Victory for Democratic Rights as HSBC 3 Exonerated!

Posted below is the victory statement of the HSBC 3 Defence Campaign in Newcastle where political charges and convictions against three Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! supporters have been successfully overturned. The Glasgow Defence Campaign would like to send them our solidarity and applaud their consistent work against the cuts and the attack on democratic rights which has led to this victory against political policing! They did not win justice by sitting on their hands!

Their Victory is Ours! See http://defencecampaign.wordpress.com/

Join Court protests in Glasgow!

Trial of Anti Cuts Activists

Friday 7 and Monday 31 October, from 9.30am

Glasgow District Court, St. Andrews Street,

Glasgow (just off Saltmarket)

 

Sentencing of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! supporter

Thursday 13 October, from 1.30pm

same Court as above

Posted on September 29, 2011 by HSBC 3 Defence Campaign 

The convictions of Mark Pearson and Patrick Reay – who were arrested for protesting against public sector cuts and tax dodging banks and companies in December 2010 – were overturned yesterday after a two day appeal at Newcastle Crown Court. The success of the appeal is a victory for the democratic right to protest in Newcastle and shows that it is always worthwhile challenging political policing.

Picket of Newcastle Crown Court on 28th September

Stop Political Policing!

The arrests and charges of the HSBC 3 were politically motivated, designed to intimidate protesters, and restrict future protests against the cuts and austerity measures. As John Pilger said in his solidarity statement, ‘The arrests of Patrick, Mark and Toby starkly represent the most disturbing trend in Britain — the rise of an openly political police… At worst, the police can kill with impunity, it seems, and increasingly they arrest and prosecute arbitrarily those whose dissent which marks the line between democracy and a state of fear and compliance’. 

In recent years many activists have been arrested on trumped-up charges, including the Gaza solidarity demonstrations in early 2009, the student protests in December 2010/ January 2011 and the August 2011 uprisings. Many people were encouraged by duty solicitors to plead guilty or accept a caution, on the basis that they would avoid a criminal record or receive a reduced sentence. This may seem like a better option in the short term but it erodes political rights for all of us, allowing protest to be criminalised.

Defend One, Defend All, Defend the HSBC 3!

The HSBC 3 Defence Campaign has shown that it is possible to fight charges on a political basis, thereby defending both individual activists and future demonstrators. The HSBC 3 refused to accept any guilt for their legitimate actions as protesters. Even after Mark and Patrick were unfairly convicted at the magistrate’s court and fined a total of £760, they were able to appeal the convictions because of the support of the campaign.

Many thanks to all those people who supported the HSBC 3 defence campaign. In particular the court witnesses, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! / Revolutionary Communist Group who organised demonstrations and court pickets, members of the North East Anarchists Group and the Anti-Cuts Network who organised several benefit gigs, everybody who took part in those events or helped publicise them, Unite Newcastle Central Branch who made a financial contribution, and the many people who showed their solidarity from the court’s public gallery during the trial. The HSBC 3 Defence Campaign has always been clear on the need for political action on the streets alongside a legal defence in the courts. As with the police, the fundamental role of Britain’s courts is the defence of private property – they cannot be trusted to defend working class people.

The defence of democratic rights is the defence of working class living standards. As the fight against austerity continues, we need to be ready for more defence campaigns. The example of the HSBC 3 Defence Campaign should be celebrated and followed.

Palestine Supporter Sentenced

On Tuesday 13 September Paul Donnachie, former student and supporter of Palestinian rights, was sentenced to 150 hours community service and a payment of £300 compensation to an American Jewish student for his criticism of the state of Israel and its flag. Sheriff Charles MacNair oversaw this attack on free speech at Cupar Sheriff Court.

Donnachie's conviction on the ridiculous charge of 'racially-aggravated conduct' in August, which resulted in his immediate expulsion from St. Andrews university, is further evidence of the increasing intolerance of the British state towards criticism of its policies at home and abroad. The detainment of Sheik Raed Salah on 28 June 2011 was another example. The British state fear that criticism of the racist state of Israel might further expose British complicity in the oppression of the Palestinians and therefore have no option but to stamp it out.

