“For Quakers, faith and action are inseparable," said Paul Parker, @rcquaker.bsky.social for Quakers in Britain. “Peaceful protest, prayer, and non-violent action are expressions of our worship. When this is criminalised, our religious freedom is under attack." www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

We have applied to intervene in the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, saying the ban has undermined our freedom of religion. Quakers have a long history of non-violent action against injustice and oppose war and violence of any kind.

On Tuesday 26th August tear gas canisters were fired near Ramallah Friends School and a parent was fired on by a sniper while trying to reach the school gates. Nobody at the school was injured but the children were left shaken and their families anxious. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

We are filled with anguish to see human beings seeking refuge facing the threat of further violence and intimidation. Too many politicians are fanning the flames of division when they should be voices for peace. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

#INC5 in Geneva has concluded without an agreement on a #plastics treaty, despite an intensive 2 weeks of dialogue. QUNO's Sustainable & Just Economic Systems (SJES) Programme provides an overview, and thoughts on a way forward, here: quno.org/timeline/202...

The facts speak for themselves. Police arrest 474 at Palestine Action ban protest, including a 89 year old woman. www.bbc.com/news/article...

An experience of temporary blindness and the shame of his own profane language are said to have prompted Cuthbert Wigham, the founder of Coanwood Meeting House, to convert to Quakerism. 1/8

Plenty of Quakers in the ecumenical crowd outside the gates of Faslane naval base to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. @quaker.org.uk

With nukes in the news it's grimly fitting to be at Faslane to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and say 'never again'. @quaker.org.uk

Quakers discern that genocide is occurring in Gaza. Urgent global statement from the Quaker service agencies:

‘Agents of change’, equal partners’ and call for transformational ideas from every corner of civil society, What a stimulating day at yesterday’s civil society covenant launch thanks @pbe.co.uk @lbfew.bsky.social @ncvoyr.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social and all involved @kidscharity.bsky.social

And yet where is the government's repeal of the recent anti-protest laws? Where is the review of Blair era anti-terror laws? Where's the commitment to roll-back the plethora of public order acts? Whoever is in government, the Home Office is always in power. share.google/ibxdLAMhTjHJ...

A welcome step in the right direction: civil society must be able to challenge government safely. But scepticism remains about the government's commitment to peaceful protest. Their actions to date indicate peaceful protest is not exactly safe in their hands. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

In advance of #COP30 later this year, QUNO took part in the UN #ClimateChange Forum in Bonn, which included a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement. Read more to see what QUNO shared, and what we heard from others: quno.org/timeline/202...

Nice coverage of the #CivilSocietyCovenant from @civilsociety.bsky.social - thanks for highlighting the right to peaceful protest. Lots to do to make this commitment real! www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/governm...

Charity sector leaders including the CEOs of @acevo.bsky.social, @pbe.co.uk and @cfgsocial.bsky.social have welcomed the launch of the Civil Society Covenant as a positive step forward, but warned that its commitments “mustn’t stall at warm words” and must be matched by action

The Social Insights Panel led by FGF Policy Associate @pollyneate.bsky.social (backed by the Henry Smith Foundation) will influence & support the government’s work to address “wicked” challenges starting with a focus on the Test, Learn & Grow programme ⬇️ futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

So, the #CivilSocietyCovenant has been published today, and I've spent the day listening to an array of government ministers talking about how important it is, and how this is a real reset in the relationship between government and civil society organisations. Here are my thoughts on it so far:

At the Science Museum to hear the Prime Minister and Lisa Nandy launch the new #CivilSocietyCovenant. So far they've said all the things they *had* to say, and some things they didn't have to. Positive start.

We have deep concerns about government plans to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Nonviolent protest, and even acts of vandalism, should not be labelled as terrorism. Civil disobedience has been a powerful force for positive social change. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Great job with an exceptional organisation. Please help to spread the word about this opportunity. quno.org/timeline/202...

It’s largely forgotten the suffragettes made bombs and committed arson, including trying to bomb the PM’s house, and even threatened to kidnap Ministers. I don’t approve of Palestine Action’s action, they should face criminal charges - but should they be proscribed?

Quakers write to Home Sec about about concerns re proscribing Palestine Action and its impact on democracy. A reminder that Civicus has already downgraded the UK to the same level as Hungary on civic freedoms because of restrictions to protest @quaker.org.uk: www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Violence is never the answer; it perpetuates cycles of harm rather than fostering peace. We must wage peace with the same strength as the warmongers.

At Church House to mark 80 years of @christianaiduk.bsky.social, the churches' agency to respond at scale to global injustice and need. Impressive work, and sadly ever more necessary.

