More statements of support following recent arrests

The Glasgow Defence Campaign has received the following message of support from the Dundee Defend Services campaign which will be read out at Saturday's demonstration. As we have detailed on this blog, Dundee Defend Services supporters have also faced political policing - we thank them for their solidarity and stand with them in the struggle against the destruction of public services.

"Defend Dundee Services condemns the ongoing harassment of anti-cuts protestors by Strathclyde Police, and sends support to those arrested, whose only ‘crime’ has been to campaign against the destruction of our society. These young people set an example for us all, and we are sure that they will be followed by many more – protesting both against the cuts and against the misuse of police powers."

The GDC has received the following statement from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! on the arrests of more of their members in Glasgow: http://revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/scotland/2167-strathclyde-police-attacks-frfi-supporters-and-anti-cuts-protestors-in-glasgow

All out for Saturday's demonstration against political policing!

Political policing steps-up in Dundee

During the week beginning 14 March, activists from the Defend Dundee Services anti- cuts group received unannounced visits from police detectives. They sought information on proposed protests justifying this on the grounds of avoiding wasting police resources in monitoring them. DC Greg Petrie was keen to ascertain in a later phone call to an activist whether there were views which regarded recent policing numbers as excessive. The detective also asked about the political organisations involved in anti- cuts protests. He left a mobile number for contact. These are concerning developments which the Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns. Such police contacts are designed to intimidate and worry activists and to suggest that there is criminal intent in open and legal political activity. We publicly reject this further extension of political policing and call for the greatest unity in organising to defend our democratic rights. We urge all those approached by the police to say nothing without a solicitor present.

Political policing challenged in Dundee

 

Supporters of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and Socialist Workers Party members united to challenge the unnanounced presence of uniformed cops at a public meeting in Dundee. On the evening of Wednesday 16 February people had gathered at a well known venue for public meetings. They were there to hear first hand accounts of events in Egypt from some of the youth who had participated in the struggle there.  

As the meeting was about to begin, two uniformed cops came into the back of the room and stood looking out over the crowd. Offering no reason for this intimidatory presence, people began to demand an explanation. They ludicrously claimed that as the event was public they were entitled to be there! The audience took a very different view and began loudly insisting that they leave. Voicing the opinion that those who objected were behaving "unreasonably" the pair slunk off. 

FRFI was able to make the very real and vivid point at the meeting that our rulers here were increasingly directing the police to monitor and interfere with political organisation and activity and that vigilance and unity were necessary to defend democratic rights.

No to political policing!