Supporters of Palestinian rights determined to oppose this criminalization responded to a call by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) for a picket of the court and defaced the Israeli flag outside the court in an act of political defiance. The Glasgow Defence Campaign applauds this action but stresses the need to remain on guard as the state may use this to bring future charges against those involved. Delayed arrests and charges were used against GDC supporters in April 2011 with the imposition of draconian bail conditions preventing their attendance at a rally to oppose the cuts and political policing on 16 April.

At all times we must be prepared to defend ourselves and others against state attacks! We would like to send our solidarity to the former student, who is appealing the sentence, and urge supporters of Palestine to speak louder in their condemnation of Zionist Israel than ever before.

See the SPSC press release here

GDC supports Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign call for protests at Cupar court

The Glasgow Defence Campaign gives its support to the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign's call for "supporters of Palestinian rights, anti-racists and supporters of free speech to assemble outside Cupar Sheriff court on Tuesday September 13th at 9am to support Paul Donnachie. An injury to one is an injury to all." 


Paul Donnachie is a student who was convicted on a ridiculous, politically-motivated charge of 'racially-aggravated conduct' at Cupar court in August, leading to his expulsion from St Andrews university. The trial verdict essentially criminalises any criticism of the brutal violence waged by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. Those who dare to oppose this racist state are now decried as racists.


The verdict is being appealed and the Glasgow Defence Campaign and its supporters will aim to attend the protest next week. Anyone concerned with basic democratic freedoms in a world of imperialist war and violence should do so too.


The full SPSC statement can be read here.

GLASGOW DEFENCE CAMPAIGN - ONE YEAR ON

The British state - the police, courts, parliament and media - has responded to the uprisings in English cities with a viciousness and hypocrisy that only the imperialist ruling class and its defenders are capable of. They ranted about destruction, anarchy, violence, disorder and lawlessness while the Royal Air Force had flown over 15,000 missions against the people of Libya and dropped high explosives on residential areas killing innocent men, women and children. What causes the greatest damage, we ask, a half brick or a jet fighter loaded with murderous missiles! Which is the more anti-social crime? Helping yourself to a pair of jeans or helping yourself to a country's oil?

In this context, the reality of ruling class violence and lawlessness, we look back at the last year of the Glasgow Defence Campaign's work and the argument that we made in August of 2010 that the British state was preparing to attack the living standards of the working class through the cuts budgets and would attempt to control and criminalise all resistance to the rule of the wealthy. As a Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) supporter stated at a May Day rally in Dundee this year: the defence of working class living standards is the defence of democratic rights.

Comrades from FRFI got out onto the streets of Govanhill, Glasgow last year to protest at the austerity budget of the newly elected Tory-Con Dem government. Within hours we were facing Strathclyde police's attempts to immediately close down our leafletting and petitioning. Regulations were cited and invented to try to force us off the streets. Our human rights to expression and association - clearly upheld in law- were ignored by the bullies in uniform as newspapers and stalls were seized and charges issued against FRFI supporters.

We stood firm in the face of this political policing and fought back by openly challenging the police censorship and gathering support from every group and individual sharing our concern about the attack on democratic rights. We urged unity and public protest to defend those rights and warned that we were only at the begining of the state's attempts to limit and make any protest ineffective and isolated.

Towards the end of that year as students took to the streets everywhere to protest at education cuts we recognised the emergence of new police tactics to control, intimidate and criminalise protest. From Parliament Square in London to George Square, Glasgow, the kettle was on. FRFI supporters were targeted and arrested by police on protests in December and January and hauled in front of sham courts. Delayed arrests, house raids, frame ups, surveillance and assault were evidence of the state giving the green light to the police to close down protest. 

The Glasgow Defence Campaign was established to meet these attacks in kind, recording and exposing every incident of police harassment, naming and shaming the officers involved, taking protests to the doors of the District and Sheriff courts and the streets of Glasgow. The thuggish police operation to evict the Free Hetherington occupation on 22 March educated new layers of young people in the need to organise rapidly against such repression. The even more brutal eviction of Margaret Jaconelli soon followed. On 16 April, after another week of arrests and convictions of FRFI and other anti-cuts activists, the GDC held a defiant rally in Glasgow city centre to demand an end to the political attacks, uniting progressive forces. Five days later, all charges against seven activists were dropped as they were due to appear in court. This victory showed that the anti-democratic activities of Strathclyde police and their paymasters could be effectively challenged if people stood together. 

