TWO EVENTS FOR MAYDAY 2008

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Thursday, May 1st. Public meeting at the New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, 7.0 pm. The speakers will be former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg and local asylum rights and aids campaigner Amdani Juma.

Moazzam Begg

One of nine Britons held without trial at Guantanamo Bay, he was interrogated more than 300 times during his detention, was subjected to death threats, torture and witnessed the killing of two fellow detainees. Author of “Enemy Combatant: the Terrifying True Story of a Briton in Guantanamo”.

Amdani Juma

From Burundi, he is a worker and volunteer at Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum. He is also involved in many other local and national organisations. He spends a lot of his time helping other people but now he has been refused indefinite leave to remain.

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Saturday, May 3rd. Traditional MayDay march and rally. The march sets off from Brewhouse Yard (near the castle) at 12 noon, then back to Brewhouse Yard for speeches, music and stalls. Bring banners, placards, whistles, balloons, enthusiasm, friends and family. Make sure your campaign and trade union are represented.

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Please download and distribute the flyers.

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WHY CELEBRATE MAY DAY?

May Day was celebrated as a pagan festival long before the Romans came. Then in the 19th century, it became the international worker’s holiday arising from the struggle in the US and Canada for an 8 hour working day:

“Lay down your tools on May 1st, 1886, cease your labour... for one day in the year. One day of revolt, not of rest! A day of protest against oppression and tyranny, against ignorance and war. A day on which to... enjoy eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for what we will”.

In 1894, Nottingham held its first big May Day celebration, with thousands marching in strict Trade Union parades from the Forest. There were speeches from mining, hosiery and railway unions and from political parties. Resolutions were passed by an enthusiastic crowd.

Today, the industries are different, but the need for struggle against oppression, tyranny, ignorance and war is still there and not just for one day a year. It has become international and you can add global warming to the list. Nottingham’s May Day march is a relaxed event – we just have to avoid trams and buses - but in many countries, workers get savagely beaten up for attempting to demonstrate on their own streets.

Supported by Nottingham Trades’ Council, Nottingham’s 2008 May Day festivities have been organised by Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group. We campaign against the callous and inhuman treatment of asylum seekers by the government. Their latest plan is to withdraw free primary health care from asylum seekers. Government policy will then leave them not only destitute and homeless, but also without health care. We support asylum seekers in their demand for the right to work.