A DEMONSTRATION to defend the right to protest has been called outside the court where two campaign leaders face trial next month.

Chris Nineham, the vice chair of the Stop the War Coalition and chief steward of the national Palestine demonstrations, will appear at City of London magistrates’ court alongside Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal.

They are to stand trial on July 7 and 8 charged under the Public Order Act with breaking protest restrictions after being arrested at the January 18 Whitehall protest.

Both pleaded not guilty at plea hearings in February.

The Defend the Right to Protest demonstration has been called for 9.30am on July 7 outside the court before the trial starts.

Mr Nineham said: “This is clearly a concerted attack on the right to protest over the Israeli genocide on the people of Gaza.

“The police have admitted to being under political pressure and it is an attack that will inevitably be extended to others wishing to protest against government policy — as we are now seeing with government amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.”