Now, faced with the anger of inner city youth facing poverty and unemployment - sparked off by another police killing - the British state's real methods of operation are obvious to many more people. Their idea of justice is to ignore the theft of billions by the wealthy elites represented in the cabinet and parliament or the corruption of policemen and women by the millionaire press and to treat the working class as criminals deserving only of a prison cell should they rebel.

The Glasgow Defence Campaign states its commitment to the argument that the defence of democratic rights is the defence of the working class. We define that working class as workers in jobs, youth in revolt on the streets, the disabled and poor, immigrants and asylum seekers- all those who the rich are trying to make pay for an economic crisis not of their making.

The police who tried to close down our political activity last year and who were made to back off by the campaigning work of the Glasgow Defence Campaign have been made bolder and more arrogant by recent developments. At the time of writing this statement, concern is rising about a steep rise in deaths at the hands of  police - 3 killings in 8 days. Recent arrests in Glasgow and the return of police interference in legitimate and legal political organisation should put us all on alert and demands that unity and solidarity must be fought for and built in the struggle to defend democratic rights and in the fight for real justice.

POLICE HANDS OFF PROTEST!

DEFEND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS!

AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!

Issued by the Glasgow Defence Campaign, 6 September 2011

Anti Cuts activist sentenced at Sheriff Court

A Scottish Socialist Youth activist was sentenced today at Glasgow Sheriff Court for 'culpable and reckless conduct' during the events that followed the violent police eviction of the Free Hetherington occupation at Glasgow university on 22 March 2011. He entered a guilty plea and was fined £250 with the judge going on to question his reasons for protesting, dismissing the claim that there is youth unemployment in Scotland as 'rubbish' and pressuring the activist to think about his career prospects before protesting again.

He confirms what the GDC have argued all along - that the right to free speech and protest in Britain comes with the prospect of criminal charges. The choice is clear: abandon dissent in the hope a career in this rotten system awaits you or stand up against the cuts and imperialist war and face criminalization for doing so.

The GDC pledges it full support to the comrade who has been singled out for his progressive work against the cuts and once again reminds supporters not to give in to pressure from solicitors to plead guilty to criminal charges. At the very least, we must make the Crown office work if they wish to purse their campaign of criminalising politics.

Justice Not Careers!

Oppose The Cuts! 
No to Criminalization! 

Another political frame-up in Scotland as Palestine activist convicted

The Glasgow Defence Campaign sends its solidarity to Paul Donnachie, a student and Palestine solidarity activist who was found guilty on Tuesday 23 August on the outrageous charge of 'racially aggravated conduct' after expressing his contempt for the Israeli flag. He was immediately expelled from St. Andrews university. The verdict sets a dangerous precedent whereby any criticism of the Israeli state and its continuing brutality against the Palestinian people is outlawed. The charge of 'racially aggravated conduct' for criticising, in a private incident, the violent, racist conduct of Israel is clearly politically-motivated, and as Paul Donnachie stated following his conviction: "I've fought racism all my life." An appeal is underway.

Alongside the continuing arrests and frame-ups of anti-cuts activists and the remanding in custody of young teenagers who commented on Facebook on the recent riots in England, the Scottish justice system is clearly showing that it stands firmly on the side of the powerful and wealthy against justice. Any democratic rights we have can only be secured by a continuing fight in their defence.

The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign has issued reports from the trial and an official statement which will appear on their website shortly. The GDC urges all its supporters to heed the SPSC's call for "supporters of Palestinian rights, anti-racists, and supporters of free speech to assemble outside Cupar Sheriff court on Tuesday September 13th at 9am to support Paul Donnachie. An injury to one is an injury to all."

URGENT: Demonstrate outside Glasgow District Court tomorrow!

The Glasgow Defence Campaign is once more calling on all supporters of the anti-cuts movement and democratic rights to attend a protest outside the trial of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) supporter Joey Simons on Tuesday 23 August. Hundreds took part in the demonstrations on 9 December in Glasgow on which two FRFI supporters were targeted and arrested by Strathclyde police. 