A few months ago, twenty police officers smashed down the door of Westminster Quaker meetinghouse and arrested a handful of young activists as they sat eating hummus and breadsticks. quakerpodcast.com/when-police-...

"Partnership isn’t about harmony – it’s about staying in relationship when it gets uncomfortable." Couldn't have put it better myself! Sarah Hughes @mind.org.uk describes what she wants to see in the #CivilSocietyCovenant.

So excited for tomorrow! Food, nature, beautiful readings, Quakers… it’s going to be great. All welcome, please join us or spread the word. 💚 #Quakers

Really good article about what we all need from the #CivilSocietyCovenant when it's published, including a bit from me at @quaker.org.uk (the other bits are really good too!). Lots of agreement here that we need a full reset of the relationship between civil society and government.

Sensible asks from @janeideceo.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social & NCVO as we await the Civil Society Covenant. We @quaker.org.uk hope for more: a full frank partnership between govt & charities + accountability built in so they can't backslide when it's tricky. www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/covenan...

Remember that police raid on a Friends House meeting room to arrest a group of women eating hummus? @rcquaker.bsky.social @quaker.org.uk says the govt should commit to civil society’s right to dissent and reverse laws reducing key democratic freedoms. I agree www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/paul-...

Am very excited that Power to the People is out in paperback this week. It's also on sale at Kindle for 99p for the month of May. More details on where to get the various versions at www.hachette.co.uk/titles/danny...

Here's a blog I wrote about how the raid on Westminster Quaker Meeting House is linked to wider issues with protest, campaigning and dissent.

Satisfying news. Good. This government should have dropped this appeal a while ago. www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/libert...

Glad to be able to represent @quaker.org.uk to say #ThankYouIFNUK for the 37 years of interfaith engagement enabled by the Interfaith Network for the UK before it lost its government funding last year.

Get to know the 2025 Swarthmore Lecturer! Earlier this week we spoke with Emily Provance, the 2025 Swarthmore Lecturer ahead of her Lecture ‘The Meaning of Quaker Community’.

This is a helpful read on today's judgment (and appears to have been written by someone who's actually read it, unlike some of the other coverage). www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Great book. Do read. Couldn't be more timely.

"As a Yearly Meeting in session we lovingly acknowledged and affirmed the trans, non- binary and gender non-conforming Friends in our communities." Nothing about today's supreme court ruling changes what @quaker.org.uk said at our Yearly Meeting in 2021.

We’ve got too used to the draconian laws on protest introduced by the last govt. In his legal opinion calling on this govt to act, UN Special Rapporteur likens our toughened laws on protesters to countries such as Honduras and Azerbaijan #BoiledFrog www.bbc.com/news/article...

Join us in Geneva! QUNO Geneva is accepting applications for two Programme Assistant positions. Gain experience while helping futher our efforts with our Human Impact of #ClimateChange and #HumanRights & Refugees programmes. Learn more and apply by 11 May: quno.org/timeline/202...

People talking and peacefully demonstrating is not a threat to society; but stopping them is. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Following the Met Police raid on the Westminster Quaker meeting house, Quaker Support for Climate Action is organising a 'meeting for worship' outside New Scotland Yard this Thursday 3 April from 12-1pm. Everyone welcome - do come along and show your support. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotland-y...

Thoughtful blog from the London Review of Books @quaker.org.uk www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ma...

This story just gets worse by the day. Being allowed to engage in ‘Plotting’ (i.e. planning) disruptive, but peaceful, protest is surely a precondition of a functional liberal democracy. Where are the human rights lawyers when you need them…oh, hang on… www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

💙 We offer our heartfelt support to @quaker.org.uk in light of this deeply troubling incident. We stand in solidarity with them and all those who engage in peaceful protest.🕊️

Jesus would not have distinguished between the sacred and the secular in the way we do. For Jesus, everything was sacred and belonged to God. Quakers do not consider our Meeting Houses sacred. However, they are places of peace, hope, and protection. The Met police violated this form of "sanctuary".

To address some of the points raised around the raid on Westminster Meeting House. *Quakers absolutely do not see Meeting Houses as sacred spaces. We believe all space is sacred - I attended Meeting in a rented room in a community centre today. However, what Meeting Houses ARE is community spaces.

The Home Secretary downplays "heavy-handed policing," including Friday's Quaker Meeting House raid. But the government could end this by repealing Public Order Act 2023 and parts of Policing Act 2022. Time 45.30 👇https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0029k8y/sunday-with-laura-kuenssberg-30032025

It's not usual to read a story on the front page of @thetimes.com then an hour later, bump into @rcquaker.bsky.social, one of those quoted. But then it's not every day that police raid a @quaker.org.uk place of worship! #StrangeTimes