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London March for Palestine: Stop Arming Israel! Saturday 13th April, 12 noon

We keep thinking that Israel's genocide in Gaza can't get any worse, apart from the cumulative effect obviously making the situation worse every day it continues. And then we hear about further levels of depravity, such as the obliteration of the whole Al-Shifa hospital complex, IDF soldiers storming the hospital and completely destroying all buildings and departments, and shooting people inside and around the hospital - a targeted slaughter of more than 400 people including medical staff, patients, and displaced civilians who had been sheltering there, many of the victims being children. And then the bodies were further mutilated by the Israeli forces driving over them with bulldozers, crushing the bodies and grinding them into the rubble and dust, as well as some bodies being burned.

And subsequently Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced the success of this operation, and that this would be taken as a model for the next phase of the war! This horrific statement clearly indicates that Israel's sense of impunity is undented, despite a more critical tone from various western leaders following the deliberate murder of the 7 World Central Kitchen aid workers - but these same western leaders continue to supply armaments to Israel, in the case of the USA billions of dollars' worth. So it's timely that, in addition to calling for a permanent ceasefire, the focus of this Saturday's demo is to demand that our government Stop Arming Israel! For more information see https://palestinecampaign.org/events/london-march-for-palestine/.

The demo again starts from Russell Square; this time Raised Voices is meeting at 12:20, a bit further along the route of the march at the junction of Remnant Street with Kingsway. Please join us, look for our banner.

Defend Our Juries - solidarity with Trudi Warner - Thursday 18th April

Raised Voices will be singing at this vigil and rally. Recent state and judicial challenges to how juries operate include preventing them from hearing about defendants' motives by judges who instruct defendants not to mention their motivations on pain of being charged with Contempt of Court. Some climate activist defendants who did state motivations were indeed charged for that, and a few have been sent to prison for Contempt of Court. At their original trials, the judge told jurors that they had to ignore those motivations. But our law allows for juries to decide according to their consciences, as this copy of a plaque at the Old Bailey shows! Yet the Attorney General wants to prosecute Trudi Warner for holding a sign that stated this legal right of juries. More details on the Defend Our Juries website.

Recent events

National Demonstration - Ceasefire Now - Stop the Genocide in Gaza - Saturday 30th March, Russell Square, 12 noon

Israel's genocide in Gaza continues - they are continuing air strikes across Gaza, now including Rafah, and have renewed their assault on Al Shifa hospital and several others. And the near-total siege is still in force, with aid trucks prevented from entering Gaza, not only by the IDF but also by hundreds of Israeli citizens “demonstrating” at the Rafah crossing, in a closed military zone, so officially it's illegal for them to be there. And all this despite the UN Security Council having finally voted for an immediate ceasefire and lifting of the siege, though only for the month of Ramadan - which is already more than half-way through. Deaths from starvation, most of them children, are continuing to rise, and preventable diseases are rife because of the lack of sanitation and the destruction of medical facilities.

This demonstration started from Russell Square, assembling at 12 noon, and marched to Trafalgar Square. Raised Voices met near Russell Square, and sang as the march passed by.

For more information see https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-demonstration-ceasefire-now-stop-the-genocide-in-gaza-2/.

National Demonstration for Palestine - Ceasefire Now! - Stop the genocide in Gaza! Saturday 9th March

As we know, the USA and the UK are complicit in Israel's ongoing genocide, so this time the march wenr to the US embassy. People in Gaza are now dying of starvation as well as the slaughter carried out by the IDF, added to the deaths from preventable diseases caused by the destruction of Gaza's health system along with the total lack of sanitation due to the blockade, which remains near total. And the few aid trucks that are allowed through are then also attacked by the IDF, e.g. with hundreds of Gazans being shot by the IDF when trying to get basic food supplies from one of the trucks, in the now infamous flour massacre. And yet the USA and UK continue to supply arms to Israel, and have not reversed their defunding of UNRWA, so are complicit in genocide in terms of “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” as well as in enabling the direct slaughter of Gazan men, women and children.