The GDC and FRFI haver consistently fought to oppose the attacks on anti-cuts activists by both the courts and the police, and offered our solidarity to all those who have faced harassment for their political activity. We urge and demand that all progressive forces stand with those protesting outside Glasgow District Court tomorrow calling for the charges to be dropped as not in the public interest. Only through protest and public campaigning can we apply any form of scrutiny and accountability to the 'justice' system. Recent events in England have shown the viciousness with which the courts of the ruling class can act. We cannot allow any member of the anti-cuts movement to face isolation and criminal charges. As Strathclyde police continues to arrest ever increasing numbers of activists, 'An injury to one is an injury to all' must be the principle on which we fight.  All out for the Glasgow District Court! 

Drop the charges now! Stop the political attacks!

Protest outside Glasgow District Court from 10am,

21 St. Andrews Street, off Saltmarket

Glasgow Defence Campaign

Monday 22 August, 13:00

Strathclyde police - back off!

On Friday 12 August, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and GDC supporters held a "No to the Cuts! No to Political Policing!" stall outside Buchanan Galleries on Sauchiehall St. Two Strathclyde police officers (A678 and A297) approached the stall at 3.30pm, threatening a charge of breach of the peace for the megaphone being "too loud." Activists effectively defended their rights and drew in a crowd of around 50 members of the public to highlight yet another instance of political policing. Officers attempted to pull a 15 year-old GDC supporters away from the stall but failed and eventually retreated.

A second set of male officers (A192 and A929) arrived in a police vehicle at 4.25pm. They then circled the stall by foot and entered shops in the surrounding area, before approaching twenty minutes later, again failing to intimidate activists and unlawfully take personal details of those on the stall. The police eventually back off. Another example of the necessity and effectiveness of standing up for our rights in the face of political policing. Strathclyde police - back off!

GDC opposes latest arrests and calls for unity

The Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns the most recent wave of arrests in the past week as yet another example of political policing in the city of Glasgow. The arrests are an abuse of power which is intended to intimidate and isolate those prepared to make a principled stance against the cuts. The timing and character of the arrests are themselves further evidence it was directed by the highest levels within Strathclyde police working alongside the crown office.

The GDC calls for maximum unity in the face of these latest attacks. As we demonstrated in practice in April when a number of people were arrested and detained - only by open opposition can an effective defence be mounted. Following the demonstration – all of the charges against the accused were dropped as a result of the public pressure generated. We need a similar victory once again.

If the latest round of anti democratic actions by Strathclyde police go unchecked and unchallenged – who will be next? History teaches us that the British state will show no mercy against those it deems necessary to criminalise; those who cooperate with the prosecution will be hammered. Witness the attacks on the Gaza demonstrators of January 2009, the attack on Charlie Gilmour and the punitive incarceration of Milbank protesters.

The GDC calls for those who wish to defend themselves politically to contact us. Now is the time for effective, non sectarian unity among everyone under attack. The police attacks on the right to free speech and assembly must not go unopposed. We say that those who remain silent, and accept criminalisation, invite more trouble – not less.

Joey Simons, a supporter of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! stated ‘only through public campaigning can we be successful – not just on an individual basis but also in upholding the rights of everyone. We refuse to be intimidated, isolated and criminalised. That is why we oppose this latest round of arrests and call for supporters to attend my trial on 23 August. We are calling for enough public pressure to be mounted in order to have all of the charges dropped.’

The trial against Joey Simons is set to take place on Tuesday 23 August from 10am at the District Court, St Andrews Street, Glasgow. The GDC is calling on supporters to attend and for messages of solidarity to be sent from individuals and organisations. 

The attack on democratic rights continues...

Strathclyde police continue to attack democratic rights with impunity in Glasgow. At a static demonstration in George Square today officers imposed a ban on chanting and told the organizers that the demonstration would be cut short with no reason given.

The peaceful protest had been called by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement Scotland and was supported by a range of Irish solidarity groups and members of the public concerned with the ongoing physical and mental abuse of republican prisoners in particularly Maghaberry gaol in County Antrim, North Ireland.

