justice4bolton http://justice4bolton.org Protesting against racism and fascism is not a crime! Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:38:12 +0000 en hourly 1 DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST MEETINGhttp://justice4bolton.org/2012/03/defend-the-right-to-protest-meeting/ http://justice4bolton.org/2012/03/defend-the-right-to-protest-meeting/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:38:12 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=241 Defend the Right to Protest
Stop the criminalisation of protesters
Defend Our Civil LibertiesMonday 19th March@ 7pmFriends Meeting House, Meeting Room 1, 6 Mount Street
https://www.facebook.com/ events/125076047619089/

Speakers…

Alfie Meadows, student defendant
Dannie Grufferty, NUS VP
Jennifer Hilliard, mother of two defendants
Steph Pike, UKUncut activist in Manchester
Speaker from DtRtP
Speaker from justice4bolton
Political protests are under attack. Over the last 18 months this has meant violent police tactics as well as disproportionate sentencing by the courts with the intention of deferring people from demonstrating.JUSTICE FOR ALFIEThose who have suffered include student protester Alfie Meadows. He was injured so badly by police during a 30,000 strong demonstration against fees that he had to undergo emergancy brain surgery to save his life. Incredibly Alfie has been charged with violent disorder – an offence which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, His trial begins on Monday 26th March 2012.

Meanwhile police officers who attacked students are yet to face any charges. In the case of Jody McIntyre, who was dragged by police from his wheelchair, the IPCC found that an “assault may have happened” but it was “to late” to do anything….

Harsh sentences have already been handed down to students and anit-cuts protesters. These include Zenon Mitchell, a Sussex university student, currently serving a 15 month sentence for taking part in the protest outside Tort HQ in Millbank.

IN MANCHESTER

Here in Manchester UKUncut activist Steph Pike was fined after protesting against tax evasion at Barclays Bank. 55 anti-fascists were arrested protesting against racism and fascism in Bolton, a 60 year old trade unionist was filmed by ITV being battened by police then disgracefully  charged with violent disorder. He has been found not guilty. Three peaceful protesters were arrested for protesting outside HMV to oppose the
government’s workfare scheme. These are just a few examples.

They are part of a wider attack on our right to protest which has seen members of UK Uncut found guilty of “aggravated trespass” for occupying Fortnum & Mason, police spying on activists, and the Occupy movement  forcibly evicted from empty buildings.

It is an attack clearly designed to intimidate people from protesting at a  time of unprecedented government cuts and austerity. In the wake of the
recent public sector strikes, for example, Tory ministers have made repeated threats to toughen the anti-union laws.ABOUT DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTESTDefend the Right to Protest was launched in response to violent police tactics and arrests at the student protests of November and December 2010, with the support of activists, MPs, trade unionists, student groups and  others. We campaign against police brutality, kettling and the use of  violence against those who have a right to protest. We campaign to defend  all those protestors who have been arrested, bailed or charged and are  fighting to clear their names.

regardsManchester Defend the Right to ProtestWebsite: www. defendtherighttoprotest.org
Email: info@defendtherighttoprotest. org
mcrdtrtp@gmail.com
Facebook Page: defendtherighttoprotest / add Right to Protest
Twitter: @righttoprotest

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2012/03/defend-the-right-to-protest-meeting/feed/ 0 Pass this Model Motionhttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/pass-this-model-motion/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/pass-this-model-motion/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:07:21 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=239 Download this motion here - and here – as a double sided A5 leaflet, for distribution and adoption as soon as possible.

 

The Right to Protest is Precious!

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/pass-this-model-motion/feed/ 0 Mock Tory “shooter” watched by GMPhttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/tory-shooter-watched-by-gmp/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/tory-shooter-watched-by-gmp/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:05:30 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=235 In an exclusive in today’s Salford Star the police once more come under the spotlight – this time for failing to criminalise a Tory party delegate who takes aim and shoots what appears to be a toy  gun at the protestors  who took to Manchester’s streets on Sunday to tell the government that they do not want their cuts.

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/10/tory-shooter-watched-by-gmp/feed/ 0 Model Motion for you to endorse the Action Plan through your organisation/grouphttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/model-motion-for-you-to-endorse-the-action-plan-through-your-organisationgroup/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/model-motion-for-you-to-endorse-the-action-plan-through-your-organisationgroup/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:49:24 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=231  Now we need to turn our plan into Action.

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

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/model-motion-for-you-to-endorse-the-action-plan-through-your-organisationgroup/feed/ 0 Latest Bolton News coveragehttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/latest-bolton-news-coverage/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/latest-bolton-news-coverage/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:01:56 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=227                                                      

 

Download a copy of our Action Plan here.

 

Read the Bolton News story here.

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/latest-bolton-news-coverage/feed/ 0 Press Release: 14.09.09 “The Right to Protest is Precious” say campaignershttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/press-release-14-09-09-the-right-to-protest-is-precious-say-campaigners/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/press-release-14-09-09-the-right-to-protest-is-precious-say-campaigners/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:12:31 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=203

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.

 

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/press-release-14-09-09-the-right-to-protest-is-precious-say-campaigners/feed/ 0 Speakers asserting the Right To Protest in Parliament 8th Septemberhttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/speakers-asserting-the-right-to-protest-in-parliament-8th-september/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/speakers-asserting-the-right-to-protest-in-parliament-8th-september/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:40:55 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=187 The meeting will start at 10am.  Access to committee room 6 is through security via St Stephen’s entrance (no 7 on the map  you can see 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.

 

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/speakers-asserting-the-right-to-protest-in-parliament-8th-september/feed/ 0 79 year old Gaza protestor and local councillor joins 8th September panelhttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/79-year-old-gaza-protestor-and-local-councillor-joins-8th-september-panel/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/79-year-old-gaza-protestor-and-local-councillor-joins-8th-september-panel/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:15:20 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=185     Ray will speak alongside Members of Parliament, legal representatives and antiracist, antifascist,   environmentalist and student protestors who are resisting attempts to criminalise protest.  Read in more detail about Ray’s case here and here.

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

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/09/79-year-old-gaza-protestor-and-local-councillor-joins-8th-september-panel/feed/ 0 8th September at Parliament, participants will include…..http://justice4bolton.org/2011/08/8th-september-at-parliament-participants-will-include/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/08/8th-september-at-parliament-participants-will-include/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:05:30 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=180 Confirmed participants at this time include:

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

]]> http://justice4bolton.org/2011/08/8th-september-at-parliament-participants-will-include/feed/ 0 j4b hosts ‘The Right to Protest’ at Parliamenthttp://justice4bolton.org/2011/08/j4b-hosts-the-right-to-protest-at-parliament/ http://justice4bolton.org/2011/08/j4b-hosts-the-right-to-protest-at-parliament/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:14:37 +0000 Rhetta http://justice4bolton.org/?p=177 Draconian, knee jerk reactions to the events of the last ten days threaten to undermine the fundamental right of people to protest against what they believe to be wrong.

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

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