The demonstration assembled at 12 noon in Hyde Park and marched to the US embassy in Nine Elms Lane. Raised Voices sang for the marchers as they passed by.

Singing in support of Julian Assange, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, WC2A 2LL, Wednesday 21st February

Julian Assange has been imprisoned in the UK's notorious high-security jail, Belmarsh, for nearly 5 years, at serious risk to his physical and mental health. Belmarsh is intended for convicted terrorists and serial killers - whereas Assange has not even been charged with anything! He is “wanted” in the USA for the “crime” of journalism - merely publishing information about US war crimes, for example in Iraq, that the US government didn't want to be known. Here in the UK, the legal processes in his case so far have been totally corrupt. If his extradition to the USA goes ahead, he is liable to a sentence of 175 years, in conditions likely to be even worse than Belmarsh. And in addition, this would set a terrible precedent in terms of investigative journalism, freedom of speech, and the public's right to know what governments do in their name.

Julian Assange's final appeal against extradition to the USA was held at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st February. Raised Voices sang in support outside the court at lunchtime on Wednesday 21st, between 12:30 and 2pm. For more information see here.

Read this legal argument (Twitter thread) by Julian's wife Stella so you understand what is at stake.

National Demonstration - Ceasefire Now! - Stop the genocide in Gaza! Sat 17th Februrary

It's now 3 weeks since the ICJ ruled that Israel is potentially committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and issued the provisional measures to prevent this continuing. But Israel is ignoring this ruling completely, and both the genocidal slaughter and the deprivation of all necessities are continuing with greater intensity than ever, including the destruction of nearly all critical infrastructure including hospitals, schools, and universities.

So the same 6 campaigning organisations called another National Demonstration to demand Ceasefire Now, and to Stop the Genocide, as part of a Global Day of Action for Gaza. See https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-stop-the-genocide/.

Raised Voices joined this demo, singing for the march on Park Lane.

National Demonstration - Ceasefire Now! - Stop the genocide in Gaza! Saturday 3rd February

There was another National Demo for Palestine on Saturday 3rd February. South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice charging Israel with genocide against the people of Gaza - the whole case is likely to take years to adjudicate, but since a case of potential genocide demands urgent remedy, the court can issue “provisional measures” if it finds that there is a case to answer. They did indeed so rule, and demanded that Israel cease “killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”

However, in the few days since this ruling of the ICJ, Israel's genocidal attacks on Gaza have intensified, the near-total blockade is still very much in force - and the few aid trucks that have been allowed to enter Gaza via Israel are now being blockaded by Israeli citizens. So the need for us to increase the pressure on our politicians is greater than ever. Once there is formal notice of the serious risk of genocide, as is now the case, all states have the duty to take concrete steps to prevent it. Failure to do so means complicity in genocide, which is also a crime in international law.

We demand that UK politicians reverse their policies of failing to call for a ceasefire, so providing Israel with impunity, and of complicity by supplying armaments to Israel and allowing Israeli arms companies to be located in the UK. And we also demand that they restore funding to UNRWA, the main lifeline for Palestinians and for Gazans in particular - outrageously, their funding was withdrawn last weekend by the USA, UK and several other states.

Raised Voices joined this demo, called by the same 6 campaigns who organised the previous demos, see for instance https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine/.

Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association (CADFA) - Saturday 9th December

Raised Voices sang as part of CADFA's 20th anniversary event on 9th December. Abu Dis is a town in the suburbs of Jerusalem, where in 2003 the Israeli Separation Wall was being built across Abu Dis itself. In 2004, the International Court of Justice found this to be a serious human rights violation and in breach of international humanitarian law. CADFA works to create awareness in the UK of the human rights situation in Palestine.