A supporter of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! was present and without warning was manhandled away from the protest, accused of being a 'serial protestor' and threatened with arrest for 'breach of the peace'. The offending officer (badge number A 574) was clearly acting under orders to target the comrade who is already facing two stitched up charges of police assault from previous demonstrations against the cuts.

The GDC is committed to fighting for the democratic rights of all progressive groups and reaffirm that the best form of defence against political policing is to actively publicize and organize against it.


We will not be intimidated!

Police hands off protest!

Democracy goes for a wander in Glasgow...

The sham of what passes for ‘politics’ and ‘democracy’ in Glasgow was once again exposed as the Labour party and Strathclyde police demonstrated their complete contempt for the people of this city. Supporters of the Glasgow Defence Campaign, Black Triangle disability rights group and the Save the Accord campaign, in trying to acquire some basic answers for the actions of their elected representatives were met with the kind of dirty tricks, thuggery and politicking in which the authorities in Glasgow are so well-trained.

On the morning of Thursday 23 June, supporters of the GDC and the Black Triangle attended a full meeting of the Strathclyde Police Authority. The role of a full meeting of the SPA is ‘to approve the Authority’s governance framework and administration of its finances; makes key strategic and major policy decisions; approve annual plans and monitor performance.’ Its current convenor is Labour party councillor Stephen Curran. As was anticipated, Strathclyde police and its political paymasters made every effort to ensure that even the most basic procedures of accountability were by-passed in order to avoid a challenge to their continued attacks on activists and communities in Glasgow.

The location of the meeting was secretly changed on 16 June from the City Chambers, where all full Authority meetings in Glasgow have been held for the past two years, to George Street Parish Church, in a clear attempt to avoid the GDC’s calls for a protest and to prevent any unwanted members of the public actually attending the public meeting. On entering, GDC and Black Triangle supporters were met by two uniformed police officers and the building’s Duty Manager, Gerry Macsorley, who radioed into other officers that people had arrived. Two activists were allowed to enter the meeting but were told that the agenda of the meeting had already been set, that there would be no opportunity to ask questions and were subsequently left to sit in silence as the minutes of the last SPA meeting (copies not provided) were discussed. Meanwhile, Inspector Jim Gillan, officers A112 and A503 along with Gerry Macsorley prevented two other GDC supporters from entering.

One of those present, Joey Simons, told the GDC: ‘Two cops, a police inspector and a security guard were drafted in to aggressively block our access to what is a public meeting of elected officials. The room was supposedly full with just five members of the public present. Democracy and accountability is a sham where Strathclyde police and the City Council are concerned. They are clearly uncomfortable at our continued scrutiny of their actions. As long as the police continue to attack our people, they should expect to feel a lot more uncomfortable in the future.’

Later that day, carers from the Save the Accord centre in Dalmarnock, who have been fighting a battle with the city council over the demolition of a day care centre for people with disabilities for a Commonwealth Games bus park, witnessed first hand the disgusting arrogance of the Labour party’s suited thugs and their contempt for basic democracy and decency. Carers attended a meeting of Glasgow City Council in an attempt to raise their serious concerns for the health of their loved ones. Instead, the Labour councillors shut down the debate. As an Accord Centre carer commented: ‘They overtalked, ignored the issue and refused extra time to discuss the last motion regarding the Accord Centre! Carers shouted from the Public Gallery to them all and made them all aware we will not be ignored for much longer.. WE WILL NOT GO AWAY.. WE WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR LOVED ONES!’

The SNP’s David MacDonald stated: ‘Labour today showed a callous disregard for democracy by denying the Council an opportunity to debate an issue of great importance to those affected…This was a Labour abuse of power…’

The GDC is clear that the fact the powers that be are forced to resort to such dirty tricks to avoid the most basic accountability represents a vindication of the continuing campaigns against both the police and Labour council, who are now running scared. While those who dare to challenge them are treated like criminals, we are confident in the knowledge that it is the police and council who represent the biggest threats to law and order in Glasgow. The rotten corpse of these institutions must be challenged at every step as the movement against the cuts grows and the struggles of the working class intensify. We will not allow them to hide behind the shadow of the ‘Tory menace’. This is only the beginning. 


