"On 14th February last year, people from across Derry outraged by the ongoing scenes of genocide in Gaza came together for a peaceful vigil and protest in the city centre. As a city with a powerful sense of justice, informed by our experiences of decades of injustice, it was important that we sent our solidarity to the people of Palestine being oppressed by Israel's bombardment facilitated by governments that were turning a blind eye to war crimes.
"It is astonishing to me that while innocent people were being murdered in their thousands and international law laid in tatters, that it was peaceful protestors who were being pursued by the police and prosecutors. It is my firm view that charges against people who have peacefully protested against the genocide should be dropped across the UK. I voted against the proscription of Palestine Action for exactly that reason.
"I want to thank my legal team led by Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane who have been outstanding throughout this process and who always argued that there were alternative ways of dealing with this. I am glad now that the charges will be withdrawn."
"Last night more than 90 people were killed in Gaza after Israel targeted homes, schools and residential areas in Gaza City, Nuseirat and Khan Younis – somewhere I have been and spoken to people devastated after the loss of their entire family. That is where the focus should be today, that is where it should always have been – on the innocent lives being extinguished by Netanyahu's out of control administration."
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