tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79451890526102517252024-02-18T20:11:35.604-08:00Glasgow Defence CampaignThe Glasgow Defence Campaign has been established to oppose political policing and defend democratic rights in the struggle against the cuts in Glasgow. If you face any form of police harassment or violence, please log as many details as you can and send to glasgowdefence@yahoo.co.uk.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-39680610905981343462015-03-18T14:15:00.000-07:002015-03-18T14:28:55.704-07:00Admonished for using a megaphone<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today in Glasgow Sheriff Court a campaigner in defence of disability rights received a sentence of admonishment (no fine to be imposed) for being found guilty of the criminal offence of using a megaphone during an anti-cuts protest on 22 February 2013. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TYY0_tcn_6czLD3ot_DtPoTdvWWKObHpKPQTfOvGe6KMJf8ptYBwbo6HmjbZi82NEnCheXAPtaH4QtSvQvsdJM18O-DMTCmwfEJlXDb8p6trgBipvpt3wcs1p6-VAhvy-8b4BQ9yaO8p/s1600/IMG_0681+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TYY0_tcn_6czLD3ot_DtPoTdvWWKObHpKPQTfOvGe6KMJf8ptYBwbo6HmjbZi82NEnCheXAPtaH4QtSvQvsdJM18O-DMTCmwfEJlXDb8p6trgBipvpt3wcs1p6-VAhvy-8b4BQ9yaO8p/s1600/IMG_0681+(1).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38;">Dominic O’Hara, a supporter of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! was arrested alongside another FRFI supporter on the then monthly demonstrations against ATOS and the cuts to living standards. The two activists were arrested amidst a targeted police operation to close down the moving pickets campaigner’s used to highlight the reality of welfare cuts; around 50 Strathclyde police officers on foot, bike, police cars and vans, together with Community Safety CCTV vehicles, were mobilised in a planned operation against a demonstration of 20 people, under the direction of Inspector Muir at Stewart Street police station (A-division).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The original report we published as our comrades were in custody can be read here </span><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html</span></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the days and weeks which followed, the intentions of Strathclyde Police became clearer. One of those arrested was targeted by Special Branch, who attempted to recruit him as an informer. Charges against this comrade were eventually dropped by the Crown Office following the comrades public rebuttal of the police attempts to recruit him. Further secret manoeuvres took place in order to demobilise the Glasgow Campaign Against ATOS, which FRFI were instrumental in establishing and expanding. FRFI activists were smeared; the age old tactic of divide and rule was deployed which effectively destroyed the campaign. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/strathclyde-police-attempt-to-divide.html" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="color: blue;">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/strathclyde-police-attempt-to-divide.html</span></a></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On 19 March last year Dominic O’Hara was found not guilty of police assault and found guilty of the megaphone contravention. The original report we published last year is available here. </span><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014_03_01_archive.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014_03_01_archive.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The GDC would like to thank our supporters who stood with us throughout the duration of the past 25 months of this case. We have learned an enormous amount throughout the course of this time. We noted the class nature of justice in this country, we noted how time and time again in periods of crisis the police are allowed to move beyond the limits of the law to destroy and demobilise effective protest. But we also learned how we can resist and who our allies are. We repeat; political charges must be met with a political defence. We repeat; if Dominic O’Hara is a criminal for speaking out in defence of the disabled then we are guilty one and all and proud to be guilty. For speaking out against injustice is a right we are prepared to fight for. We refuse to submit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miriam Kelly </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRO Glasgow Defence Campaign </span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-28648642951532517922014-08-04T06:42:00.000-07:002014-08-04T07:06:33.641-07:00Resisting Militarism: Solidarity with the Finnieston 4!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The GDC expresses its
full solidarity with the four anti-war activists arrested and charged for
unfurling a ‘Resist Militarism’ banner from the Finnieston Crane on 28 June,
Armed Forces Day. We urge all our supporters to send messages of support to </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="mailto:whitefeatherclubglasgow@gmail.com"><b>whitefeatherclubglasgow@gmail.com</b></a><b> and join all future court protests. Here, a GDC supporter looks at the
growing trend towards normalising militarism and repressive policing, and the
real role of the Commonwealth Games.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 June: GDC join White Feather, Anarchist Federation and Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! supporters to picket Glasgow Sheriff court for the release of Finnieston 4</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Boots on the ground</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">Stirling, Glasgow…cities of Empire?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">You’d think they were trying to tell us something. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; text-align: justify;">Britain’s national e</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">vent for
Armed Forces Day this year was held in Stirling on 28 June. As it happens,
purely coincidentally, Stirling was chosen as host city at the same time as it
would hold events to mark the 700</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> anniversary of the Battle of
Bannockburn. The Princess Royal, alongside Prime Minister David Cameron, Leader
of the Loyal Opposition Ed Milliband, and Alex Salmond, were on hand to oversee
the carnival of reaction: service parades, ‘exciting military demonstrations’
of Apache attack helicopters and Red Arrow fly-bys. As families looked on, the
very same day, these instruments of death were being put to other uses, as the
IDF pounded artillery shells into Khan Younis and </span><a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/68249" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">wounded seven Palestinian children</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
and a pregnant women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A month later, the Red
Arrows were back in Scotland, flying over Glasgow to mark the opening ceremony
of the Commonwealth Games as Her Royal Highness shuffled around Parkhead, God
Save the Queen was sung and presumably, teary-eyed, the Chief of the Armed
Forces looked longingly over the remnants of the colonial empire she once
proudly headed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And, just in case we didn’t
get the point, Glasgow has been chosen as the focal point of the British
government’s activities to commemorate (or should that be ‘celebrate?’) the 100<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the mass slaughter of World War One. The Secretary of State for
Scotland, Michael Moore, has invited Commonwealth leaders to remain in Glasgow
and attend a special ceremony after the Games end to <a href="https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9949">‘add to the sense
of occasion.’</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As independence looms, the
British establishment, and its willing toadies in the City Council, seem keen
once more to present Glasgow as a loyal city of Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Resisting
militarism…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">As
the artillery rolled through Stirling, the same day four brave female anti-war
activists </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.sacc.org.uk/news/2014/protests-mark-armed-forces-day-scotland"><span style="background: white;">scaled the Finnieston Crane</span></a><span style="background: white;"> in Glasgow to protest against the
glorification of war on Armed Forces
Day. A huge banner was unfurled that read ‘RESIST MILITARISM #whitefeather’.
The Glasgow Defence Campaign salutes this imaginative and brave act of dissent.
Speaking from the top of the crane, one of the protesters, Friday Grey, said:
‘When children in Scotland go to see tanks and bombs today in Stirling, that’s
part of the normalisation of military culture.’ Actions and protests such as
this are crucial in disrupting that culture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">As
a statement from White Feather on the protest noted, £55 million is being spent
on the UK government funded celebrations of the start of WWI: ‘”The War to end
Wars” was a lie then and a 100 years later a new generation is being told that
lie to indoctrinate them with militarism and with a heartless irony, sell them
a myth to ensure support for current and future wars. It’s time to speak out and
these brave activists have done so in the proud traditions of Glaswegians Mary
Barbour, John Maclean and the many, many war resistors from Glasgow and far
beyond.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">…policing dissent</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unsurprising,
Police Scotland responded to this peaceful protest against mass slaughter by
arresting the four activists, detaining them for 48 hours in police cells and
charging them with ‘breach of the peace.’ Presumably, the Finnieston Crane felt
‘fear and alarm’ at being so wantonly abused. The Procurator Fiscal duly took up
the case against the activists as being ‘in the public interest.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Supporters
of the GDC will be familiar with the concerted attempts at Police Scotland, and
its predecessor Strathclyde Police, to harass, undermine and criminalise any
expressions of opposition to war and militarism in Glasgow. In </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/defend-right-to-defend-palestine.html"><span style="background: white;">the past week alone</span></a><span style="background: white;">, supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) organising
solidarity with Palestine have had streets stalls disrupted and public meetings
visited by uniformed police officers demanding information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The four activists appeared
in court on 30 June, with the GDC joining the supporters who gathered inside
and outside the Sheriff Court in solidarity. The four women all pled not guilty
and were released on bail with the next court date set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a significant
development, however, the Crown initially <a href="http://johnhilley.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/resist-militarism-action-at-finnieston.html">tried
to impose bail with ‘special conditions’</a> preventing the accused from
entering what they termed the Commonwealth Games ‘events zone’ which included
over a dozen areas of the city and the entire Marathon route. As the judge, who
struck down the attempt, commented, this would have meant the accused being
unable to leave their homes and going to their places of work, study and other
locations. All this over a breach of the peace charge and a protest that had
nothing directly to do with the Commonwealth Games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Boots
on the ground<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the GDC has consistently
noted, the attempts to impose special bail conditions on anti-cuts and anti-war
activists shows more than anything the political nature of these arrests and
charges. Other activists in Glasgow, including GDC supporters, have previously
faced <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.com.es/2011/04/gdc-statement-on-collapse-of-case.html">repressive
bail conditions</a> such as ‘city centre exclusion zones’ and bans on
‘gathering with two or more people for the purposes of a demonstration.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The attempt by the
Procurator Fiscal to deploy the Commonwealth Games as a factor in the treatment
of the arrested activists confirms another point made by the GDC, the Glasgow
Games Monitor and anti-ATOS campaigners over the past two years: that the
Commonwealth Games is being used as an excuse to clamp down on dissent, extend
increasingly repressive policing, normalise the deployment of armed soldiers on
the streets and destroy any opposition to the corporate interests which
dominate both the Games and Glasgow itself. The case of <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/anniversary-picket-of-glasgow-against.html">the
Glasgow Against ATOS 2</a> – FRFI activists arrested and charged for speaking
on a megaphone against the Commonwealth Games sponsors – and the recent arrest
of an anti-ATOS activist <a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/commonwealth-games/cwg-news/baton-protester-is-banned-from-glasgow-games.24780128">during
the Queen’s Baton</a> relay in Barrhead are just two examples. The latter was
banned from entering any Games venues for the duration of the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The security operation for
the Commonwealth Games is the biggest ever seen in Scotland. The policing
tactics of Police Scotland during the event are based on the ominously named
‘Project Servator’, developed by the <a href="http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/community-policing/project-servator/Pages/Project-Servator.aspx">City
of London police</a> in order to ‘protect the City as a global financial
centre.’ According to Project Servator, one of its tactical pillars is ‘hostile
reconnaissance’ – the ‘purposeful observation of people, places, vehicles and
locations with the intention of collecting information to inform the planning
of a hostile act.’ The targets of such hostility are helpfully defined as
‘criminals, whether extreme protest groups, organised crime or terrorists.’ Alongside
dozens of armed police officers on the streets of Glasgow, more than 2,000
Armed Forces personnel are involved in the security operation, including units
from the Black Watch, while Typhoon fighter jets are on standby. Detective
Chief Inspective Allen informed the public that ‘those going to events will see
uniformed personnel, whether they’re military or police, at the entrances.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To borrow from the marketing
jargon of the Games organisers, this will be one the key ‘legacies’ of the
Commonwealth Games. This huge security operation will not melt away after the
Games. Like Armed Forces Day, its role is to normalise the apparatus of
repression, of armed police and soldiers on our streets. Its real target is not
some anonymous ‘terrorist threat’ but the protesters, activists, and in the
end, the working class communities of Glasgow who may dare to raise their
