Reports 2026

Stop the War on Iran

 Emergency Protest




On Monday March 2, around 70 people took part in  the emergency protest at the Monument to condemn the US/Israeli unprovoked and criminal attack on Iran whilst negotiations were ongoing between the US and Iran.  The protest condemned these murderous and reckless acts that have lead to death of more than 150 of young girls in the bombing of a school and massive destruction in Iran. Also, that this  threatens a wider war across the region with unimaginable consequences. The protest sent deepest sympathies to the people of Iran for the loss of their people and the loss of their leader Ayatollah Khamenei who, along with his family members, was assassinated in the attacks on Tehran and other cities. Speaker after speaker expressed full support for Iran's right to self determination and self-defence. The Chair of the protest Tony Dowling condemned Starmer for announcing that he was allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran by claiming that this was "self defence" for Britain. He said how can taking part in an illegal war of aggression against Iran be defensive. He said that we must protest this madness and demand that our government takes no part and condemns Israel’s and US’s catastrophic actions.

Speakers were:
Cath Davis, Your Party Central Executive Committee
Martin Levy, president Newcastle Trades Union Council
Sean Kelly, chair NEU Regional Council
Marika Asgari, Newcastle University UCU
Molly Storm, Revolutionary Communist Party
Halimah Begum, Newcastle Green Party
Pam Wortley, vice-chair Newcastle Stop the War  ( Notes of speech ) 
Geoff Abbott, Stand Up to Racism North East
Jane Byrne, Independent Newcastle Councillor Monument Ward
Roger Nettleship, South Tyneside Stop the War  ( Notes of speech)

Video of Speeches by gustindun - Video of speeches at the Monument
A Newcastle Stop the War
PUBLIC MEETING
"A New Flotilla For Gaza"




On Tuesday January 6, Gaza 2025 Flotilla Participants author & journalist Yvonne Ridley (Yvonne Ridley) and founder of charity Refugee Biriyani & Bananas, Ruhi Loren Akhtar (About Refugee Biriyani & Bananas - Refugee Biriyani & Bananas)  spoke at a meeting organised by Newcastle Stop the War in the evening at the Irish Centre.    Abour 30 partiipants listened to the account of the recent Global Sumud Flotilla last year.    People across the world  chose to act bravely carryig on against Israeli hijacking to try and reach Gaza with vital baby feed and food for the starving Palestinians. The 40 boats, the largest flottilla so far, was hijacked and the participants taken hostage in international waters by the Israeli regime responsible for the genocide against the Palestinians.  The accounts of Yvonne and Ruhi document this heroic struggle to break the siege of Gaza. The meeting was also a launching pad in Newcastle for a new flottilla for Gaza in the new year and details will be circulated. After Yvonne and Ruhi's gripping accounts many questions were asked and answered.  The meeting was also addressed by Newcastle and South Tyneside stop the war member Roger Nettleship on the recent actions taken by the anti-war movement standing with Venezuela and the resistance of the Bolivarian republic to the US state terrorism. The demand  for the release of Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and the fight of Venezuela to defend its sovereignty.   The meeting was Chaired  by Shumel Rahman Chair of Newcastle Stop the War. Speeches are below.
Shumel Rahman opening remarks
Yvonne Ridley author & journalist
Ruhi Loren Akhtar founder of charity Refugee Biriyani & Bananas
Venezuela: no to bombing and regime change
Martin Levy President of the Newcastle TUC was one of the speakers from trade unions and Latin American activists addressing an emergency rally at the Monument to condemn US war on Venezuela January 5 2026. Roger Nettleship gave a statement  from Newcastle Stop the War and South Tyneside Stop the war on the actions taken by the anti-war movement standing with Venezuela and the resistance of the Bolivarian republic to the US state terrorism. The demand  for the release of Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cillia Flores and the fight of Venezuela to defend its sovereignty.
PDF of NSW and STW speech at January 6 Sumud Flotilla meeting

The British government should condemn the forced removal and attack, call for an immediate cessation of military action by the US, and the return of Maduro

Lindsey German Convenor Stop the War Coalition - January 3 2026

Official Statement Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

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Newcastle demonstration against the invasion of Afghanistan, October 2001

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