National Demonstration for Palestine – Ceasefire Now! – 11th November 2023

With now well over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israel's genocidal bombing, and still no end to the total blockade making any sort of normality impossible, the same six campaigns called another national demonstration Saturday 11th November to demand an immediate ceasefire. The demonstration marched from Hyde Park to the US embassy in Nine Elms Lane. Raised Voices were at the eventin, singing for the marchers as they passed by.

A map of the route is available on Stop the War's website.

Stop Braverman, Stop the Hate, Refugees Welcome, Unity not Division - Saturday 4th November

Suella Braverman's talk of a 'hurricane' of refugees coming into Britain crossed a line. She is using the kind of scapegoating language that is stirring up hatred and fear and opening the door to the racists and the far right. Braverman went still further, saying that attacks on women and LGBT+ people should not give them the right to claim asylum. Braverman and the government have also widened the attack on the right to protest targeting BLM, climate activists and other campaign and solidarity groups. We all need to come together to stop the scapegoating, hate and division coming from Braverman and the Sunak government.

Raised Voices joined the Stand Up To Racism protest outside the Home Office on Saturday 4th November at 12 noon. More details here.

March for Palestine - Stop the War on Gaza! - Saturday 21st October

With the Israeli genocide in Gaza continuing, by intensive bombing of the civilian population including bombing their hospitals and schools, as well as the ongoing total blockade, another demonstration was was called by the six organisations who organised the previous week's event. This time the march started at noon from Marble Arch, finishing again with a rally at Downing Street. Raised Voices found a good place to sing for the marchers as they went down Park Lane. Although the march was huge and noisy we were able to sing a lot while somewhat quieter sections of the march went by, and were heard and appreciated by those near enough, many of whom slowed down to listen. One older Palestinian man was moved to tears by the lyrics of one of our songs, and thanked us for being there.

March for Palestine - End the violence - End Apartheid! - Saturday 14th October

Some of Raised Voices sang at this national demonstration for Palestine to protest at Israel's terrible bombing of Gaza and its total blockade, cutting off supplies of food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity. The demonstration assembled at the BBC at Portland Place, and we sang near there as people gathered and then in Regent Street as the march went by, before joining the march as it continued to Downing Street. The demonstration was called by six campaigning organisations including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War, CND and FOA.

14th-20th October 2023, London - Oily Money Out!

The Oil and Money Conference (rebranded as the 'Energy Intelligence Forum' last year), a luxury summit for the biggest names in the fossil fuel industry took place in London 17th-19th October. While some people are in fuel poverty and many are suffering consequences of climate change, the fossil fuel industry was schmoozing over plans to increase drilling and mining, having already reduced commitments to climate action. Raised Voices sang in protest during the actions, as did other choirs.

Protesting against the DSEI Arms Fair! Tuesday 12th September

Every two years since 2001, an Arms Fair has been held at the ExCeL Centre, selling weapons to oppressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. (Click here to read more about thei history of DSEI.) Each time, Raised Voices has been part of the protest against it.

This year we joined the protest on the first day of DSEI, starting off at 11:00 with protestors walking from Stratford to raise awareness about the arms fair among the local people, leafletting and talking to people along the way. After singing with this group at locations in Stratford we went to the ExCeL Centre to join the protest there. Tuesday 12th was Migrant Justice Day at DSEI, so we sang appropriate songs for this theme as well. Finally we re-joined the walkers from Stratford, as they cast a wreath into the dock opposite the ExCeL Centre to commemorate those killed in recent wars, especially those who have been killed by weapons supplied by the arms trade, e.g. at arms fairs such as DSEI.

Calling on nuclear-armed states to sign the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons! Say No to nuclear war threats!