voices in opposition to the endless violence of the British state at home and
abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We answer them with the
words of Glasgow’s revolutionary son, John MacLean, as the first volleys of the
World War were being fired: ‘Let the propertied class go out, old and young
alike, and defend their blessed property. When they have been disposed of, we
of the working class will have something to defend and we shall do it.’<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Miriam Kelly, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">28 July 2014</span></b></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-81532816998633708272014-08-02T09:20:00.001-07:002014-08-02T09:20:19.339-07:00Defending the right to defend Palestine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0pMGpUp5LvX6SIuydEyMtIEV9N5b6JL1zFOrTa78_x0JJ5JWFo6FWO_P3GbHVjsQxBXBGlQgYV2QKj3eA-BTQU1AbFfPRqBY74yvjkgb-6tzMVh0yjC-1IU0ISWIBkG0Iy_YEU36rjGo/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0pMGpUp5LvX6SIuydEyMtIEV9N5b6JL1zFOrTa78_x0JJ5JWFo6FWO_P3GbHVjsQxBXBGlQgYV2QKj3eA-BTQU1AbFfPRqBY74yvjkgb-6tzMVh0yjC-1IU0ISWIBkG0Iy_YEU36rjGo/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign
calls again for protest in defence of Palestine itself to be defended. Today 2 August, 13.00hrs, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) supporters in Govanhill, who had
publicised a protest against the bombing and blockade of Gaza, were followed
and harassed by four officers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Taking up the call for
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Apartheid
Israel and its illegal settlements in Palestine FRFI supporters planned pickets of Tesco and Sainsbury’s on Victoria Road. There is nothing illegal in
this. That is your democratic right to protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The reality of British democracy and British establishment support for Apartheid Israel was demonstrated by the officers, in marked and unmarked cars, who stalked a
supporter on his way to the protest and then followed him into Lidl store with the
senior officer asking him randomly "can I help you". In an attempt to
intimidate and provoke the officers approached staff to warn of the protest and
asked the supporter "don't you remember shouting at me last week". </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">The police remained visible for
the duration of the event and then unsuccessfully attempted to follow supporters leaving for
the Palestine protest in the city centre. </span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-7691974263899218262014-07-28T06:34:00.002-07:002014-07-28T06:34:24.927-07:00Defend the right to defend Palestine!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns Police Scotland for its ongoing interference
with democratic rights to protest and organise in solidarity with Palestine. This
week’s intimidation and harassment of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI)
and Palestine supporters is described below.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">On
Thursday 24 June, 14.20hrs, “</span><em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">Keith</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">McLennan</span></em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> - Police Scotland liaison
officer for Palestine protests”, using the contact number publicised on
Facebook, phoned FRFI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In very
diplomatic and fluffy language he asked if FRFI supporters could help the
police “facilitate protest” by giving them notice beforehand of “how many
people and plans for protest...so we are able to facilitate Palestine protest
within the bounds of what’s allowed”. This would “save yellow uniformed police
turning up and not knowing what’s planned...really appreciate you taking the
call...is there scope to give us a call next Monday or Tuesday?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘McLennan’
left a number for supporters to contact him on “whenever” news of Palestine
protests came through. Worryingly he stated that this system for contacting the
police “had been working relatively well in recent months for other groups”
giving the example of a recent Palestine protest in Glasgow. He also asked for
information about ‘Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!’ and the meeting they were
holding that night ‘How to organise solidarity with Palestine?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This
meeting was visited by two uniformed Police Scotland officers – male A695 (stationed
in Govanhill) and woman G19 (Drumchapel) to “see how the meeting was going” and
if any future plans for Palestine protest had been agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrLVEuJnb_4OaRVxtAEeym8AANmQd-GxI24oaodCY4G46La-NiaSXlhipbh2YVnPxUrS_gLw-9g0hB1WLqKA1pPujI_6QMpZ-EO09t8eWLwNbtcctiXwH4hFEzQ5lW9tJ0Qih-vWlN6mF/s1600/DSCF0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrLVEuJnb_4OaRVxtAEeym8AANmQd-GxI24oaodCY4G46La-NiaSXlhipbh2YVnPxUrS_gLw-9g0hB1WLqKA1pPujI_6QMpZ-EO09t8eWLwNbtcctiXwH4hFEzQ5lW9tJ0Qih-vWlN6mF/s1600/DSCF0015.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police Scotland, posing as 'Liaison' officers soon <br />returned to their aggressive selves. <br />The GDC suggests a return to Tulliallan<br />for some more role play training. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Finally FRFI’s
protest stall, on 26 July on Argyle Street, in defence of Palestine and socialist
Cuba was harassed by two police liaison officers; male G16 Inspector Forbes (stationed
at Cathcart) and female B 1371. They joked that the protest was not where it
had been publicised and unsuccessfully tried to intimidate supporters who
calmly informed them they would not be intimidated. As one supporter stated
over the megaphone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Why are the police so scared about people in
this country supporting Palestine? Because the Palestinian people, poor and
oppressed, are fighting back. The British ruling class fear that resistance
could spread!”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Friends of
Palestine within Britain should expect to be harassed by the police as they
defend the British imperialist state (Tory and Labour alike) which is a
political, financial and military partner of Apartheid Israel. However this
does not mean we should accept the harassment. We must organise and remain
vigilant; do not talk to or cooperate with police liaison officers before,
during or after meetings and protests. These softly spoken blue uniformed
officers are agents deployed to gain intelligence which their distrusted yellow
uniforms will not get them. We have every right to ignore them and withhold our
personal details unless they can tell you an offence they suspect you of
committing or witnessing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><b>Miriam Kelly</b>,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Glasgow Defence Campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Glasgow, Scotland, 28 July 2014 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-80915899126465584902014-05-04T05:46:00.000-07:002014-05-04T05:46:29.748-07:00Justice and the law - which side are you on? <h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Sunday 27<sup>th</sup> April, the Glasgow Defence
Campaign were proud to host a meeting in Maryhill, Glasgow discussing the role
of justice and the law. Here we reproduce the text of the talk which introduced
the meeting.</span></h4>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Justice and the law – which side are you on?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Any serious consideration of current events cannot
but notice the contradictions of our times. As these contradictions become more
and more acute they will give rise to challenges to the present social order. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Working class living standards are facing their
biggest decline in a generation, yet we are told ‘the economy’ is recovering.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Britain are forced to attend food banks for
basic sustenance, while our television screens are stuffed full of programmes
dedicated to gourmet food and the promotion of self-indulgence as our
neighbours go hungry. Whereas previous food crises have been characterised by
scarcity, today supermarket shelves are overstocked with an abundance of food –
much of it increasingly priced out of the reach of working class people blamed
for their ‘unhealthy lifestyle choices.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Increasing numbers of working class people are being
pushed into the margins of existence as a new wave of benefit sanctions leads
people into destitution and despair. <span style="color: #333333;">Every two
minutes a young person somewhere in the UK has their benefits stopped by a
Jobcentre. Despite making up only 27% of jobseeker's allowance claimants, young
people are the recipients of 43% of the sanctions issued. </span>This violence
is being played out against a background of a united political class and
complicit media telling us that the economy is recovering – that economic
prosperity is returning. This is one of the major contradictions of our times. Anyone
who switches on the media will hear the manta repeated <i>ad nauseam</i>. Perverse and meaningless statistics are used to justify
the new vogue. Those who disagree with this analysis are marginalised and
dismissed. Despite this narrative ordinary people in their daily existence know
the truth; many here will know someone who is either out of work – or facing
punitive benefit sanctions, others will be aware of the vicious attacks on the
disabled being waged by ATOS on behalf of the DWP and the widespread deployment
of Workfare – modern slavery. You may even be going through this process
yourselves. Others will be aware of the increasing phenomenon young people face
– called internships – free labour given in hope of a job in the future. For the
mass of those in work, job insecurity is now increasing and widespread; the use
zero hour contracts are escalating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But there is another contradiction we need to
address: while many of us anticipated these attacks as part of the economic
crisis, we did not expect the absence of resistance. The ruling class, sensing
this, are widening and deepening the attacks to ever increasing sections of the
working class and wider population. Those on the receiving end are told there
is no alternative but to accept defeat and isolation; poor people are being
blamed for being poor, or else told to blame other poor people for their
poverty as racism and bigotry stalks. In response, feelings of hopelessness and
depression become all the more common; alcohol misuse and drug abuse are
increasing as alienation takes hold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We need to confront this reality and begin to
understand why this is happening, we need to understand clearly the role of the
law in this country and begin to work out how we can fight for social justice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One important point I want to make is that all of
these attacks are part of conscious political decision making. It has recently
dropped out of the vocabulary of the ruling class and its media, but what we
are experiencing is the realisation of the Tory party vision of what they
termed the ‘Big Society’. That is the role back of the state, the systematic
destruction of state welfare provision for the poor and the vulnerable and the
promotion of charity as the solution. What we are seeing is a return to the
nineteenth century poor laws – people should read the lead article in the
current edition of <i>Fight Racism! Fight
Imperialism! </i>where we discuss the social crisis in more detail. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In these times, however, where there is so much injustice
and so little resistance it falls on us to understand and explain to people
what is happening and begin to work out a solution. We must understand that
others before us have faced far worse social conditions and found solutions. We
cannot afford to lose inspiration and hope – we need to maintain belief in
ourselves and understand that it is working class people organising together who
hold the key. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The discerning among the ruling class understands
all too well the enormity of the crisis facing British imperialism. They know that
the economic crisis is producing a social crisis; they also know that a
political crisis is inevitable. They may be many things but they are not
foolish. Just look at how skilled they are at dividing and ruling people; they
have been doing it for generations. This is why they have erected an array of
legislation to criminalise increasing swathes of the population; the last
Labour government created criminal legislation at a rate of more than one a day
– over 6,000 new pieces of legislation! It was the most heavily legislated parliament
since parliament was created and more than twice the rate of the previous Tory
regime under Thatcher and Major. A recent academic study of the legislative
programme of the Scottish Parliament noted how it had created criminal offenses
at a far greater rate than its English counterpart; in the course of a twelve
month period between 2010 to 2011 twice as many criminal offences applying to
Scotland were created compared to those applying to England. Why, we are
entitled to ask, is all of this necessary? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we wrote previously in <i>Fight Racism! Fight Imerialism!,</i> the economic counterpart to the
social disciplining of the working class is a flexible labour market: freedom
for the market is matched by social control for the working class. Or as Larry
Elliot wrote of the Blair’s Labour government: having decided it will not
regulate the markets, Labour will ‘regulate the people instead, imposing a
panoply of social controls to ensure that problems caused by uncontrollable
unregulated economy…don’t threaten the lifestyles of its new middle class
constituency.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> increasing
criminalisation of our communities has gone hand in hand with attacks on our
legal rights. I want to discuss two of the major ones, the attacks on legal aid
and the moves by the Scottish Parliament to abolish evidential corroboration in
criminal trials. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To fully understand these measures we need to view
them as part of the overall war on the working class. Let us be clear; the rich
will always be able to buy the best lawyers. For the working class however
justice is increasingly being denied with all of the consequences which follow
from inadequate legal representation when faced against a state intent on widespread
criminalisation. That the increasing attacks on legal aid are occurring at a
time of increasing criminal legislation is no accident. The challenge before
those who oppose cuts in legal aid is to go beyond immediate self interest and
show how these issues of justice affect us all. As political activists who are
subject to police harassment and criminalisation we declare a special interest.
