The Right to Protest is Precious!

Download and  print off the model motion to put to your organisation as soon as possible.

Download a copy of our Action Plan here.

Read the Bolton News story here.

Hosted in parliament on 080911 by j4b President  Peter Hain MP, and addressed directly by Bolton MPs, human rights lawyers and protest leaders, the Right to Protest public meeting described the Right to Protest as ‘precious’ and adopted a comprehensive action plan.

Supporting the call for a People’s Enquiry into the policing of an anti EDL protest in Bolton on 20th March 2010, the group rejected attempts to create divisions between ’good’ and ‘bad’ protestors, and called for enforceable procedures on How to Police Protests.

During the meeting Michael Oswald of Bhatt Murphy, who acts for nine anti fascists seeking accountability for their treatment at the hands of the police in Bolton on 20th March 2010, explained:

 

”During the shocking series of events that took place around the arrest of Mr Alan Clough, five of my clients, including Mr Clough, were seriously injured and/or wrongfully arrested.  My clients are determined that those events should be fully investigated and that those responsible for the treatment they received at the hands of the police are held to account for their actions. In addition, four others who were subject to similar treatment at the demonstration have brought civil claims against GMP in order to try to achieve accountability in respect of their own treatment.”

 

A j4b spokesperson added:

“In light of all of these incidents, and the treatment of many others who have chosen not to pursue their treatment through legal means but have expressed very serious concerns to justice4bolton, it is plain that the policing of the demonstration on 20 March 2010 was blighted not only by the misconduct of individual ‘rogue’ officers but by organisational failings on the part of GMP.  Such failings must be addressed at an organisational level and the lessons learned from this – and other -protests so that the police change the way they police protests.

This week, on the same day that the newly appointed head of the Metropolitan Police, Bernard Hogan-Howe, declared that he wants a police force that the people could trust, the Trades Union Congress passed a motion calling on its General Council to reaffirm the right to peaceful protest as a basic democratic freedom and to call for full independent investigation into any allegations of police aggression or instances of ‘kettling’ being used during future demonstrations and protests.

Constructing enforceable procedures on How to Police Protest is a good place to begin to rebuild trust and avoid police aggression and kettling in the future.

Download the full press release here.

 

There will be plenty time for discussion after opening observations from participants with grounded experience from a range of protest movements, including those listed below:

Weyman Bennett, Joint Secretary, Unite Against Fascism (http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1371724_antifascist_protesters_to_avoid_charges_after_edl_clash)

Ray Davies, Gaza Protestor, and Labour Councillor for Caerphilly County Borough

Matt Foot,  Human Rights lawyer who represents protestors

Sue Matthews, mother of Alfie Meadows, student injured in protests and then charged

Members of Parliament including Bolton’s Julie Hilling MP and David Crausby MP, with apologies from Yasmin Kureshi MP

Dr Rhetta Moran, justice4bolton, NUJ member

Michael Oswald, Bhatt Murphy Solicitor, enabling civil actions

Nina Power, Defend the Right to Protest Campaign

Caroline Ridgeway, UNISON member and Bolton eye witness

Mike Schwarz, Bindmans solicitor, whose case exposed PC Kennedy, an undercover police officer

Bryan Simpson, student activist resisting criminalisation

UK Uncut

There will be wheelchairs at security  for anyone who  needs them.

This public meeting will begin at 10am in Committee Room 6, at Westminster.  Please leave plenty time to clear security into Westminster.

Weyman Bennett, Joint Secretary, Unite Against Fascism (http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1371724_antifascist_protesters_to_avoid_charges_after_edl_clash)

Matt Foot, Birnberg Peirce solicitor, defending UK Uncut activists

Alfie Meadows, student injured in protests and then charged

Members of Parliament including Bolton’s Julie Hilling MP and David Crausby MP, with apologies from Yasmin Kureshi MP

Dr Rhetta Moran, justice4bolton, NUJ member

Michael Oswald, Bhatt Murphy Solicitor, enabling civil actions

Mike Schwarz, Bindmans solicitor, whose case involved PC Kennedy, an undercover police officer

Bryan Simpson, student activist resisting criminalisation

UK Uncut

This meeting will be at 10.00am in Committee Room 6 of the House of Commons on Thursday 8th September.

It offers an opportunity for MP’s, key figures involved in the Right to Protest movement, and members of the public to participate in an open, transparent and constructive discussion about why the Right to Protest must be asserted and protected within our society.

Please email info@justice4bolton.org to indicate if you want to attend as places will be limited.  Thank you

Of the 55 antifascists arrested in Bolton who connected with justice4bolton once it was launched, five people subsequently faced charges ranging from police assault to using foul language towards police officers.

Of these five cases, one was found Not Guilty by Bolton Magistrates and a further two were withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service moments before they were due to begin. This was because of the evidence brought forward through our networks which clearly showed that the accused anti fascists were innocent.

The Tactical Aid Unit police officers involved in one of these cases are now subject to a ‘managed’ Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation. This is significant because the IPCC investigate very few complaints. For example, in 2009 – 2010, the IPCC managed only 151 complaints of the many tens of thousands of police complaints that were
made.

Of the remaining two cases, one guilty conviction is being currently being appealed and this involves video evidence that came to light through justice4bolton, after the original conviction. The other case is listed for 4th April.

Weyman Bennett and Rhetta Moran, the two organisers of the Unite Against Fascism demonstration who were arrested, endured eight months of investigation under allegations that they had conspired to incite violent disorder that day. The CPS have now informed verbally Greater Manchester Police that no further action is to be taken against these organisers.

What next?
People must not become criminalised because they are prepared to stand up and be counted against injustice. Building on from its success therefore, justice4bolton is now driving through our campaign to ensure that the right to protest without fear of criminalisation is thoroughly protected.

This includes bringing the police to account for themselves that day through civil actions, public events that draw out the lessons from Bolton and its parallels with the policing of other protests, and having a People’s Enquiry into the policing that day:

Please be generous, according to your means, to support our work that prevents injustice to people seeking to stop the spread of fascism and violence in our communities, and to defend our democratic right to protest and demonstrate.

We need to raise a further £20,000 in donations to complete our work.