On Friday 4th August Raised Voices sang in support of an Embassy Walk organised by Trident Ploughshares and CND, calling on some of the nuclear-armed and NATO member countries to sign the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and to get rid of their own nuclear armaments. The protest walk called on the Russian, French and Germany embassies, and on the UK government in Downing Street. Campaigners from the UK were joined by others from France and Germany who are in the UK to take part in the annual fast in commemoration of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For further details see https://www.londoncnd.org/events/2023/8/4/haringey-cnd-embassy-walk

Supporting climate activists against length of sentence, 26th July 2023

Raised Voices sang in support of an appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice for Morgan and Marcus. Last October, they bravely climbed the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge to keep the climate and ecological crisis on everyone's agenda. They were sentenced to an unprecedented 3 years and 2 years 7 months in prison, respectively. The demo was organised by XR Events and Actions UK, and you can read more and find a petition here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2185407081791403/. The judges will give their decision in writing, in a few days or weeks. We sang Build a Better Future (see video below), When London Lies Under the Ocean, and This Is An Emergency.

Busking for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) at Highbury & Islington Stn., Thursday 6th July 2023

Raised Voices spent an evening busking to raise money for MAP at Highbury & Islington Station on Thursday 6th July. Medical Aid for Palestinians tries to cater to the medical needs of those in Palestine & Palestinians who have been spread across the Arab world. Long-established, MAP can enter even Gaza to do its work. MAP's vision is a future where all Palestinians can access an effective, sustainable and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity. Please see https://www.map.org.uk/ for more details.

Here are some photos and a video from the event:

NAKBA 75 – National Demonstration to Free Palestine, 13th May

Raised Voices took part in the NAKBA 75 National Demonstration to Free Palestine, End Apartheid, End the Occupation. Nakba means “catastrophe”, which is what the creation of the state of Israel was, and continues to be, for Palestinians. 15th May marks the 75th anniversary of Nakba. For more information see Palestine Solidarity Campaign

The demonstration marched from Portland Place to Downing Street to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Singing with XR Peace at The Big One

Raised Voices joined XR Peace to take part in Extinction Rebellion's The Big One event in protest against the military causes and impacts of climate chaos, and the devastation of war.

On Friday 21st April we sang at the picket outside the Ministry of Defence, and the next day we joined the Big Biodiversity March for Earth Day, "to honour and respect our natural worls and all endangered species".

Watch Raised Voices sing One Song One Dance in support of Extinction Rebellion in London in April 2023.

Resist Racism on 18th March

Raised Voices sang in support of the national demonstration initiated by Stand Up to Racism on Saturday 18th March 2023, assembling at noon in Portland Place, London.

An event for International Womens Day

On Friday 10th March at 7.30 pm, Raised Voices sang at an International Women's Day event with the women's section of Leyton CLP at Wanstead Library.

Stop the War in Ukraine – Peace Talks Now

No to the Russian Invasion – No to NATO – No to Nuclear War! Saturday 25th February: Raised Voices joined this demonstration to sing with the march as it set off. This National Demonstration was organised by Stop the War and CND, calling for peace talks now, and no more supplying of arms and heavy weaponry with the danger this brings of further escalation, possibly nuclear escalation. Starting from Portland Place, the march ended with a rally at Trafalgar Square.
Further information here.

Julian Assange event: Secret Power, Media Freedon and Democracy

On Saturday 28th January, 4-6pm, Raised Voices sang at this event at St Pancras New Church in Euston Road: Secret Power, Media Freedom and Democracy in the context of the Julian Assange case.
More details from WISE Up Action.

Busking for Health Poverty Action, Bond Street Station 8th December

Raised Voices were busking to raise funds for Health Poverty Action on Thursday 8th December at Bond Street Underground Station. Health Poverty Action acts in solidarity with health workers, activists and communities worldwide to improve health and challenge the causes of poverty

Stop USA nukes coming to Lakenheath, 19th November

Some of Raised Voices sang at the protest on Saturday 19th November organised by CND to stop USA nukes coming to Lakenheath. RAF Lakenheath is a US Air Force base in Suffolk, and is the British site for hosting US nuclear weapons once again.