To save legal aid it may be pertinent to examine how legal aid came about in
the first instance; I know of no serious study which has examined this issue –
either north or south of the border. It is perfectly conceivable that its
author awaits. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We need to also understand the recent moves to
abolish corroboration in Scots law. Corroboration – the requirement in criminal
trails that for a conviction to be safe there must be two independent pieces of
evidence of the crucial fact. The emotive issue of Scotland’s poor conviction
rate for rape is often at the fore of the corroboration debate. It is
misleading and it is intended to mislead and confuse. We are rarely told that
in fact this is the political response to Scots law being brought into line
with the rest of Europe following the important 2010 Supreme Court <i>Cadder</i> ruling which upheld the right of
an accused person to have consultation with a solicitor – a right long held in
other jurisdictions. The ruling means that Scottish police can no longer
question suspects without offering the suspect a private consultation with a
lawyer; not only before an interrogation but also at any time during the
interrogation at the suspects request. On 21 April the Scottish Government
announced that it was putting on hold this process; clearly with the pending
referendum they have calculated that this could be detrimental to the SNPs independence
ambitions. In the final analysis these matters will be dependent on the prevailing
balance of political forces. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The increasing propensity towards criminalisation,
the restriction of access to justice by undermining legal aid and the moves towards
abolishing corroboration cannot be separated from the economic and social
crisis facing British imperialism. The great contradiction of so much injustice
with so little resistance is a temporary state of affairs. These developments
show that the ruling class are preparing for a deeper class war than we are
currently enduring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Where will the resistance come from? History is
loaded with examples of what propels individuals into political action; we say
that the contradictions of our times will inevitably give rise to opportunities
for revolutionary advances to be made. The Edinburgh born Irish revolutionary
James Connolly understood and articulated very clearly the material basis of
political action in an important article published in the <i>Workers’ Republic</i> on 12 August 1899. His prophetic words are worth
recalling; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: ivory; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘In every case the social condition of the mass
of the people was the determining factor in political activity. Where the mass
of the people find existing conditions intolerable, and imagine they see a way
out, there will be a great political movement; where the social conditions are
not so abnormally acute no amount of political oratory, nor yet co-operation of
leaders, can produce a movement.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: ivory; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is no such thing as a problem without a solution;
the solution lies within the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is the role of progressive people at this time?
Our primary duty must be to struggle; we must prove ourselves capable of
articulating the frustrations and aspirations of our communities. To do so
effectively we must constantly be on our guard against our biggest enemies at
this time; pessimism, indifference and inaction. We must understand that from
nothing comes nothing. We must be able to take each and every particular
problem, each instance of injustice to its roots in the general crisis of
capitalism and back to the particular solution. We must be vigilant and
actively oppose those who would steer struggles into dead ends; those who
promote narrow class interests over the interests of working class as a whole. We
cannot offer readymade solutions but know that the struggle contains the
solution.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today
by having meetings and discussions such as this we are rebuilding the
revolutionary traditions firmly grounded upon our knowledge of the economic
basis of all political action. As James Connolly stated; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: ivory; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">‘Examine the great revolutionary movements of
history and you find that in all cases they sprang from unsatisfactory social
conditions, and had their origin in a desire for material well being. In other
words, the seat of progress and source of revolution is not in the brain, but
in the stomach.<span class="apple-converted-space">’<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: ivory; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In
these times it is absolutely vital that we take hope and inspiration from our
revolutionary traditions, as Walter Benjamin once noted, it is only for the
sake of those without hope that hope is given to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Paul
McKenna, chairperson of the Glasgow Defence Campaign. </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-47618217024633119762014-03-19T18:02:00.000-07:002014-03-20T03:11:44.953-07:00Guilty for using a megaphone against ATOS <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today in Glasgow Sheriff Court, a judge sitting alone
without a jury found Dominic O’Hara guilty of the criminal offence of using a
megaphone on <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html" target="_blank">a picket against ATOS and in defence of disability rights in Glasgow on 22 February 2013</a>. Sentence has been deferred until 18 March 2015 pending a 'good behaviour' report.
These are the means through which the British ruling class hopes to deal with
any opposition voices they deem a threat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supporters packed the public gallery in court number 20 to
hear the third and final day of a trial which has cost in the region of £10,000
to bring to conclusion. From the outset the Glasgow Defence Campaign has been very
clear – the trial was a political trial – where the right to effective protest
was at stake. The trial can only be understood in the wider context of the
undeclared war on the working class which is underway. The attacks on
democratic rights cannot be separated from the violence which is currently
being reined upon the most vulnerable in society who are being made to pay for
the economic crisis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When placed against a background of almost four years of
constant harassment directed against supporters of <a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/events-reports/scotland" target="_blank"><i>Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</i> in Glasgow</a>, today’s verdict comes as no surprise. Money and
resources was no object. Four crown witnesses were used, three of them police
officers. Two supporters were illegally arrested and detained on the protest.
<a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html" target="_blank">The charges relating to this were later to be dropped</a> as the arrests themselves
were unlawful. In the weeks following his arrest, one supporter was accosted and
stalked at his family home by undercover police officers who attempted to
recruit him as an informer. We reserve the right to <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/strathclyde-police-attempt-to-divide.html" target="_blank">comment further on the police manoeuvres</a> during this period and will do so at a time of our convenience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the time being the Glasgow Defence Campaign would like
to place on record our sincere thanks to all those who have helped publicise
this case and who have stood with us throughout the past year. Tens of
thousands of people have read our recent blog postings confirming what we
believe to be a growing concern among more and more people about the nature of ‘justice’
in this country. We have held no less than nine pickets of Glasgow Sheriff
Court in relation to this specific case to make it absolutely clear to those
who oppress the vulnerable we will hold them to account. We would like to
salute our comrades from Dundee <i>Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</i> and Dundee
Against ATOS who have travelled in support during the trial. We hope you
learned something about the nature of the British justice system and how the
police react to effective court mobilisations and we hope also to have learned
from you about the need to continue to resist. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When faced with injustice we have no option but to continue
to resist. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miriam Kelly GDC</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glasgow, Scotland</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19 March 2014 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They've got all their law books and their regulations</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They've got all their prisons and fortresses;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their ‘deterrent
measures’ we needn't mention!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They've got all their prison guards and judges</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who are well paid, ready to do anything:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, why is that then?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do they really think they’ll wear us down with all that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before they perish (and that will be soon)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They will see how all they did was in vain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They've got their newspapers and printing presses</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With which to attack and silence our voices</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their
statesmen we needn't mention!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They own Priests and Professors </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who are well paid and ready to do anything:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, why is that then?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it because the truth’s so frightening? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before they perish (and that will be soon)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They will see how all they did was in vain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They've got their tanks and their cannon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Machine guns and hand grenades</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their stilted
truncheons don’t really count!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their policemen and their soldiers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who are underpaid, but ready to do anything:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, why is that then? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it because their enemy’s so powerful? <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They think they must find some support soon </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To halt what’s tottering up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A day will come, it will be soon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They’ll come to see that that’s no good to them at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then they can go on screaming ‘stop!’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neither money nor cannon will save them!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Bertolt Brecht</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Translated by the Glasgow Defence Campaign</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-69388346966888538412014-03-18T05:26:00.000-07:002014-03-18T05:44:25.967-07:00Housing Meetings and Court Protests not allowed in Glasgow? 18 March Update<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tonight’s meeting ‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Housing is in Crisis: What Can We Do About It?’ organised by </span>Glasgow
Games Monitor 2014 and Unite Community Union has been shut down by the Board of
Directors at Bridgeton Community Learning Campus (BCLC) who have chosen to
cancel the venue booking. The statement from Games Monitor in response to this attack
on the democratic right to free speech and organisation can be viewed by clicking here</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://gamesmonitor2014.org/2014/03/17/housing-meeting-blocked-in-bridgeton/" target="_blank">'Housing Meeting Blocked in Bridgeton!'</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a separate but no unrelated turn of events the time
and court number of the Glasgow Sheriff Court ‘megaphone trial’ due to conclude
tomorrow 19 March has been changed in the last 24 hours. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It will now take place an hour earlier at 10am and in court number 20</b>.
The GDC views this as a blatant attack on the democratic right to protest with Police
Scotland and Glasgow Sheriff court attempting to disorganise the publicised court
picket planned outside the court from 10.15am. From the last appearance on 4
March it is clear the police and courts are out to provoke and arrest
supporters (<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/megaphone-trial-continues-as-police.html" target="_blank">see full report by clicking here</a></span>). For this reason we are calling on all those
planning to attend the trial to head directly to court number 20 at 10am to
witness the trials summary and conclusion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unite
against these attacks on the right to free speech and protest! </span><br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-44033150039312739822014-03-05T10:09:00.002-08:002014-03-05T11:01:24.697-08:00Megaphone trial continues as police disrupt court protest<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgM5UQ2auI3MOzKsuoFQNYZY-d_V9cd74KkagqECJQ813NYl9vAccdiJqdhKBXrVr9eoegoZuBlHRQn_FamS78mvmGB5ei9jhxkJPhZmGUIj0lUeEfHnUcHwaoER4jAqu4SggGkS3noqG/s1600/P1020107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgM5UQ2auI3MOzKsuoFQNYZY-d_V9cd74KkagqECJQ813NYl9vAccdiJqdhKBXrVr9eoegoZuBlHRQn_FamS78mvmGB5ei9jhxkJPhZmGUIj0lUeEfHnUcHwaoER4jAqu4SggGkS3noqG/s1600/P1020107.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police disrupt peaceful Glasgow Defence Campaign <br />
court protest, issuing threats to arrest, <br />
Glasgow Sheriff Court, 4 March 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day three of the trial against <a href="http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/category/atos/" target="_blank">an anti ATOS</a> campaigner
violently arrested on a peaceful disability rights protest for using a
megaphone last year will continue at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 19 March.
