Stop these attacks on our right to protest - defend the Fortnum 145
Viva imcuk! | 01.05.2011 15:57 | Public sector cuts | Repression | Workers' Movements | Birmingham
STOP THESE ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST
Protest outside the hearing of Fortnum & Mason anti-cuts occupiers
MONDAY 9th MAY, 9am
CITY WESTMINSTER COURT
70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX
Called by Defend The Right To Protest, in support of the Fortnum145 defendants campaign - www.fortnum145.org - details at end, below
On 26 March, around 140 people were arrested and detained for taking part in the occupation of Fortnum & Mason to highlight tax avoidance. Their protest was peaceful, as documented by eyewitness reports and video footage. They were told by police that they were free to leave – but as soon as the protestors left the building they were arrested. The occupiers now face charges of aggravated trespass and the possibility of a prison sentence.
Protest outside the hearing of Fortnum & Mason anti-cuts occupiers
MONDAY 9th MAY, 9am
CITY WESTMINSTER COURT
70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX
Called by Defend The Right To Protest, in support of the Fortnum145 defendants campaign - www.fortnum145.org - details at end, below
On 26 March, around 140 people were arrested and detained for taking part in the occupation of Fortnum & Mason to highlight tax avoidance. Their protest was peaceful, as documented by eyewitness reports and video footage. They were told by police that they were free to leave – but as soon as the protestors left the building they were arrested. The occupiers now face charges of aggravated trespass and the possibility of a prison sentence.
The Fortnum and Mason arrests are part of a much wider project that threatens the right to protest. The student demonstrations of November and December were regularly kettled and charged by mounted officers or uniformed thugs wielding batons and shields. Tahmeena Bax and Alfie Meadows were peaceful protestors hospitalised by police. Alfie now faces charges of violent disorder – unlike the officers responsible for the brain haemorrhage that nearly killed him.
Faced with unprecedented cuts that threaten to decimate the welfare state, now more than ever we must defend and assert our right to protest. On Monday 9 May join us outside the first of the Fortnum & Mason hearing to defend the protestors facing charges and to remind the government and the police that we can and will exercise our protest without fear of arrest or intimidation.
Also: Public open meeting - Thursday, May 5th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm: University of London Union (ULU), Malet Street, WC1
Join the event on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117219988359477
Stay up to date with our campaign: http://defendtherighttoprotest.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defend-the-Right-to-Protest/178594298855659
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Support the Fortnum145 defendants campaign - run by the defendants, and their friends and families
www.fortnum145.org
On the weekend of March 26th 2011 a number of protesters were arrested outside Fortnum and Mason. Their crimes? Raising awareness about the £40million of unpaid tax money that their parent company, Wittington Investments, has been dodging.
Even though a police spokesperson in the building went on record saying the demonstration was “sensible” and “non-violent” there has been a lot of unfair and biased media reporting on the event.
We have seen our friends and our sons and daughters come home tired, confused and worried after up to 24 hours of solitary confinement, miles away from where they were arrested, and without their outer clothes and phones. They came home to read articles accusing them of violence, and to be branded “mindless thugs” by Theresa May. It would mean so much to them if you could send a message to let the defendants know that members of the public share their unease about the arrests, and are there behind them in support as they are taken through the court system.
This campaign is being run by the friends and family of those protesters. Please share our website www.fortnum145.org , our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates about how your right to protest is in danger.
Faced with unprecedented cuts that threaten to decimate the welfare state, now more than ever we must defend and assert our right to protest. On Monday 9 May join us outside the first of the Fortnum & Mason hearing to defend the protestors facing charges and to remind the government and the police that we can and will exercise our protest without fear of arrest or intimidation.
Also: Public open meeting - Thursday, May 5th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm: University of London Union (ULU), Malet Street, WC1
Join the event on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117219988359477 Stay up to date with our campaign:
http://defendtherighttoprotest.org/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defend-the-Right-to-Protest/178594298855659 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support the Fortnum145 defendants campaign - run by the defendants, and their friends and families
www.fortnum145.org
On the weekend of March 26th 2011 a number of protesters were arrested outside Fortnum and Mason. Their crimes? Raising awareness about the £40million of unpaid tax money that their parent company, Wittington Investments, has been dodging.
Even though a police spokesperson in the building went on record saying the demonstration was “sensible” and “non-violent” there has been a lot of unfair and biased media reporting on the event.
We have seen our friends and our sons and daughters come home tired, confused and worried after up to 24 hours of solitary confinement, miles away from where they were arrested, and without their outer clothes and phones. They came home to read articles accusing them of violence, and to be branded “mindless thugs” by Theresa May. It would mean so much to them if you could send a message to let the defendants know that members of the public share their unease about the arrests, and are there behind them in support as they are taken through the court system.
This campaign is being run by the friends and family of those protesters. Please share our website www.fortnum145.org , our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates about how your right to protest is in danger.
Viva imcuk!
