Speaking against ATOS in defence of the sick and disabled is not a crime. Picket Glasgow Sheriff Court 4 March

Glasgow Defence Campaign

FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

 glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk

Dear

Fighting political policing. Defending the right to protest.

We are writing to you today to call for your support and solidarity with a student protester in Glasgow 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.

On 22 February 2013, during a peaceful anti-cuts protest in Glasgow city centre Dominic O’Hara was arrested for using a megaphone 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.

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 Glasgow and across the UK.  

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.’

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. . It is vital that all progressive thinkers unite to stop this attack on the right protest.  You can support GDC by:

·         Joining us on Tuesday 4 March, 10.15am  at the Court Picket,  Glasgow Sheriff Court. 1 Carlton Place. Trial begins 11am in court 19 (open to the public).

·         Demand the charge be dropped! Send us a statement of support and solidarity 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.

·         Become a member of GDC. You can support the vital work of GDC by becoming a member of the organisation or sending us a donation (details enclosed).

·         Read further background on this and many others cases of political policing in Glasgow and across the UK. See http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk

Thank you for your time and for considering joining us in defence of our right to protest. 

Sincerely

GDC       Box YI-45, 48 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1BO         glasgowdefence@ gmail.com

Standing shoulder to shoulder against the criminalisation of football fans

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. 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.

The Celtic fans facing trial are accused of singing of a song called ‘The Roll of Honour’ which was written by the band The Irish brigade in 1982.  The band have opposed any attempts to slander the song as racist or offensive stating;

‘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’. 

In response to the legislation and prosecutions a group 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 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.

‘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.

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.

Unity is our key to victory!

All power to the people!

Danny McGarrell

Anniversary Picket of 'Glasgow Against Atos 2' Trial To Go Ahead. Stand with us

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;

‘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.’

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.

Court Picket: Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech! Refuse to be silent! 
Tuesday 4 March, 10.15am
Glasgow Sheriff Court
1 Carlton Place
Trial begins 11am in court 19 (open to the public)

For the background of the case see 
http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html 

And a protest song penned by one of the ‘Glasgow Against Atos 2’ 
‘We’ve No Even Started! Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech!’ 
https://soundcloud.com/the-wee-man-1/weve-no-even-started-fight-the

Message of solidarity from James Kelman

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.

"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)

Megaphone Trial Continues. Picket Glasgow Sheriff Court 28 January!

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.

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.

‘We`ve no even started! Fight The Cuts! Defend Free Speech!’

https://soundcloud.com/user300128739/weve-no-even-started-fight-the

For information on the case so far see

http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/megaphone-trial-begins-in-glasgow.html

Join the Glasgow Defence Campaign to picket the Sheriff Court!
Tuesday 28 January, 10.15am front of the court
Trial in court 19 (Open to the public)
1 Carlton Place
G5 9DA

FIGHT THE CUTS!
REFUSE TO BE SILENT!
DON'T PANIC - ORGANISE!

To join the Glasgow Defence Campaign donate a £5 pledge or standing order to the credit of

Glasgow Defence Campaign

Sort Code: 08-92-99

Account No: 65685253

Post your contact details to us at the address below or email glasgowdefence@gmail.com

GDC

PO Box YI-45,

2^nd Floor, 48 West George Street,

Glasgow G2 1BP

Megaphone trial begins in Glasgow

Militant protest held outside Glasgow Sheriff Court, Monday 6 January 2014

The trial against Dominic O’Hara a supporter of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 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 divide and derail the campaign against ATOS.

At a previous court hearing on 1 October 2013 the case in respect of three charges against the ATOS 2 collapsed, in an important victory for the Glasgow Defence Campaign, 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.

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’.

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.

The Glasgow Defence Campaign will again be mobilising for a court protest and reminds supporters of this Sunday’s important meeting on the fight for democratic rights. 

Policing the crisis

When the law makers are the law breakers there is no law

Sunday 12 January 2-4pm

Woodside Halls, Glenfarg Street, near St Georges x underground, Glasgow. 