Yesterday witnessed the second day of the trial in which the right to use a
megaphone is facing criminalisation; outside the court protesters had another sharp
lesson on the right to protest being undermined as police moved to disrupt the
peaceful court picket. <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html" target="_blank">Background can be read here.</a> While, for the time being, we cannot comment on the trial
itself, we can however comment on the police operation outside of the court and
what that means for the right to protest and the campaign against
criminalisation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In recent weeks, the Glasgow Defence Campaign <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/how-to-support-glasgow-defence-campaign.html" target="_blank">have written to and contacted hundreds of individuals, organisations, trade unions, academics and political groups to make everyone aware of the attacks on democratic rights in general and in particular this specific attempt by the police to restrict the use of a megaphone</a>. What is in issue is the legality or
otherwise of the police to intervene in peaceful political protest and
determine the effectiveness of the protest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prior to the commencement of the trial renowned prize
winning writer James Kelman sent the campaign the following message of support;
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"People have a right to question. The police and legal system
should do all in their power to support that right. Even when the subject under
scrutiny is the authoritarian behaviour of the permanent state and its
political apparatus. Instead of defending the people the police and legal
system protect the tyrant and attack, condemn and criminalise those who offer
resistance. It is beneath contempt. People in Scotland are watching the actions
of the police and legal system here today. My best wishes to the Glasgow
Defence Campaign. (James Kelman)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On
4 March outside the court as protesters from across Glasgow, Lanarkshire and
Dundee gathered in solidarity police moved in and declared the assembly illegal
and all those present liable to arrest unless we dispersed. The police stated
that the area outside the court was ‘private property’ and that permission for
any protest was required. When informed that the area was in fact public space
and that no such authorisation is necessary for static protests; the officers
changed tact. Individuals were threatened with arrest for breach of the peace,
contravention of s.54 of the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982 (which
demonstrates a lack of imagination as no sound amplifier was in use) and also
for refusing to provide details of our identity when required to do so by a uniformed
officer when under suspicion of committing an offence. A note of the incident
can be viewed on the campaign harassment log. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyQ-yx1yR9P3jeRRfkD9BlN8s6yYqODCDp5jjMWGUsE7fbZ78uqZ7BOtcp0IJehqMK66w3sHZxKg7iMH2FnJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">This
is routine bog standard police harassment. We have the right to protest as enshrined
in the Human Rights Act; the moment you do so effectively you face criminal
sanction for doing so and subject to a report from the police to the crown
office. </span>Inside the court private security firm Alliance gave campaign
supporters special treatment – despite campaign material being deposited
elsewhere to prevent cause for further harassment, Alliance brutes searched
supporters for ‘leaflets’ and confiscated pieces of paper from supporters. When
asked under whose command this direction was carried out, we were informed by
one bully ‘I am my own boss and it’s up to me’. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We need to keep in mind why this trial is taking place. The
trial to date has cost the crown in our estimation in excess of £7,000; the
maximum penalty should a guilty verdict be returned is £50. This trial is a political
trial; it is part of an overall campaign of state harassment being directed
against members and supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! which is
intended to disrupt and criminalise legitimate political work. To date the Glasgow
Defence Campaign have fought 18 charges, won 15 of them, had one fine, one
admonishment with one still pending. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On 22 February 2013 picket, <a href="http://www.frfi.co.uk/" target="_blank">two supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</a> were illegally arrested and detained for speaking on a
megaphone in a protest against ATOS and in defence of disability rights. The
police attack took place as the campaign grew; we correctly stated then that
the police attack was a calculated divide and rule operation. One supporter was
within days visited by undercover police officers – using a false name - at his
family home, menacing phone calls followed where a deal to make things ‘go away’
were offered. <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html" target="_blank">These unlawful police manoeuvres will not be tolerated quietly and are currently the subject of civil action being pursued by the Glasgow Defence Campaign. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We need to urgently build momentum for day three of the
trial and call upon supporters to gather in solidarity; we need to ask in whose
interests is this trial being pursued? We call upon our supporters to speak to
their families and friends about this case, write to newspapers and your
elected representatives, break the silence on the attacks on democratic rights;
join the Glasgow Defence Campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We say that if Dominic O’Hara is a criminal for speaking on
a megaphone then we are all guilty, for the right to speak out against
injustice is a universal right which must be protected and fought for. The Glasgow
Defence Campaign is prepared to fight. Everything or nothing; all of us or
none. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Miriam Kelly, Glasgow Defence Campaign 17.30 5 March 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1411288929127546/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Picket the Sheriff Court on day there of the megaphone
trial.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1411288929127546/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1411288929127546/" target="_blank">Wednesday 19 March at 10.15am, Glasgow Sheriff Court, Carlton Place. </a></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At 11 am the trial will continue and we expect will be
concluded on that day before a judge sitting alone without a jury in court 19,
which is open to the public. We call on all progressive people to attend in
support, those in attendance will be able to hear a summary of the case in the
final submissions of both the prosecution and the defence. </span></span>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-29182088994367471302014-02-28T11:29:00.001-08:002014-02-28T12:04:37.413-08:00Speaking against ATOS in defence of the sick and disabled is not a crime. Picket Glasgow Sheriff Court 4 March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 26.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt;">Glasgow</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 26.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt;"> Defence Campaign<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS</span><b><span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 26.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: -.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Dear
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Fighting
political policing. <span class="fblongblurb">Defending the right to protest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We are writing to you
today to call for your support and solidarity with a student protester in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glasgow</st1:place></st1:city> facing criminal
proceedings for using a megaphone. We do not believe it is in the public
interest to criminalise young people who participate in peaceful protest
against the cuts in social welfare. We are demanding that the Lord Advocate
intervenes and drops the outstanding charge in the interests of justice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">On <st1:date day="22" month="2" w:st="on" year="2013">22 February 2013</st1:date>, during a
peaceful anti-cuts protest in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glasgow</st1:place></st1:city>
city centre Dominic O’Hara was arrested for <i>using a megaphone </i>under
Section 54 of the Civic Government of Scotland Act (1982). Daniel McGarrel was
arrested for allegedly attempting to free a person in custody. At court, 10
months after the arrests, the Procurator Fiscal conceded that the original
arrests were unlawful and all charges of resisting arrest, police obstruction
and attempts to liberate a prisoner from custody were dropped before the trial.
However, in a quite incredible decision, the Crown Office decided to pursue prosecution
of Dominic for use of a megaphone under the 1982 Act. Maximum penalty for this
is a £50 fine, yet to date the case has, we estimate, cost £7,000. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">This ‘megaphone’ case
is a sign of the times we are living in, and is only one in a long line of
police attacks on peaceful protestors over the last three years. The Glasgow
Defence Campaign (GDC) was established to oppose this political policing. Our
work aims to offer practical, emotional and political support to all those
being criminalised for defending our democratic rights in the struggle against
the cuts in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glasgow</st1:place></st1:city>
and across the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<span class="fblongblurb"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Following the
collapse of the original charges Dominic told the GDC: ‘The key question here
is freedom of speech for everyone who is trying to organise against the cuts
and welfare reform. It’s a fight we can’t lose.’ Daniel added: ‘That the Crown
didn’t abandon the megaphone case shows that this is clearly political. The
dropping of the charges against myself shows the importance of fighting
political charges with a political defence. I’d like to thank the GDC and supporters who
have stood with us throughout the last twelve months.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We are writing to you
today to call for your support and solidarity with Dominic and all those across
the country who are facing such criminalisation and demand that the Lord
Advocate intervenes and drops the outstanding charge in the interests of
justice. . <span class="fblongblurb">It is vital that all progressive thinkers
unite to </span>stop this attack on the right protest. You can support GDC by:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Joining us on Tuesday 4 March, <st1:time hour="10" minute="15" w:st="on">10.15am</st1:time>
at the Court Picket<i>, </i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Glasgow Sheriff Court</st1:address></st1:street>. <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1 Carlton Place</st1:address></st1:street>. Trial begins <st1:time hour="11" minute="0" w:st="on">11am</st1:time> in court 19 (open to the public).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Demand the charge be dropped! Send us a statement of
support and solidarity</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and publish it on your blog or website. Read the
statement of solidarity from the renowned writer and working class activist
James Kelman on our website. We commend Kelman's consistent and principled
stand on this question and urge others to follow his lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Become a member of GDC. </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">You can support the
vital work of GDC by becoming a member of the organisation or sending us a donation
(details enclosed).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Read further background on this and many others cases of
political policing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">
in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glasgow</st1:place></st1:city> and
across the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
See <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Thank
you for your time and for considering joining us in<span class="apple-style-span"> defence of our right to protest. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">GDC Box YI-45, </span><st1:address style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;" w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">48 West George Street</st1:street>, <st1:city w:st="on">Glasgow</st1:city></st1:address><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
G2 1BO glasgowdefence@ gmail.com</span>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-89124098248927324212014-02-20T08:31:00.002-08:002014-02-26T04:53:16.152-08:00Standing shoulder to shoulder against the criminalisation of football fans<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 2012 ‘The Offensive Behaviour at
Football and Threatening Communications Act’ was passed. Since then Strathclyde
Police and now Police Scotland have been using their new power to build cases
against football fans. Under the new legislation any action within a football
stadium that may cause offence to someone may be treated as a criminal act.
Although this sounds absurd, bordering on laughable, this is a very serious
issue illustrated by the house raids, arrests and prosecution of Celtic fans who
now face the possibility of jail time if found guilty. This should concern any
citizens in Scotland who value their right to freedom of speech and right to
protest.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These rights are
something that the working classes have had to struggle for, over hundreds of
years, and we should vigorously resist this attempt to erode them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Celtic fans facing trial are
accused of singing of a song called <i>‘The
Roll of Honour’</i> which was written by the band <i>The Irish brigade</i> in 1982. The
band have opposed any attempts to slander the song as racist or offensive
stating; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘the
roll of honour was written at a time of great social and political upheaval in
the North of Ireland. It was to commemorate the sacrifice of ten young men who
died in the Hunger Strike of 1981. The song was a reflection of the thoughts,
feelings and beliefs, held by many in Ireland and throughout the world who felt
that these deaths could have been avoided if the British Government at that
time had not taken such a harsh and unbending attitude towards the prison
crisis. The line ‘England, you’re a Monster’ is figurative language and is a
reference to this belief. The word ‘Monster’ is defined as someone ‘unnaturally
cruel’ – the Government at that time. It is not or was not, at any time, to be
construed as referring to the English Nation or the people of England, it is
not a racist remark’. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In response to the
legislation and prosecutions a group</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
called Fans Against Criminalisation has been formed by Celtic supporters to
campaign against the criminalisation of football fans. FAC recently held a well
organised leafleting session in the area surrounding Celtic park before the
match on Saturday 8<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>February in
order to publicise the re-release of ‘The Roll of Honour’ song on iTunes in
protest against the prosecutions. On 16 February the single reached number 33
in the official UK top forty singles chart showing that there is widespread
opposition to this attempt to criminalise the content of the song and to prosecute
Celtic supporters for singing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘The Roll of Honour’ song is neither
racist nor is it sectarian and in fact carries many similarities to the National
anthem of Scotland (Flower of Scotland) in its opposition to national
oppression and foreign occupation. Up to this point no one has been charged for
singing ‘The Flower of Scotland’ nor do we expect them to be. This once again highlights
that anti-Irish racism is alive and well in Scottish society; on the street and
in the establishment. If you sing a song about Scottish nationalism it’s okay
you’re only being patriotic but dare mention Ireland’s politics or nationalism
and you’re a criminal. ‘The Roll of Honour is an Irish political song. Under
this legislation a potential sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment faces those
who sing it in football stadiums. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Glasgow Defence Campaign calls on
everyone to stand shoulder to shoulder against this injustice and we call for
organisation and mobilisation against this sectarian legislation. We send our
support both to those facing prosecution and to those who are organising in
defence of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Unity is our key to victory!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All power to the people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Danny McGarrell</span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-60680043403768115722014-01-31T02:31:00.000-08:002014-02-26T03:35:53.035-08:00Anniversary Picket of 'Glasgow Against Atos 2' Trial To Go Ahead. Stand with us<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The adjournment of Tuesday’s ‘megaphone’ trial against
one of the ‘Glasgow Against Atos 2’ means the case will have gone on for over a
year before its concluded. It has been rescheduled for 4 March. Against the
cold winds blowing round Glasgow sheriff court supporters once again mobilised
to demand the political charge of ‘using a megaphone’ was dropped. Spokesperson
for the Glasgow Defence Campaign Miriam Kelly commented;</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘An undeclared war on the poor is underway. We see this
in job centre sanctions and with Atos rulings declaring sick and disabled
people fit for work. We also see it in courts with working class people evicted
from their homes because they can’t afford rent payments. This ‘megaphone’ case
is also a sign of the times were living in. History tells us that attacks on
the poor are accompanied by an attack on the right of free speech and other
basic democratic rights which allow the poor and oppressed to organise to defend
themselves. We will take the lessons of the past and continue our work to
support those people being criminalised for fighting the cuts. The best defence
we can have is our unity against what is happening.’</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Join us for an anniversary picket of Glasgow Sheriff
Court. Bring pots, pans, whistles, banners and voices to let the police and courts
know they won’t silence us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Court
Picket: Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech! Refuse to be silent!</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tuesday
4 March, 10.15am</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Glasgow
Sheriff Court</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">1
Carlton Place</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Trial
begins 11am in court 19 (open to the public)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For the background of the case see </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And a protest song penned by one of the ‘Glasgow Against
Atos 2’</span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘We’ve