Glasgow Defence Campaign

GDC protests this week! Stand together against political policing!

The Glasgow Defence Campaign is calling on all its supporters and progressive forces in Glasgow to join us on the streets in the coming days. It is crucial that pressure is sustained on Strathclyde police and their political paymasters, that their anti-democratic activities will not be tolerated in this city. The ongoing criminalisation of young people for opposing the cuts is in no way in the public interest. We are determined to send a clear message that the authorities will be held accountable – both individually and collectively – and this requires concerted action on the streets. This is the only way forward for defending our democratic rights against the forces of the state in the coming period of struggle.

GDC supporters, members of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and student activists are all facing criminal convictions in Glasgow in the coming months. As John Pilger has stated: ‘Who will be next? If the police are allowed to succeed, other legitimate campaigns will be targeted. It’s imperative the Glasgow Defence Campaign has the support of all of us.’

Picket the Strathclyde Police Authority!

Join supporters of the GDC, FRFI, Black Triangle and others in a protest outside the Strathclyde Police Authority, the strategic meeting of Chief Constables and Councillors on policing in Glasgow.

Thursday 23 June, from 10am @ 

Glasgow City Chambers, George Square

Speak out against the cuts! No to political policing!

Join anti-cuts activists targeted by police in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee in an open-megaphone street rally to voice your anger against the cuts. Stand together in the streets – an injury to one, is an injury to all!

Saturday 25 June, 1-3pm @

Donald Dewar statue, top of Buchanan Street, Glasgow

Police turn up at Glasgow anti-cuts meeting

On Thursday 9 June PC A644 and PC A989 were sent from Partick police station to the launch meeting of the Coalition of Resistance (COR) in Glasgow. The officers approached people leafleting outside the STUC building asking whether a demonstration would take place, what the meeting was about, how many people were expected to attend and how long it would last. 

To their credit a small group of people immediately challenged the officers by questioning their reason for being there forcing them to leave the area. A supporter of the Glasgow Defence Campaign caught footage of the incident. The GDC asks that people treat all police interference with political protests and meetings (no matter how small) with the upmost seriousness and record the badge numbers, names (if possible), police station and footage of the officers involved. Not to do so would be to give Strathclyde police the green light to continue their campaign of harassment, arrest and intimidation against people interested and involved in progressive politics.

Fight The Cuts!

Oppose Political Policing!

Strathclyde police step up repression and target anti-rape event organisers

The Glasgow Defence Campaign has received the following report from a Scottish Socialist Youth supporter.

Police evidence gathering team in George Sq on Saturday

Organisers of an anti sexual violence demonstration in Glasgow city centre on Saturday 4 June are facing possible charges after Strathclyde Police reported two individuals to the Procurator Fiscal for what they claim was an 'unauthorised' march. This follows a huge police operation which was mounted on the day of the 'Slutwalk', which saw around 200 mostly young people taking part in a completely peaceful march against rape and victim blaming, in light of recent comments by various Tory politicians on the matter. 

Ahead of the demonstration, the organisers had sought co-operation from both Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police, even going as far as shortening and altering the route of the march, and changing its end location. Despite this, two organisers have now been reported to the PF.

The huge police operation mounted on the day of the march saw several police vehicles, up to six mounted officers, CCTV vans, an evidence gathering team with a handheld camera, a helicopter and a number of plain-clothes officers in attendance. This was a huge overreaction to a demo that had never been billed as anything other than a peaceful march, which consisted mostly of young women on their first demonstration.

However, the police clearly saw it as an excuse for an exercise in intimidation and intelligence gathering. A large police presence remained in Glasgow Green well after the rally had finished, with plain-clothes officers visibly scrutinising the attendance at the demonstration, attempting to pick out known activists within the crowd. It is understood that officers inside police vehicles had 'spotter cards', containing photographs of such activists. As people began to drift away, a young student activist was accosted by two plain-clothes officers as he visited a newsagent, and his details were demanded under Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act, as a potential witness to a crime, the nature of which they did not specify despite a legal requirement to do so.

Similar tactics were used to gain the details of an individual at the picket of Stewart Street police station on Thursday, following police violence and two arrests at a Strathclyde University anti-cuts protest. Again, the protester was picked off by plain-clothes officers as he visited a shop, away from the mass of the demonstration.