Policing the crisis

When the law makers are the law breakers there is no law

Sunday 12 January 2-4pm

Woodside Halls, Glenfarg Street, near St Georges x underground

A special meeting organised by the Glasgow Defence Campaign to build momentum in the fight to defend democratic rights in Glasgow against police repression.  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 we are having this meeting offering our considered response.

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.

Nicki Jameson, is editor of the Prisoners Fightback page in Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and author of the book, Strangeways 1990: a serious disturbance. 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.

Entry by donation

Criminal Trial in Glasgow ‘for using a loudspeaker’ – The Case Continues

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. 

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 Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! with street and court demonstrations while updating our police harassment log to record the details of these offences.

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.

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.

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!

Don’t panic, organise!

Free Speech Court Picket

Defend Free Speech in Glasgow City Centre! Unite Against the Cuts!

Monday 6 January, from 9.15am

Front of Glasgow Sheriff Court,

Carlton Place

For more details on the case see

http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/crown-case-collapses-but-fight-not-over.html

The fight against police repression across the world

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 here, 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.

Crown case collapses but fight not over: defending the right to act against ATOS

The Glasgow Defence Campaign welcomes yesterday’s victory for two activists arrested in February 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 brutal attacks on the rights of sick and disabled people through companies like ATOS.

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 Section 54 of the Civic Government of Scotland Act (1982), setting the next trial date for 6 January 2014.

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.’

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 using a megaphone under Section 54 of the Civic Government of Scotland Act, which the officers must have known carries no power of arrest. 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 undercover police officer 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 one year in the courts attempting to pursue an activist for exercising free speech in the course of a peaceful protest.

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.

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 glasgowdefence@gmail.com and stand with us on the streets. An injury to one is an injury to all!

Miriam Kelly, GDC PRO, 2 October 2013

The Glasgow Against ATOS 2 on trial

The ‘Glasgow Against Atos 2’ 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. 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.

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.’

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!

Join us on the picket to say ‘no harassment, no arrests, defend the right to protest!’.

Picket For Free Speech! Drop the charges now!

Tuesday 1 October, 9.15am

Glasgow Sheriff Court

1 Carlton Place

See original report from arrest

http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/two-arrests-on-peaceful-glasgow-against.html

Report from previous court protest

http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/militant-rally-for-glasgow-atos-2-held.html

We recommend Guardian journalists Rob Evans and Paul Lewis new book Undercover: The true Story of Britain’s Police. 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 or email glasgowdefence@gmail.com

See report of the launch of the book in Glasgow

http://glasgowdefencecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/dont-panic-organise.html

Don’t panic! Organise!

19 August 2013

Glasgow Defence Campaign host successful book launch of Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s Secret Police

A well attended meeting in the centre of Glasgow saw Rob Evans - Guardian journalist and co-author of the new book Undercover: The true Story of Britain’s Police speak alongside criminal defence advocate Claire Mitchell and representatives from the Glasgow Defence Campaign and the N14 Defence Campaign in Newcastle. 

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 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. 

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.

Niall O’Donnell, a member of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 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 N14 justice campaign, 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.'

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:

‘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 Dominic on Youtube 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!'

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.

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 in the struggle against ATOS’, 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 – Don’t panic -  organise!

Next GDC picket

9- 10am Glasgow Sheriff Court Tuesday 1 October

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. 

Public meeting: The True History of Britain's Secret Police

Glasgow Defence Campaign presents…

Undercover: The true history of Britain’s secret police with co-author and award winning journalist Rob Evans

Monday, 19 August 2013 19:30

Centre for Contemporary Arts,  Glasgow 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD 

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.

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.

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?

Speakers:

Award-winning journalist and author, Rob Evans

Leading human rights and criminal defence advocate, Claire Mitchell

Glasgow Defence Campaign representative

Free entry; donations towards room hire welcome. 

The Glasgow Against Atos 2 On Trial

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.

 

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 Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! which has been targeted for over three years by Strathclyde police for consistently opposing the cuts and political policing.

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.

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  - 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.

A Glasgow Against Atos 2 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.

Solidarity with the Glasgow Against Atos 2

Drop the political charges!

Defend Free Speech!

GAA2 Defence Campaign

https://glasgowagainstatos.wordpress.com/gaa-2-defence-campaign/