No Even Started! Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech!’</span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><u><a href="https://soundcloud.com/the-wee-man-1/weve-no-even-started-fight-the">https://soundcloud.com/the-wee-man-1/weve-no-even-started-fight-the</a></u></span></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-70087907773405506672014-01-27T19:28:00.000-08:002014-01-27T19:28:13.179-08:00Message of solidarity from James Kelman<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign has received the following statement of solidarity from the renowned writer and working class activist James Kelman, on the eve of tomorrow's trial of free speech in Glasgow. We salute Kelman's consistent and principled stand on this question and urge others to follow his lead.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"People have a right to question. The police and legal system should do all in their power to support that right. Even when the subject under scrutiny is the authoritarian behaviour of the permanent state and its political apparatus. Instead of defending the people the police and legal system protect the tyrant and attack, condemn and criminalise those who offer resistance. It is beneath contempt. People in Scotland are watching the actions of the police and legal system here today. My best wishes to the Glasgow Defence Campaign. (James Kelman)</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2009/3/18/1237387161655/James-Kelman-author.-002.jpg" /><br />
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<br />Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-13508721487485340242014-01-25T19:29:00.001-08:002014-01-25T19:37:36.854-08:00Megaphone Trial Continues. Picket Glasgow Sheriff Court 28 January!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Day two
of the trial against the Glasgow Against ATOS 2 continues this Tuesday 28
January. The two
were arrested for using a megaphone on a protest against cuts to sickness and
disability benefit on 22 February 2013. Framed up charges against the two were
dropped on 1 October after a Sheriff court ruled that their arrest and
detention had been
unlawful (compensation is now being sought). However the charge of using a
megaphone was upheld. </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of
the supporters arrested has penned this song to tell the story of their arrest
and trial. The song opposes the criminalisation of protest against the cuts
showing the hypocrisy of the real criminals robbing the poor and defending the
bankers. We hope you enjoy it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>‘We`ve no even started! Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech!’</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user300128739/weve-no-even-started-fight-the">https://soundcloud.com/user300128739/weve-no-even-started-fight-the</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For information on
the case so far see</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>Join the Glasgow Defence Campaign to picket the Sheriff Court!</i></b><b><br />
Tuesday 28 January, 10.15am front of the court<br />
</b>Trial in court 19 (Open to the public)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1 Carlton Place</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">G5 9DA</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">FIGHT THE CUTS!<br />
REFUSE TO BE SILENT!<br />
DON'T PANIC - ORGANISE!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To join
the Glasgow Defence Campaign donate a £5 pledge or standing order to the credit
of </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Glasgow Defence Campaign</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sort
Code: 08-92-99</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Account
No: 65685253</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Post your
contact details to us at the address below or email <a href="mailto:glasgowdefence@gmail.com">glasgowdefence@gmail.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">GDC</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PO Box
YI-45, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2<sup>nd</sup>
Floor, 48 West George Street, </span></span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-51886597144237358452014-01-07T08:15:00.005-08:002014-01-07T08:24:00.370-08:00Megaphone trial begins in Glasgow<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Militant protest held outside Glasgow Sheriff Court, Monday 6 January 2014</td></tr>
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The trial against Dominic O’Hara a supporter of <a href="http://www.frfi.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</a> and the Glasgow Defence Campaign began yesterday at
Glasgow Sheriff Court as protesters staged a militant protest outside the
court. On 22 February 2013 Dominic was unlawfully arrested and detained for
speaking on a megaphone alongside another Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
supporter Daniel McGarrell on a protest against cuts to disability benefits
being carried out by the multinational ATOS, on behalf of the Department of
Work and Pensions. As we noted at the time, the state were setting out to smash
the growing resistance against the cuts and in particular <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/strathclyde-police-attempt-to-divide.html" target="_blank">divide and derail the campaign against ATOS</a>. </div>
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At a previous court hearing on <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html" target="_blank">1 October 2013 the case in respect of three charges against the ATOS 2 collapsed, in an important victory for the Glasgow Defence Campaign,</a> as the crown was forced
to concede that their original arrest and detention was unlawful as they had no
powers of arrest under the legislation s.54 of the Civic Government (Scotland)
Act 1982 at they had originally claimed. The flagrant abuse of police powers is
currently subject to legal action being pursued by the Glasgow Defence
Campaign. </div>
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Yesterdays trial heard from two prosecution witnesses
surrounding the events of the day. Speaking outside of the court, convenor of
the Glasgow Defence Campaign, Paul McKenna stated that ‘this trial is a
political trial which is intended to restrict and criminalise any effective
protest against the cuts. The only criminality which took place that day on a
wholly orderly and peaceful protest was the police snatch on our two comrades.
We are confident that they will be vindicated’. </div>
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The trial was adjourned and will resume on Tuesday 28
January at 10am in court number 19 at Glasgow Sheriff Court, before a single
judge sitting alone without a jury. </div>
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The Glasgow Defence Campaign will again be mobilising for a
court protest and reminds supporters of <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/policing-crisis_4.html" target="_blank">this Sunday’s important meeting on the fight for democratic rights.</a> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Policing the crisis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When the law makers are the law breakers there is no law</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday 12 January 2-4pm</span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-21668858140658077522014-01-04T01:48:00.004-08:002014-01-04T01:55:16.295-08:00Policing the crisis <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When the law makers are the law breakers there is no law</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday 12 January 2-4pm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A special meeting organised by the Glasgow Defence Campaign to build momentum in the fight to defend democratic rights in Glasgow against police repression. <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/criminal-trial-in-glasgow-for-using.html" target="_blank">In a week which will start with the yet another political trial in Glasgow as the state attempts to criminalise the use of a megaphone</a> we are having this meeting offering our considered response.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul McKenna, chairperson of the Glasgow Defence Campaign, will be discussing the role of the state within crisis politics and how historically the police owe their development to crisis where they have moved beyond the limits of the rule of law. Paul will be discussing how political charges must be fought with a political as well as a legal defence with specific reference to the current situation facing the anti cuts movement and the attacks on our legal rights in Scotland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nicki Jameson, is editor of the <a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/prisoners-fightback" target="_blank">Prisoners Fightback page in <i>Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</i></a> and author of the book, <a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/publications/1716-strangeways-a-serious-disturbance-eric-allison-and-nicki-jameson" target="_blank">Strangeways 1990: a serious disturbance.</a> Nicki will be discussing how political policing was used against the four year long Non Stop Picket outside South Africa House in London for the release of Nelson Mandela and all South African political prisoners. Crucially Nicki will be discussing how police repression was successfully countered drawing out the lessons for today’s political struggles.</span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-20145960320730859172014-01-02T13:09:00.002-08:002014-01-02T13:09:28.037-08:00Criminal Trial in Glasgow ‘for using a loudspeaker’ – The Case Continues<div class="yiv9849713982MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388696578728_2838" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px;">
The Glasgow Defence Campaign enters the New Year with determination and optimism that the fight against the cuts, racism and political policing and courts can and will grow. </div>
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Since our establishment three years ago we have supported progressive people victim to the assault on democratic rights by Strathclyde Police (now Police Scotland). We have resisted on-going attempts to intimidate, isolate and infiltrate progressive individuals and organisations such as <i>Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! </i>with street and court demonstrations while updating our police harassment log to record the details of these offences.</div>
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On Monday 6 January 2014 one of our supporters Dominic O’Hara faces a Sheriff Court trial for using a loudspeaker in Glasgow City Centre. The last appearance of the ‘Glasgow Against Atos 2’ in October found that police had unlawfully arrested and detained both Dominic and Daniel McGarrell on 22 February 2013 during a peaceful static protest against the benefit cutting multinational Atos (working on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions). Despite this ruling against police violence and the dropping of stitched up charges of ‘resisting arrest’ and ‘attempting to liberate a prisoner’ the judge chose to uphold a political charge of ‘illegally’ using a loudspeaker. The campaign is mobilising for a picket of the Sheriff court to defend free speech and the right to protest (details below). We hope to see you + friends and family there if you can be.</div>
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In the run up to the Commonwealth Games we expect to see a clamp down on democratic rights in Glasgow City Centre in an attempt to cover up the stench of cuts and corruption coming from the ruling elites in this city. The campaign will work to defend those who wish to expose the hypocrisy of these institutions and the ‘respectable face’ they try to present to the world.</div>
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The point we have made from the start that effective resistance to the ruling class can only be built and maintained with an effective political defence campaign to support victims of state repression still stands. We look forward to and hope others will join us in this fight for 2014!</div>
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Don’t panic, organise!</div>
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<b>Free Speech Court Picket</b></div>
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<i>Defend Free Speech in Glasgow City Centre! Unite Against the Cuts!</i></div>
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Monday 6 January, from 9.15am</div>
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Front of Glasgow Sheriff Court,</div>
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Carlton Place</div>
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For more details on the case see</div>
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<a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388696578728_2810" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html</a></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-79685471041852070632013-12-17T16:12:00.001-08:002013-12-17T16:12:04.414-08:00The fight against police repression across the world<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some fraternal supporters of the Glasgow Defence Campaign are currently participating in the World Festival of Youth and Students in Quito, Ecuador, as part of a delegation from the Revolutionary Communist Group. They have been forging links with other progressive groups internationally who are taking up the fight against police repression - interviews with members of US groups Fight Imperialism Stand Together and the Justice for Jesus Huerta campaign can be see <a href="http://rcg-ecuador2013.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, detailing the horrific levels of racist police violence and murder faced by communities in the United States. We post here a video of a GDC supporter being interviewed at the festival.</span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-63724503311378489472013-10-02T13:45:00.001-07:002013-10-02T13:45:52.951-07:00Crown case collapses but fight not over: defending the right to act against ATOS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign
welcomes yesterday’s victory for two activists <a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html">arrested
in February</a> on an anti-ATOS protest in Glasgow for using a megaphone, as
the Crown case all but collapsed. Supporters gathered on the steps of the
Sheriff Court to demand ‘No harassment, no arrest! Defend the right to
protest!’ and an end to the <a href="http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/category/atos/">brutal attacks</a> on
the rights of sick and disabled people through companies like ATOS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Procurator Fiscal conceded
that the original arrests of Dominic O’Hara and Daniel McGarrell – both
supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! – were unlawful and charges of
resisting arrest, police obstruction and attempts to liberate a prisoner from
custody were all dropped before the trial. However, in a quite incredible
decision, the Crown Office has decided to continue pursuing Dominic through the
courts for use of a megaphone under <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/54">Section 54</a> of
the Civic Government of Scotland Act (1982), setting the next trial date for 6
January 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dominic told the GDC: ‘The key
question here is freedom of speech for everyone who is trying to organise
against the cuts and welfare reform. It’s a fight we can’t lose.’ Daniel added:
‘That the Crown didn’t abandon the case today shows that this is clearly
political. The dropping of the charges against myself shows the importance of
fighting political charges with a political defence. Imagine if I’d plead
guilty? I’d like to thank the GDC and those supporters who have stood with us
throughout the last seven months.’ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be clear: on 22 February 2013,
dozens of Strathclyde police officers on foot, bikes, cars and vans were
mobilised to intentionally disrupt a peaceful protest against ATOS in Glasgow
city centre. Police proceeded to violently arrest two activists for <i>using a megaphone </i>under Section 54 of
the Civic Government of Scotland Act, <i>which
the officers must have known carries no power of arrest</i>. The activists were
therefore unlawfully arrested and incarcerated in the cells of Stewart Street
police office for several hours before being charged with resisting arrest and
police obstruction. Three weeks later, Daniel McGarrell was contacted by what
was subsequently confirmed by solicitors to be an <i><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/police-harassment-log.html">undercover
police officer</a> </i>who issued him with threats and attempted to recruit him
as an informer. The Crown Office has admitted that the original arrests were
indeed unlawful but will now spend at least <i>one
year</i> in the courts attempting to pursue an activist for exercising free
speech in the course of a peaceful protest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Coalition government, with
the support of the Labour opposition, is undertaking an unprecedented attack on
the living standards of a whole generation, dismantling the welfare state and criminalising
the poor, the young and the unemployed on a massive scale. The most vicious
aspect of this historic process has been the degrading and deadly attacks on
the rights and dignity of sick and disabled people, thousands of whom have died
after going through the notorious Work Capability Assessments run by ATOS. The
case of the Glasgow Against ATOS 2 shows that all those who seek to organise
effective opposition to these policies, whether legal, peaceful or otherwise,
will need to actively fight for their right to do so. The battle to defend
freedom of speech is one and the same as the fight against ATOS, unemployment
and inequality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign asks
that all progressive individuals and organisations join with us in demanding
that the remaining charge against the Glasgow Against ATOS 2 be dropped
immediately, and that freedom of speech is respected. We will be pursuing
compensation from Police Scotland and demanding answers directly from Chief
Constable Stephen House and the office of the Procurator Fiscal. Send messages
of support to <a href="mailto:glasgowdefence@gmail.com">glasgowdefence@gmail.com</a>
and stand with us on the streets. An injury to one is an injury to all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miriam Kelly, GDC PRO, 2 October
2013</span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-52073769852918158842013-09-25T15:42:00.000-07:002013-09-25T15:42:24.299-07:00The Glasgow Against ATOS 2 on trial<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">‘Glasgow
Against Atos 2’</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> will stand trial in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday 1
October on charges of using a megaphone illegally and then attempting to
prevent and resist police arrest. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Both Dominic O’Hara and Danny McGarrell were
arrested on 22 February 2013 during a ‘Glasgow Against Atos’ campaign protest
on Gordon Street in the city centre. Crowds gathered to watch and condemn the
police violence, which was used to disrupt the peaceful and democratic spirit
of the protest, as the two were handcuffed and led away. The shocking scenes in
the heart of the city centre were a measure of the confidence of the Glasgow
police to blatantly attack the right of free speech. Throughout the protest
they had stalked, harassed and attempted to provoke demonstrators using the
megaphone to oppose the welfare warfare being waged on the sick and disabled.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">GDC spokesperson Miriam Kelly stated after the
arrests: ‘today we saw another example of Strathclyde Police (now Police
Scotland) taking the law into their own hands. While Atos and their employers
the Department for Work and Pensions are free to destroy the lives of the
people most in need of care and support, it is the people who bravely stand
against this who are beaten down and criminalised. We say if the police are
truly interested in fighting crime they have arrested the wrong people. It is
Atos and the politicians who constructed the work capability assessment that
should be standing trial.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign has been active
opposing political policing and supporting its victims for over three years.