In charge of police operations at both Saturday and Thursday's demonstrations was Superintendent Nelson Telfer. Following Thursday's demo, he appeared in media coverage claiming that the protest was "hijacked", and promising further arrests. As the past few months have shown, when it comes to arrests and subsequent bail conditions, the police are picking their targets first and then later coming up with whatever charges they can fit. Officers made it clear in April, whilst making a round of arrests over student demos in December, that they had a 'list' of targets for arrest.

Their aim of derailing and intimidating the emerging anti-cuts movement in the city, by targeting prominent activists in whatever way they can, could not be clearer. Even where good relations have been sought - such as in the organising of the Slutwalk on Saturday - the police have responded by looking to press charges against individuals involved, and in an obvious bid to set an example to organisers of other demonstrations. Everyone involved with the anti-cuts movement in Glasgow must remain vigilant in the face of these attacks.

GDC statement on arrests of students at Strathclyde University protest

The Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns the police aggression and arrests of two people at a demonstration at Strathclyde University on Thursday 2 June. Students held a mass march around the campus in opposition to the scrapping of geography, sociology and community education courses. This is part of £12 million worth of cuts at the university, involving 100 job losses and other departments threatened. Students demanded that education should not be based on ‘income generating potential’ and business-led research. The entire campus was on lock-down as the authorities feared a potential occupation of one of the buildings. Glasgow writer James Kelman addressed the crowd and urged them to oppose all cuts.

During the demonstration, police moved to arrest a student ISG activist for the apparent crime of speaking on a megaphone on the steps of the McCance building. Another student was assaulted by officers, thrown to the ground and subsequently arrested. A young woman was punched in the face as she moved to help her partner. The GDC welcomes the initiative shown by protesters, who moved to defend those attacked and arrested, blocking the police vans from moving for over two hours, filming and photographing the actions of the police. Around 25 police and a helicopter were eventually deployed.

Over 50 people then held a militant, spontaneous march from the campus to Stewart Street police station. A GDC supporter present reported that chants of ‘Strathclyde police – hands off protest!’ and ‘Defend, defend, defend the right to protest!’ rang out across the busy traffic and protesters defied police attempts to force them off the roads. A protest was held outside the station as people demanded the release of the two students in detention. They were due to be released at 6.30pm, although we have yet to confirm this or the charges brought.

It is vital that Strathclyde police, individually and collectively, be held publicly responsible for their behaviour. The GDC believes it has identified Superintendent Nelson Telfer and PC Prentice as the two police responsible for directing the aggression against students at the campus. The former appeared on Scottish television to public defend the widely condemned eviction of the Hetherington occupation; the latter involved in securing the wrongful conviction of an FRFI activist on 10 April. We have also identified PC David Markey (A413), the officer in black helping to forcefully restrain a student on the ground (see video 1.15). This officer was involved in the police harassment of a GDC supporter witnessed here.

Check the GDC's police harassment log to reference the numbers of any Stewart Street officers previously involved in political policing. Police officers from Stewart Street can be identified here. We urge people to follow up with civil actions and complaints, and to record any injuries sustained with a doctor as soon as possible.

There is a movement growing across the country against police attacks on democratic rights, as increasing numbers are brought face to face with the reality of the British justice system: that the interests and property of the banks and the multinationals will be defended from effective opposition at all costs. The police will continue to act with violence and impunity against protest unless we can effectively organise to defend ourselves and others. The GDC has led the way in campaigning against political policing in Glasgow over the past twelve months and the response of the students today shows that this is broadening every day. Every anti-democratic action on the part of Strathclyde police only serves to expose their profound weakness and radicalise ever more people.

In response to the latest arrests in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the GDC is calling on people to turn Monday’s planned picket of Glasgow District Court at the trial of an anti-cuts activist into a mass show of solidarity with all those criminalised for peaceful protest. An injury to one is an injury to all! End the arrests – drop the charges!

All out for Glasgow District court!