COP27 Global Day of Action, 12th November

Saturday 12th November: the COP27 Coalition called for a Global Day of Action to demand climate justice at COP27. Events were held across the UK. Members of Raised Voices sang at the London march, which started with a protest outside the Shell building near the London Eye.

Britain is Broken: the People's Assembly National Demonstration, 5th November

Raised Voices sang along the route of the People's Assembly National Demonstration on Saturday 5th November. This event called for a General Election now, and an end to the many crises caused by the government prioritising profit over people - cost of living crisis, housing crisis, privatisation, anti-unions laws and more.

Time for the UK to Exit the Energy Charter Treaty! Rally on 4th November

Raised Voices sang at this event to protest against the Energy Charter Treaty which allows UK companies to sue other countries for hundreds of millions of pounds if they ban fracking or other climate-wrecking fossil fuel mining. Currently, Ascent Resources is using it to sue Slovenia. The demo was organised by Friends of the Earth, War on Want and Global Justice Now. It was held outside Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in Westminster.

Photo by Andrea Domeniconi.

#StopRwanda Protest

Raised Voices sang at the protest against the UK government's proposal to fly refugees to Rwanda. This took place on Monday September 5th outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL to support Stand Up To Racism, Care4Calais and the TUC.

Stop Jackdaw

On Friday 26th August, members of Raised Voices sang at the protest that FossilFreeLondon organised against Shell's Jackdaw oil field. The Government approved it, but it can still be stopped! Look out for future actions organised by FossilFreeLondon. FossilFreeLondon organised a 'die-in' as a memorial to those who have suffered from Shell's actions around the world. During the die-in, we sang 'Oil in the Water' which also memorialises those victims.

Photo by Pascal Hartig

No to Farnborough War-show!

On Monday July 18th, members of Raised Voices sang in support of Campaign Against Arms Trade and the local Action for Peace group who are protesting against the Farnborough International Airshow. This is where companies such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and many others come to sell military hardware including planes, helicopters, missiles and drones to repressive regimes around the world. Read more information from CAAT about Farnborough International.

Day of Action for Peace in Ukraine

On Saturday 25th June, members of Raised Voices sang in support of the Day of Action for Peace in Ukraine. This event was organised by Stop the War and CND, who are demanding peace and de-escalation in Ukraine, no NATO expansion, and withdrawal of Russian troops.

Demand Better! TUC march on Parliament Square

Raised Voices joined the TUC rally and march to Demand Better on Saturday 18th June to protest about the rising cost of living, stand up for the causes we believe in and Demand Better from the government. We sang at the start of the march route in Portland Place as the many thousands of demonstrators set off for Parliament Square.

March on the Met

Raised Voices supported March on the Met to remember Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman at Fryent Park on Tuesday 7th June at 12.30pm. It's now nearly two years since Nicole and Bibaa were tragically murdered. Police failed to respond when they went missing, then officers took ‘selfies’ with their bodies. Since then more then more than two hundred women have lost their lives to male violence, and tens of thousands more have experienced rape or sexual assault. Raised Voices joined those rallying at the beginning of the march to sing “Say Their Names”, a song dedicated to the memory of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.

Stop USA nukes coming to Lakenheath

Raised Voices sang at the protest on Saturday 21st May organised by CND to Stop USA nukes coming to Lakenheath. RAF Lakenheath is a US Air Force base in Suffolk, which is expected to be the British site to host USA nuclear weapons.

Conscientious Objectors Day

Raised Voices sang at Conscientious Objectors Day this year, the first time the event has taken place, other than online, since 2019. The ceremony was held on Sunday 15th May in Tavistock Square, at the granite stone commemorating, “men and women conscientious objectors all over the world and in every age”. During the ceremony, as well as speeches and songs, attendees laid flowers for each of 85 conscientious objectors from around the world as their names were read out.