Throughout this time it has been supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
(FRFI), one of the founding members of the campaign, who have faced a
consistent pattern of police harassment, arrests and charges. That both Dominic
and Danny were members of this organisation at the time of their arrest cannot
be over looked. Evidence from our police harassment log, which includes
undercover police officers unsuccessfully attempting to recruit Danny as a
police informant, shows that the police will stop at no lengths to prevent and
destroy opposition to the cuts. We must all stand together for the sake of
everyone’s rights! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Join us on the picket to say ‘no harassment, no
arrests, defend the right to protest!’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Picket For Free Speech! Drop the charges now!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday 1 October, 9.15am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Glasgow Sheriff Court <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1 Carlton Place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">See original report from arrest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Report from previous court protest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/militant-rally-for-glasgow-atos-2-held.html">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/militant-rally-for-glasgow-atos-2-held.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We recommend </span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Guardian</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> journalists Rob Evans
and Paul Lewis new book <i>Undercover: The true Story of Britain’s Police. </i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Copies of
the book are available from the GDC priced £13 with free postage and can be
obtained by donation via our paypal button. Otherwise call 07734348065<b> </b>or
email <a href="mailto:glasgowdefence@gmail.com">glasgowdefence@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">See report of the launch of the book in
Glasgow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/dont-panic-organise.html">http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/dont-panic-organise.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-20633938001000194552013-08-23T14:39:00.000-07:002013-08-28T06:05:14.438-07:00Don’t panic! Organise! <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">19 August
2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>Glasgow
Defence Campaign host successful book launch of Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s
Secret Police</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KteSmi2OYGJzxWc56B63xoGRrEZnQuImtfpfZJeVR3WMMWhLxsHtC4eNoJDD51P9yB2hg_Kszl5eXL37f9a798g4NiUJPDRaEByZmsUkuiCO3PW_YCKTBxWkXTjDZAG7jzAL9tht_DMK/s1600/Rob+Evans+addresses+Glasgow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KteSmi2OYGJzxWc56B63xoGRrEZnQuImtfpfZJeVR3WMMWhLxsHtC4eNoJDD51P9yB2hg_Kszl5eXL37f9a798g4NiUJPDRaEByZmsUkuiCO3PW_YCKTBxWkXTjDZAG7jzAL9tht_DMK/s400/Rob+Evans+addresses+Glasgow.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A well
attended meeting in the centre of Glasgow saw Rob Evans - <i>Guardian</i> journalist and
co-author of the new book <i>Undercover: The true Story of Britain’s Police</i> speak
alongside criminal defence advocate Claire Mitchell and representatives from the Glasgow
Defence Campaign and the N14 Defence Campaign in Newcastle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rob Evans
spoke in detail of the activities of secret police units such as the original Special
Demonstration Squad formed in 1968 up to today's<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>National Domestic Extremism Unit; how they have monitored and infiltrated ‘subversives’ using fake identification, to the extent of stealing the names and identities of dead
children; and just how deep these undercover operations have gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Claire Mitchell outlined the rights
we have through the European Convention on Human Rights and the domestic Human
Rights Act, suggesting that these rights are facing an increased political
challenge which must be resisted. Claire stated that everyone has a duty to familiarise
themselves with these rights and to exercise them is the best means of
protecting them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Niall O’Donnell, a member of <i><a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/" target="_blank">Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</a></i> based in Newcastle, stated that all those who engage in effective political campaigning in this country in
opposition to the state will quickly become subject to criminalisation.
Speaking on behalf of the <a href="http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">N14 justice campaign</a>, Niall outlined how he and 13 others
were targeted and arrested for their role in opposing neo fascism with the
complicity of members of the local Labour party and charged with ‘conspiracy to
cause public disorder’. Through the successful campaigning work of the N14 all
those arrested have been informed that no charges will be brought against them. But as Niall said: ‘we want answers. Someone has deliberately stirred things up. This
is unacceptable behaviour and we will continue to fight against it.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Joey Simons spoke on behalf of the
Glasgow Defence Campaign detailing how the campaign was started and the varying
levels of state harassment faced by the campaign, stating: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘For the past three years, we have
successfully organised – through free speech rallies, dozens of court pickets
and demonstrations, through recording, monitoring and logging police
harassment, through organising public meetings, literature and bust cards,
through defying police attempts to ban our literature and our presence on the
streets. Over half a million people have seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnVwNPdyBxM" target="_blank">Dominic on Youtube</a> providing
Strathclyde police officers with a lesson in law on the streets of Glasgow.
From the 18 or so various charges our members have faced over the past three
years, we have plead not guilty to every one, and lost in only two cases. The
presence of the Glasgow Defence Campaign has meant that the police must think twice
before harassing protest and the Crown Office to think what really constitutes
'in the public interest.' We have shown that intimidation and criminalisation,
far from driving people off the streets, only strengthens their determination.
We ask people to get involved, to attend the court picket on 1 October and to
become involved in the discussion. Those in power are learning quick, but we
are learning quicker!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The meeting heard many contributions
from the floor, one woman asking the audience how many had been on the receiving
end of police harassment and violence – over two thirds of the meeting raised their
hands. Another important contribution noted that the revelations in the book
confirm that far from being some rogue undercover unit, the entire process has
been authorised by Whitehall and the Home Office itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chair of the meeting Paul McKenna ended the meeting by stating that the Glasgow Defence Campaign is reorganising and
appealed for support from those present and beyond: ‘there is an urgent need to
organise as wide a public defence as possible for two of our supporters facing
criminalisation for their part <a href="http://glasgowagainstatos.wordpress.com/gaa-2-defence-campaign/" target="_blank">in the struggle against ATOS</a>’, stating that the response
to the state attacks on the new movement
will be a disciplined and organised one. He called on the meeting to remember
the principles of the GDC – <b>Don’t panic - organise! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>Next GDC picket<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>9- 10am Glasgow Sheriff Court Tuesday 1
October</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Copies of the book - Undercover are available from the GDC priced £13 with free postage and can be obtained by donation via our paypal button. </b></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-88760641505833883502013-08-06T11:19:00.002-07:002013-08-06T11:19:41.911-07:00Public meeting: The True History of Britain's Secret Police<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Glasgow Defence Campaign presents…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Undercover: The true history of Britain’s secret police with
co-author and award winning journalist Rob Evans</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Monday, 19 August 2013 19:30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Centre for Contemporary Arts, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glasgow 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lives betrayed and destroyed. The identities of dead
children stolen. Women and families violated. For over forty years, the British
state has operated a clandestine war on ‘subversives’ and ‘radicals’ –
environmental activists, anti-racist groups, innocent families such as those of
the murdered Stephen Lawrence. Beneath the official pronouncements of British
democracy, a dark network of secret police and spies continues to operate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign presents award-winning
investigative journalist Rob Evans, co-author of Undercover: The true history
of Britain ’s secret police, and leading advocate and human rights specialist
Claire Mitchell, to discuss the extent and impact of undercover policing in
Britain today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As political activists in Glasgow face arrest, harassment,
charges and threats from undercover officers as the struggle against austerity
begins to take shape, we ask why is the state at war with its citizens and how
can we begin to fight back? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speakers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Award-winning journalist and author, Rob Evans<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Leading human rights and criminal defence advocate, Claire Mitchell <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Glasgow Defence Campaign representative </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Free entry; donations towards room hire welcome. </span></div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-12749355568059251472013-07-26T02:21:00.000-07:002013-07-27T07:22:17.244-07:00The Glasgow Against Atos 2 On Trial <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Glasgow Defence Campaign supporters gathered at the Sheriff Court on 25 July to oppose political charges brought against the Glasgow Against Atos 2. The trial was adjourned until 1 October allowing time for the defence solicitors to organise witnesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The two campaigners standing trial Dominic O'Hara and Daniel McGarrell were arrested on a Glasgow Against Atos campaign picket on Friday 22 February this year. As we pointed out at the time it was no coincidence that the two people arrested were also supporters of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!</i> which has been targeted for over three years by Strathclyde police for consistently opposing the cuts and political policing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Indicators that Strathclyde police were out to arrest campaigners that day were confirmed when officers outlawed the use of a loudspeaker half way through the picket due to apparent ‘noise complaints’. Those familiar with Glasgow City Centre will know that the corner of Gordon and Buchanan Street is one of the noisiest and busiest parts of town with street performers and people heading to and from the central train station. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The complaints, if they were genuine, were nothing to do with noise but everything to do with the kind of noise being made. A loudspeaker open for anyone wishing to condemn the hardship and misery sick and disabled people are being put through by the Department for work and pensions and Atos was an ‘undesirable’ noise on Britain’s second richest shopping street <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- the so called ‘style mile’ - and so it was outlawed. Police officers, paid and controlled by the people waging war on basic rights to welfare, moved in to silence the protest. The first campaigner now faces framed charges of using a loudspeaker when told not to by officers and police assault. The second campaigner has a fixed up charge of trying to free a person in custody. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glasgow Against Atos 2</i> defence campaign has been set up to demand the charges are dropped, support the two at court and to pay off the potential cost of fines. If the Glasgow Against Atos campaign is to continue its successful street actions and grow, it will face further criminalisation with arrests and court appearances, so it must defend its right to protest now. First and foremost this will be done by politically and financially supporting its campaigners from the day of their arrest to the end of their trial if it goes that far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Solidarity with the Glasgow Against Atos 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drop the political charges!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Defend Free Speech!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">GAA2 Defence Campaign</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><a href="https://glasgowagainstatos.wordpress.com/gaa-2-defence-campaign/">https://glasgowagainstatos.wordpress.com/gaa-2-defence-campaign/</a></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-60483586236905836572013-06-12T10:21:00.000-07:002013-06-12T10:21:44.281-07:00Defend the Glasgow Against ATOS 2! Defend Citizen Smart!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign issues its solidarity and support to Citizen Smart - the political songwriter and singer - who was arrested outside the Scottish Tory party conference in Stirling on Friday 7 June. His crime? Daring to 'sing-out' against the Tories wreaking war on working class communities across the country. The arrest of Citizen Smart follows the arrest of two members of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! on a peaceful Glasgow Against ATOS demonstration at the end of February. Their crime? Speaking out on a megaphone in Glasgow city centre.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These attempts to criminalise free speech - to ban those without access to TV, radio or advertising from even taking their message out to the people directly - must be opposed and defeated with the utmost urgency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday 19 June, the Glasgow Defence Campaign is calling for a protest outside Glasgow Sheriff Court in solidarity with the Glasgow Against ATOS 2, demanding all charges against them are dropped, alongside all other framed up charges against activists - such as Citizen Smart - arrested for standing on the side of justice, and against the austerity being forced on us while the police act as the private army of the rich.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Defend the Glasgow Against ATOS 2! Defend free speech!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Court picket - Wednesday 19 June @ 9am</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glasgow Sheriff Court, 1 Calton Place</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.citizensmart.org/statement-on-arrest.html" target="_blank">http://www.citizensmart.org/statement-on-arrest.html</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #5040ae;">Citizen Smart: Statement on My Arrest In Stirling</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Less than 5 minutes after this was filmed, around 12.45 on Friday 7th June, I was arrested, charged and banged up in a prison cell in Stirling Police HQ for near on 5 hours. Released 5.30 pm, Scottish Tory Conference having ended at 5.00pm. But my guitar, amplifier, microphone, microphone stand, and even my Scottish flags were retained by the police as "evidence". Evidence of what? That they exist and work?, But of course won't be working on Saturday ,8th June when we demonstrate against the Bedroom Tax in Stirling where I was due - and still will - play at the pre-march rally in King's Park. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I will be making an official formal complaint to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Police Complaints Commission</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> and raising this matter with my MSP and The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">European Court of Human Rights</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> if necessary. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">At the stage of this filming the song </span><a href="http://www.citizensmart.org/go-on-home-english-tories.html" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Go Home English Tories</span>"</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> was not finished. it only had a chorus and one verse - and my smart phone which was being used for the filming it ran out of battery, hence the abrupt end. Only the chorus is filmed.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The song was still "work in progress", </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">But I finished it in the police cell - two more verses one referring to the arrest itself. Here are the completed lyrics</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Go on home English Tories go on Home</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Have no got a home of your own?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">For three hundred years</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">We've fought you without fear</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">And we'll fight you for three hundred more</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">If you stay English Tories, if you stay</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">you will never, never, ever get your way</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">you've only one Scottish MP</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">And you'll have none when we are free</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">So go on home English Tories, go on home</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Now according to the Stirling boys in blue</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">It's a crime to even sing what's surely true?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">That Cameron and chums</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Are as English as they come</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">They're from Eton, Harrow, Oxford, Cambridge too</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">If it were only Scottish Tories here today</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">They could meet, and they could drink, and they could play</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">And we'd just laugh at them as fools</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Cause they'd never, ever rule</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">We'd lie back as they died off and fade away</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">So go on home English Tories, go on home</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">Have no got a home of your own?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">For three hundred years</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">We've fought you without fear</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">And we'll fight you for three hundred more</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">As to the precise point at which I was arrested, this too was filmed, but on someone else i-phone - the iphone of the Chair of the S</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">tirling Anti-Bedroom Tax Campaign</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> as it happens. The idea was to film it and post it as a video invite to encourage people to come to Stirling to the main demonstration on Saturday </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">That phone was confiscated by the police and "retained as evidence" . Consequently no video invite ever went out.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Well that "evidence" had best not disappear Stirling Police. Because it is indeed evidence. Evidence against you. And it is also someone's personal property. So give it back now please. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And why is it that the prospect of Tories being offended by me singing songs is more important than the prospect of people directly impoverished by the bedroom tax being offended by the Tories meeting in their city? </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And, I watched the Tories going in and out real closely, know a few of them personally. And few if any were offended, Some even came out to watch. I think they found the experience of being sung at rather than shouted at a slightly less uncomfortable one. Some even genuinely smiled, admired our innovation! I guess some even liked the Bob Dylan and Bob Marley songs I threw into the mix.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">But the head heid yins in Stirling Police appear to have had a humor and cultural by-pass. Who are they accountable to? </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And where were the Scottish Police Force's arrests when 5,000 Orangemen marched around Perth two Saturday ago and when 10,000 marched round Glasgow last Saturday? Why were their instruments not confiscated? And where were the Scottish Police force's arrests when the SDL and EDL gathered in Edinburgh last week to directly intimidate Scotland's Muslim Community? Or is it just top Tories in conference that are not allowed to be offended? </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Or police chiefs embarrassed for their inept policing of Scottish Tory Party Conference? Because we, the protesters, were allowed to get much to close to the Tory conference entrance, Not because we forced our way in, but because the police sat back and let us almost stand on the front door. I never ever seen this allowed at a party conference or similar event. And the Prime Minster was in town! </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">But then the singing started. It was all fine if different. But then, without any warning at all, and a having sung this exact same song at least four times over a period of over 2 hours without any rebuke, quiet word or anything, I was within seconds bundled into a police van, taken to Police HQ. There i was searched, robbed of all my possessions, my shoes, my trouser belt, fingerprinted , photographed and put in an isolation cell until the Tory Conference finished for the day. I was even told there was a very real prospect of me being detailed until the Stirling Courts next met on the afternoon of Monday 10th June. That would have been a near on 4 day detention. For singing a song,</span><a href="http://www.citizensmart.org/statement-on-arrest.html" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title=""> the song</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> you see above and in the exact context you see above.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And prior to my release i was warned, specifically warned by the arresting officer that if I sang the song again in Stirling today I would immediately arrested again, </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Well I am singing it. Please do arrest me. The promotional value for my </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/you-canny-have-spare-room/id656721896" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="">bedroom tax single<span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"> itunes</span> fund raiser</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> would be immense. And the funds raised from this would be added to further when I donate the payout from my </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">double</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> wrongful arrest compensation money to the Anti-Bedroom Tax campaign</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Indeed I reckon it will not just be me the Police in Stirling will need to arrest today. Unless they just do their job. Keep out the politics.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Stephen House - get a grip. And Kenny McAskill - wake up! This is happening on your watch. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I am 53 and this is the first time In my life I have been arrested for anything. And I have now been charged and am awaiting a decision from the Procurator Fiscal. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">But I ain't waiting like some patsy, relived, grateful I ain't being prosecuted.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Citizens have rights and I intend to exercise them. If takes another arrest to do so , so be it, But I am demonstrating In Stirling - my home city - as planned. I am singing as planned.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And I am singing what I want to sing , and what the people at the rally want to hear, want to join in with. Not what some inept plod in Stirling tells us we can sing.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">And I reckon near 90% of the the Scottish Tories in Stirling for their annual conference will back that right. Our right, their right.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Because we don't live in a police state. Not yet anyway.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan ( Citizen) Smart , 7.10 am Saturday 8th June, 2013 </span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><a href="http://www.citizensmart.org/statement-on-arrest.html" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="">Link to Further Statement on my arrest, Sunday 9th June</a>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-41859194450859086472013-06-12T10:04:00.001-07:002013-06-12T10:04:40.664-07:00Defend the Newcastle 14! Defend anti-fascism - no to political policing!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign reproduces below a statement from the Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign - established to defend 14 anti-fascists and anti-racists arrested before an English Defence League demonstration in Newcastle on 25 May. We urge all our supporters to sign the petition for their defence <a href="http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/defend-the-newcastle-14-no-to-political-policing" target="_blank">here</a> and visit the blog <a href="http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those arrested were essentially handed over to the police by agents within the respectable 'Newcastle Unites' coalition of assorted Labour councillors, SWP members and trade union bureaucrats. It is absolutely essential that such activity is exposed and challenged - as it endangers the entire movement against fascism and plays directly into state attempts to divide and destroy any effective opposition. Many of those arrested in Newcastle were members of <i>Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! </i>who have been similarly targeted in Glasgow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The GDC expresses its full support for the Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign and unreservedly condemns the actions both of the police and Newcastle Unites.</span></div>
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<a href="http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/newcastle-14-defence-campaign-launched/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign Launched – Full statement</a></h2>
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<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on</span> <a href="http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/newcastle-14-defence-campaign-launched/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11:20 am"><span class="entry-date" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May 31, 2013</span></a><span class="by-author" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sep" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</span> <span class="author vcard" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/author/defencecampaign/" rel="author" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #777777; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by defencecampaign">defencecampaign</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/defend-the-newcastle-14-no-to-political-policing" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sign the petition on 38 Degrees.</a></div>
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At approximately 12:40 on Saturday 25 May 2013, 14 anti-fascists were arrested outside the Haymarket metro station in Newcastle as they were about to join the Newcastle Unites march against the English Defence League (EDL). The youngest of those arrested was just 15. There is substantial evidence that members of Newcastle Unites played a part in the arrests. All those arrested had their homes raided while they were in custody, and police have seized mobile phones, computers, cameras, notebooks and political literature. The protesters were released without charge 10 hours later, in the middle of the night at a police station on the outskirts of Newcastle. They have been bailed until 7 August 2013.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Newcastle 14 (N14) Defence Campaign has been set up with three aims</b>:</div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to defend the 14 anti-fascists who were arrested on 25 May 2013;</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to defend anti-fascist activity from further state repression;</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to defend democracy and freedom of speech within the left.</li>
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Below we set out the background to the campaign.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What were those arrested doing to warrant this treatment by police?</b></div>
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Those arrested include supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) and independent anti-fascists. Anti-fascists had been at the Haymarket since 10:30 on 25 May, petitioning, speaking on the megaphone, distributing political literature and encouraging people to join the Newcastle Unites march against the EDL. There was a heavy police presence; FRFI had designated a police liaison for their contingent, who made it clear to the police from an early stage that the intention was to speak to the public and then join the Newcastle Unites march. Initially the police appeared to have no problem with this, but at around 12:00 police approached FRFI supporters, saying that the Newcastle Unites organisers had informed them FRFI were not welcome on the march. The police stated that they wanted to negotiate with the Newcastle Unites organisers for FRFI to participate, which was accepted by FRFI. The police said they were consulting with their superior officers who were in touch with Newcastle Unites, and they would get back to the police liaison. At 12:40, the police surrounded the protesters without warning, and arrested all but two of those present, accusing them of ‘conspiracy to commit violent disorder’. The intention of the protesters on 25 May was simply to join the march and make a political contribution to it. Meanwhile EDL supporters who threw fireworks, bottles and cans at anti-fascists the same day were not arrested. This is political policing.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who are Newcastle Unites and what part did they play in the arrests?</b></div>
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Newcastle Unites is a coalition of Labour Party councillors, Trade Union officials and the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). It has met in secret, and has excluded many other local anti-fascists.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The build-up to the march</b></div>
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When three FRFI supporters attempted to join a Newcastle Unites organising meeting on 7 May they were physically barred from entering the meeting room and were ejected from the building. During this incident SWP District Organiser Yunus Bakhsh and Newcastle TUC Secretary James Simpkin used sexist and threatening language toward a female comrade. After throwing her out of the building Simpkin told the comrade ‘Go away little girl, or I’ll call the police’ and then blew an airhorn in her ear. A SP member who stood up to Bakhsh was threatened with also being excluded if she did not back down. FRFI supporters issued a public report of what had happened and called for a public apology from Newcastle Unites, while continuing to express support for the march against the EDL. Rather than apologise or even respond politically, Newcastle Unites attempted to divert discussion by suggesting that FRFI had put people at risk by mentioning that the 7 May meeting had taken place at the Centre Against Unemployment. Yet Unite Against Fascism (UAF) North East has listed the Centre as their address on public leaflets, bulletins and their website since at least 2009, and other anti-racist meetings have been advertised there: it was already a public anti-fascist venue.</div>
