Anti cuts protester criminalised in Glasgow

GLASGOW DEFENCE CAMPAIGN

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

Anti-cuts protester criminalised in Glasgow

Dominic O’Hara, a 20-year-old student at Strathclyde University, was arrested this afternoon (29 January 2011) as he left a protest against cuts and in defence of local services. He is being held in Baird Street police station and will appear in Glasgow District Court (1 Carlton Place, next to the Sheriff Court) on Monday charged with obstruction and assaulting a police officer.

‘Dominic is being targeted for the active role he has played in fighting university tuition fees and EMA cuts’ a spokesperson for the Glasgow Defence Campaign said today. ‘The police knew he was already on bail facing two identical charges after an anti-cuts protest on 9 December and are now looking for an excuse to hold him on remand.’ The spokesperson added ‘There is now a pattern of police targeting of supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! because of the leading role they have played in the campaign against the cuts. Supporters of the paper have been charged with selling it on the streets in a clear breach of their human rights. It also follows a period of unsuccessful police harassment of stalls supporters have held on streets in Govanhill.’

The Glasgow Defence Campaign is calling on supporters to picket the court on Monday from 10.00, and to condemn the criminalisation of those who oppose government attacks on the state sector. 

For further details contact 07961 040 418 or glasgowdefence@yahoo.co.uk or http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.com/