Monday 6 June, from 10am onwards

21 St. Andrews Street

, off Saltmarket, Glasgow

Arrests of anti-cuts activists in Edinburgh

The Glasgow Defence Campaign sends its solidarity to those activists arrested for their actions against the multinational tax-dodgers in Edinburgh on Saturday 30 June. The statement from Bright Green Scotland details the actions of the cops. Strathclyde police carried out similar actions against activists involved in peaceful direct action against Vodafone last year, arresting and charging people with breach of the peace four months after the alleged incident. The GDC, alongside the Free Hetherington occupation and others, was instrumental in openly publicising, condemning and organising protests against these blatant political arrests. In the end, the charges against five young people were dropped.

Based on concrete experience gained over the past year, we have learned that attack is the best form of defence. We hope all progressive forces in Edinburgh and beyond unite in condemnation of Lothian and Borders police and organise in support of those arrested. Breach of the peace charges, house arrests and politicised bail conditions...clearly a pattern is emerging. The response everywhere must be the same: we will not be intimidated! No business as usual for the banks!

Indymedia report of Edinburgh Uncut action here.

GDC calls for major protests outside District Court on Monday!

The GDC is calling for mass protests outside Glasgow District Court on Monday 6 June in solidarity with an anti-cuts activist on trial after being arrested on protests in Glasgow late last year.

Hundreds of young people took over the streets of Glasgow city centre on 9 December, inspired by the mass student demonstrations which shook London. Banks and multinationals were targeted as people vented their anger at the destruction of free education and those set to profit. Two activists from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) were targeted and arrested on the protests, having previously organised against political policing in Govanhill.

The first entry on the Glasgow Defence Campaign’s log of police harassment dates from almost exactly one year ago. Since then, the fight against the cuts has continued to escalate and so too the fight to defend democratic rights as Strathclyde police proved its determination to disrupt and destroy any emerging movement. There has been attempts to ban the newspaper Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, arrests and frame-ups of activists on peaceful protests, police violence on demonstrations, house raids and frequent house visits, the arrests and illegal questioning of minors, the massive operation to evict the Free Hetherington occupation and Margaret Jaconelli, the issuing of draconian and politicised bail conditions, strip searches and much else.

All this represents a massive defeat for the authorities in Glasgow. They have exposed themselves as profoundly weak and succeeded only in radicalising new layers of people who now have no illusions whatsoever in the true role of the police in the coming struggles. We have seen the police brutality against the comrades in Barcelona and know what will happen if we don’t organise.

Throughout the last 12 months the GDC has consistently campaigned on the streets to expose and defeat the political harassment conducted by the courts and the cops. We have named and shamed the police officers involved and will continue to do so. From John Pilger and Tommy McKearney to Len McCluskey and the STUC, support is growing. Important successes have been won and unity built in solidarity with all those criminalised for their activity against the cuts. 


Stand together on the streets - stand together in the courts! Join the protest! We will not be intimidated!

Monday 6 June, from 10am

Glasgow District Court, 

21 St. Andews Street (off Saltmarket)

GDC PRO

Thursday 2 June 00:00

A public warning to Strathclyde police

The Glasgow Defence Campaign would like to place on public record once again our opposition to Strathclyde Police’s campaign of harassment and intimidation against our supporters. As we report today on our harassment log, on 24 May, Strathclyde Police Inspector Mike King attended the home of Dominic O’Hara in relation to the civil action the Glasgow Defence Campaign are pursuing against his officers. 

The GDC is calling upon Strathclyde Police to desist with immediate effect this practice of door stepping which is intended to intimidate. We believe it to be another tool of harassment intended to disrupt private and family life and the lives of our neighbours. If the police are seriously wishing to engage with our supporters then they can contact us via letter or through our legal representatives.

Speaking today for the Glasgow Defence Campaign, Miriam Kelly, stated, ‘We are simply refusing to tolerate this ongoing harassment quietly. We have nothing to say to Inspector Mike King, or any of his officers, all of our supporters are now operating under instruction not to engage with the police in any way. This means that communications will not take place without a solicitor present. This has become necessary given the record of Strathclyde Police of falsifying evidence and committing perjury in order to secure convictions against our supporters.’

A report of last Tuesday’s incident has been lodged with our legal advisors.

The GDC presents...Don't Panic, Organise! fundraising party