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On 15 May FRFI received a message from Newcastle Unites stating that the organisation would not be welcome on the march, and if they attempted to attend ‘we shall take all necessary steps to ensure that you play no part of these activities.’ This was followed by a Facebook post from Labour Councillor Dipu Ahad, the figurehead for Newcastle Unites, threatening those he considered to be ‘disruptive’: ‘I assure you that you will be thrown out of the demo and the public meeting by our stewards who will be many. You will also be reported to the police for causing disorder!’ Nobody amongst the Newcastle Unites organising group has publicly criticised this threat. People who posted messages protesting against these threats had their messages deleted and many were banned from the page. Committed anti-fascists who attempted to join a publicly advertised meeting of Newcastle Unites on 23 May were met at the door by police who had a list of names and turned people away. If Newcastle Unites organisers provided these names to the police this is direct collusion with the state against other anti-fascists, using the police to back up the kind of exclusions carried out at other meetings by Newcastle Unites itself.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the day</b></div>
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On the day of the arrests several individuals associated with Newcastle Unites were seen speaking to police in the area around Haymarket. These included Neil Denton, who is employed by the council’s ARCH agency for monitoring hate crime. He was seen speaking to senior police officers while pointing at the protesters shortly before the police first stated that Newcastle Unites had told them FRFI were not welcome. During the arrests two members of the SWP were present observing. One of them, Nick Clark, approached the group once the arrests began and was heard telling a police officer not to arrest two women because they were ‘not part of that group [FRFI]‘. The officer listened to him, letting him and the two women leave, whilst police arrested the remaining 14. During questioning, police presented those who had been arrested with a summary of the accusations against them, which included a statement in writing that Newcastle Unites organisers had told the police that FRFI were not welcome on the march. On the Newcastle Unites march itself, two anti-fascists who spoke about the arrests on a megaphone were challenged by police. The officers asked them if they were members of FRFI and threatened ‘if you are, then we’ll arrest you’. There is no doubt that FRFI were politically targeted. Other militant anti-fascists were targeted by stewards, some of whom seemed more concerned with shoving anti-fascists around than guarding side streets against fascists.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Silencing criticism and debate</b></div>
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The consistent thread running through these events is the efforts of the SWP and others to protect Labour politicians from criticism, whether it is over their record on war, racism or the cuts.</div>
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The initial reason given for excluding FRFI from Newcastle Unites was that together with anarchists, the Socialist Party and others they had heckled Labour MP Grahame Morris at May Day 2012. Morris had voted for the bombing of Libya, which contributed to the deaths of 60,000 Libyans and the devastation of the country’s infrastructure. Heckling is a perfectly democratic part of the socialist and labour movement tradition. The incident was not considered serious enough to prevent FRFI from having a stall at May Day 2013, yet was used opportunistically to justify their exclusion from Newcastle Unites.</div>
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When Councillor Ahad was approached regarding the verbal and physical abuse of FRFI supporters at the meeting on 7 May, he said he would only argue for their inclusion in Newcastle Unites if they agreed to be silent on the issue of state racism: presumably to mention immigration prisons, deportations or the use of terror laws to criminalise communities would embarrass the Labour Party.</div>
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Whilst FRFI are willing to work with Labour Party members against the EDL, they are not prepared to stay silent about the violence that Labour councillors have inflicted through the cuts or the last Labour government’s role in stirring up racism against Muslims to justify their wars abroad. This could have been the subject of debate within the anti-fascist movement, but instead all critical voices were excluded in order to impose a false ‘unity’.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Defend anti-fascism, Defend democracy</b></div>
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This is not the first time the police have been used to defend Labour councillors from criticism. When Don McDonald verbally challenged council leader Nick Forbes at the big anti-cuts march on 16 February, over the council’s £100 million cuts to services and jobs, Forbes sent police to Don’s house in the middle of the night to arrest him on spurious grounds of threatening behaviour. A defence campaign was launched and the case was dropped.</div>
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We do not yet know all the details of the collusion between Newcastle Unites organisers and the police, or which individuals were involved to what extent, but the evidence cited above warrants a serious investigation. Those people whose collaboration with the police led to the arrests need to be identified and held to account. The Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign will be calling for a people’s enquiry, which should be fully transparent and accountable to the whole of the local left, to establish the facts beyond reasonable doubt.</div>
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Anti-fascism in the North East is in a desperately weak position. Estimates of the sizes of the two marches on 25 May suggest that the fascists outnumbered the anti-fascists approximately two to one. Discussions are urgently needed about the strategy and tactics that can help us to rebuild and effectively challenge the fascists. The discussions that are needed are being held back by the approach to anti-fascism that is represented by Newcastle Unites, which exaggerates its own strength and deals with any criticism or difference of opinion with exclusions and violence. Identifying and eliminating collusion with the police against other activists is the precondition for building a healthy and effective movement on Tyneside. Everybody who cares about the future of the local left needs to be involved.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No to political policing, Defend the Newcastle 14</b></div>
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14 people have been arrested, held in police custody for up to ten hours, interrogated about their political activities and had their homes invaded and their privacy violated. Currently all of the defendants have been bailed until 7 August and have not been charged, but the arrests were carried out on the basis of allegations of ‘conspiracy to commit violent disorder’, a very serious charge. This is political policing on a scale unheard of in Newcastle in the recent period. The 14 people arrested need solidarity and support, as they deal with the impact of the arrests on their study and employment. The police still have people’s phones and computers. The defence campaign and the defendants would like to thank all those who have shown support so far, notably those who waited for hours at the police station until the last of the 14 were released and then gave them lifts back into the city.</div>
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The Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign will be fighting the threat of charges publicly and politically, alongside the legal defence that has already begun. The campaign is collecting witness statements and video and photographs of the events surrounding the arrests, and will challenge the whitewashing of the arrests in the capitalist press. The campaign will also be out on the streets raising awareness and organising public meetings in the coming weeks, as part of the grassroots work that is needed to rebuild an anti-fascist movement in Newcastle. We invite you to join us.</div>
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Funds are urgently needed to support the defence campaign, cheques should be made payable to ‘May 25 Fund’.</div>
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<a href="http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/defend-the-newcastle-14-no-to-political-policing" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sign the petition on 38 Degrees.</a></div>
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Contact the Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign at: <a href="mailto:defence.campaign@gmail.com" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">defence.campaign@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945189052610251725.post-6765560228145202242013-05-25T12:18:00.000-07:002013-05-25T12:21:58.666-07:0012 anti racists arrested in Newcastle:TUC, Labour party and SWP act in collusion with police<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns this afternoon’s
police attack on Newcastle </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fight Racism!
Fight Imperialism!</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> supporters for their role in opposing the racist English
Defence League. We understand 12 anti racists have been arrested and are currently
being detained in Etal Lane police station in Newcastle – 7 were arrested on the protest this afternoon with a further 5 detained following a house
raid. We call on supporters to call the station to demand their release on -
0345 604 3043.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The arrests come on a day where up to 2,000 supporters of the
EDL marched in Newcastle. Secretary for the Glasgow Defence Campaign, Paul
McKenna stated, ‘We condemn today’s police action, the details of the arrests
and actual charges remain sketchy at this stage, but we are concerned to hear
reports that elements from the so called ‘Newcastle Unites’ coalition including
leading members of Newcastle TUC, Newcastle Labour Party and the Socialist Workers
Party worked in collusion with the police to enact what we believe to be targeted
arrests of supporters of FRFI.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the weeks and days building towards the counter demonstration
supporters of <i>Fight Racism! Fight
Imperialism!</i> in Newcastle who have a sound record in opposing all forms of
racism faced open hostility including violence and threats of arrest from those
within the coalition of the left who sought to monopolise and control any resistance.
The background to today’s events are explained below in an article published on
the website of the Revolutionary Communist Group on 19 May:</span></div>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3016-nu190513"><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #6e6e6e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Newcastle
Unites: Labour threats escalate</span></span></a></h3>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FRFI
supporters in Newcastle have been attempting for weeks to participate in the
mobilisation against the EDL on 25 May, but have been met with violent and
sectarian hostility from the organisers of Newcastle Unites. The figurehead of
Newcastle Unites, Labour councillor Dipu Ahad, has now threatened to set the
police on FRFI and other anti-fascists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fdfdfd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 12.95pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8.45pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 15 May Unite Against Fascism
(UAF) North East sent a message inviting FRFI North East to support the
demonstration. We replied confirming that we would attend and support the
demonstration, and would encourage others to do so. Within an hour of accepting
the invitation, Newcastle Unites emailed us:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear FRFI,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fdfdfd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 12.95pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8.45pt 16.9pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UAF has forwarded us your recent
email in which you say you will be attending Newcastle Unites demonstration
against the EDL on the 25th May. It is really quite astounding that after
your recent actions in exposing our meeting venue and placing our members at
risk (an act for which you have shown no contrition) you consider that we would
allow you on this demonstration. The organising group of Newcastle Unites
discussed your behaviour at last night's meeting and agreed unanimously not to
allow you to attend either the demonstration or the public meeting. If
you choose to ignore our decision and do turn up you will not be welcome and we
shall take all necessary steps to ensure that you play no part of these
activities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fdfdfd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 12.95pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8.45pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Councillor Ahad has made it
clear he wants no violent confrontation against the EDL, he is quite happy to
mobilise his SWP and trade union goons to violently confront genuine
anti-fascists.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>He stood by
watching whilst SWP thug Yunus Bakhsh and trade union bureaucrat James Simpkin
physically attacked a female comrade and made sexist comments when she tried to
attend a Newcastle Unites organising meeting on 7 May (<a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3012-sw100513" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out;"><span style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3012-sw100513</span></a>).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But to avoid addressing this Newcastle
Unitesis<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>making spurious
allegations that FRFI has put others at risk (we responded here:<a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3013-rn0150513" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out;"><span style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3013-rn0150513</span></a>).
And we repeat:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Councillor Ahad
has inflicted<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>real<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>violence against the working class<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ofNewcastle by voting for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>£100 million<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>cuts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now in a Facebook posting Ahad
has warned FRFI and other committed anti-fascists that should they attempt to
join the anti-EDL rally, ‘I assure you that you will be thrown out of the demo
and the public meeting by our stewards who will be many. You will also be
reported to the police for causing disorder!’Commenting on a counter-protest to
the EDL in March, Ahad wrote<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>‘The
Police did a fantastic job...I’m also concerned with about some of our Asian
youths who get excited and also want to cause trouble for the sake of it and
have no respect for the police!’.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>What
he is admitting is that Asian youth will not listen to him – and why should
they given his support for the cuts and his membership of the racist and
imperialist Labour Party? They know what he is: a ruthless henchman of the
ruling class. But he is isolated, and that is why he needs the likes of Bakhsh
and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Simpkinto defend him, and if
they are not enough, the police.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fdfdfd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 12.95pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 8.45pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless of the sectarian and
violent behaviour of these individuals, FRFI urges everyone to stand against
the EDL on 25 May. As we have always argued the EDL can only be opposed
effectively as part of a wider struggle against racism, which is inseparable
from the fight against imperialism. No amount of threats from Newcastle Unites
or anybody else will convince us to abandon this struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Source:</span>
<a href="http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3016-nu190513">http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/labourtrade-unions/3016-nu190513</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07902280646995851150noreply@blogger.com1