monday [31 August].

Membership also gives you the right to attend and vote at our AGM.  You can read more about our constitution and what it means to be a member of Stop the War Join now

This week’s anti-war briefing