National Demonstration for Palestine

The choir sang at the National Demonstration and March "End Apartheid -- Free Palestine", on 14th May, protesting against 74 years of Nakba (the catastrophe). We sang on the steps of All Souls Church in Langham Place before the speeches, and later on Regent's Street as the march passed by.

International Day of Action for Peace in Ukraine

Raised Voices were at Highbury and Islington station on Saturday 7th May, to sing in support of the International Day of Action for Peace in Ukraine, called by the Stop the War Coalition.

Raised Voices at Extinction Rebellion

Raised Voices took part in the latest Extinction Rebellion action in London on Saturday 9th April. We sang at Hyde Park near Marble Arch, where a march set off towards Trafalgar Square. Extinction Rebellion are an international apolitical network using non-violent direct action to persuade governments to act on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

Stop Arming Saudi: Vigil for Yemen

On Saturday 26th March, singers from Raised Voices appeared at the Campaign Against Arm Trade Vigil for Yemen, in protest against the UK sending arms to Saudi which are being used against Yemen. The event took place at Downing Street, and Raised Voices performed a set of six songs.

March Against Racism, 19th March

Raised Voices joined Well Red choir to sing at the TUC March Against Racism - UN Anti-Racism Day National Demo on Saturday 19 March at 12 noon outside the BBC in Portland Place, London W1A 1AA

SOSNHS National Day of Action

Raised Voices joined the SOSNHS National Day of Action on Saturday 26th February at Highbury Fields. SOSNHS is demanding emergency funds for the NHS in order to save lives now, a fully publicly owned NHS to guarantee free healthcare for future generations and fair pay for all NHS staff.

Protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill

Members of Raised Voices sang at the demo against the Nationality and Borders Bill on Monday 21st February.

Two demos on Sat Feb 12th: Stop the War in Yemen, and Cost of Living Crisis

Raised Voices sang at two demos on Saturday 12th February. At 12 noon we assembled at Downing Street for the Stop the War protest against the war in Yemen and the UK's support for and supplying of arms to Saudi Arabia.

At 1pm we moved to Parliament Square to join the the People's Assembly demo protesting the Cost of Living Crisis. Stop the War called on people to support this demo under their "Cut War not Welfare" banner. Keep Our NHS Public also supported this event.

KillTheBill demo - singing for our Right to Protest

Raised Voices sang for the Right to Protest at the KillTheBill demo in Lincoln's Inn Fields, on Saturday 15th January. The Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill is an attack on our right to protest. More details about the Bill here, from the Green Party.

UK funding huge gas project in Mozambique - court hearing demo

On Tuesday 7th December Raised Voices sang in support of Friends of the Earth, who are taking the UK government to court over its proposed $1billion funding for a huge gas project in Mozambique. Mozambique needs green investment, not fossil fuel funding. At the COP26 climate talks, Boris Johnson said he was committed to curbing the climate crisis, but the UK government is pledging over US$1 billion (around £730 million) for a new climate-wrecking gas project in Mozambique. On 7 December, the first day of the hearing, activists gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice to demonstrate against UKEF's funding of the project. More details here.

More photos, videos and news

Cynthia Cockburn

In March 2020, Raised Voices held our memorial for Cynthia Cockburn, a long-term member who contributed a huge amount to the choir and was also instrumental in setting up Campaign Choirs Network. Please click here to read more about Cynthia, and see photos and videos of the memorial.

Climate Action Songs

Watch Raised Voices sing "Build a Better Future", one of our Climate Action Songs for Great Big Green Week 2021.

Raised Voices singing at this event

Raised Voices at online Conscientious Objectors Day event

Watch Raised Voices sing "Who Do They Think They Are?" recorded over Zoom, and shown as part of the online Conscientious Objectors Day.

Raised Voices Zoom recording of "Who Do They Think They Are?"

Raised Voices at Extinction Rebellion protest

Watch Raised Voices sing in support of Extinction Rebellion in London in April 2019.

Raised Voices singing at Extinction Rebellion in April 2019