UK Newswire Archive
Police Attack NYE Prison Solidarity Demo
01-01-2012 18:55
Police attack Bristol Prison Demo. One of many of a growing tradition.'New Year, Same Shit'
Four people were arrested when Police attacked a New Year's Eve Prison Solidarity demo outside Horfield Prison. Around 20 people had gathered outside Horfield to protest against prisons and show solidarity with those inside. Cries of "Happy New Year!", "Solidarity" and "Fuck the Screws!" could be heard over the soundsystem as people celebrated the coming of the New Year.
The celebrations were cut short by the arrival of two Police officers who upon arriving on the scene liberally applied CS spray and tried to steal the soundsystem (to no avail). More Police arrived shortly and began making arrests. After a brief confrontation people decided to make a tactical retreat to avoid further arrests.
Prisoners inside Horfield showed their support for those on the outside by banging on windows and shouting out to them. A sing-song chorus of "All Coppers Are Dead Coppers" could be heard as the Police began making arrests. The situation inside the Prison sounded just as volatile as it did outside by this point.
At the time of writing, four people are still under arrest. There is no information relating to charges etc. A Solidarity Vigil will be happening at Trinity Road Station today (Sun 1st January), so please come down if you can!
'New Year, Same Shit'
Four people were arrested when Police attacked a New Year's Eve Prison Solidarity demo outside Horfield Prison. Around 20 people had gathered outside Horfield to protest against prisons and show solidarity with those inside. Cries of "Happy New Year!", "Solidarity" and "Fuck the Screws!" could be heard over the soundsystem as people celebrated the coming of the New Year.
The celebrations were cut short by the arrival of two Police officers who upon arriving on the scene liberally applied CS spray and tried to steal the soundsystem (to no avail). More Police arrived shortly and began making arrests. After a brief confrontation people decided to make a tactical retreat to avoid further arrests.
Prisoners inside Horfield showed their support for those on the outside by banging on windows and shouting out to them. A sing-song chorus of "All Coppers Are Dead Coppers" could be heard as the Police began making arrests. The situation inside the Prison sounded just as volatile as it did outside by this point.
At the time of writing, four people are still under arrest. There is no information relating to charges etc. A Solidarity Vigil will be happening at Trinity Road Station today (Sun 1st January), so please come down if you can!
Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
Solidarity with Manning & Assange: A year in pictures and links [Part 2]
01-01-2012 18:29
Part 2: September - December 2011
Both Bradley Manning and Julian Assange continue to suffer the wrath of the US Empire for their parts in exposing its crimes, corruption, deceit, bullying and other nefarious activities. They continue to need our support and solidarity into this new year: Bradley Manning is still in detention (19 months and counting) and now waiting to hear the outcome of his pre-trial hearing; Julian Assange is appealing the extradition decision against him at the Supreme Court at the beginning of February; a Grand Jury in Virginia, US, continues to investigate Assange and WikiLeaks.
New Year's eve party outside Gatwick detention centres
01-01-2012 18:04
Solidarity with Manning & Assange: A year in pictures and links [Part 1]
01-01-2012 12:33
Part 1: December 2010 - July 2011
Solidarity with Bradley Manning and Julian Assange
Don't shoot the messengers!
Which way forward for the 99%? General Strike 1st May 2012!
01-01-2012 12:30
To show our power, on May 1st, 2012, we will be organizing for such a mass participatory and bold collective action: a national general strike, mass boycott, student strike/ walk-out and mass day of action. We will be organizing within our unions- or informal workplace organizations where there’s no union or the union isn’t supportive- to hold a one-day general strike. Where a strike is not possible, we will be organizing people to call in sick, or take a personal day, as part of a coordinated “sick-out”. Those who are students will be walking-out of their schools (or not showing up in the first place). In the community, we will be holding a mass boycott and refusing to make any purchase on that day.
We, the 99%, will build our power and show our power until we've occupied our workplaces, our communities, our schools, our lives, our world... until we've occupied everything!
report & pics on holloway prisoner solidarity demo
31-12-2011 20:55
up to 100 people took part in tonight's new year's eve solidarity noise protest at holloway women's prison and young offenders' unit. their aim was to highlight the recent spate of draconian sentencing on protesters and others, and to contrast the injustice that police and bankers are aloud to go free despite committing much greater crimes
click on image for larger version. 'some rights reserved' - free for credited non-commercial use, otherwise contact author for permission
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at 4pm a small crowd began to grow outside the prison gates in north london. their large banners and bicycle sound system gathered interest and the occasional hoot from passing vehicles, and there were leaflets for pedestrians. as the crowd grew to a few dozen, a police van arrived. it was difficult to hear the cops over the megaphone chants and music, but they were asking who was the organiser. it seemed either the organisers didn't hear, or hadn't turned up, because no-one answered. the cops shrugged, got back in the van, and drove off.
by now there were close to a hundred people and they set off into the grounds of the prison and round to the military style back gates.
from there, we could see prisoners at the windows, and we heard them shouting and asking us to raise the banners higher so that they could see them. this got a huge cheer.
after a while, police arrived with a prison guard, but again got nowhere asking to speak to organisers, and once again left.
a few people took to the open mic. one was the mother of student zenon mitchell, who is serving a 15 month sentence for throwing a flimsy stick and an empty can at heavily protected riot police. another was a campaigner for mumia abu-jamal (held on philadelphia's death row for more than 15 years despite international cries for a retrial www.freemumia.com). it was also good to hear from a trade union activist, who talked about the government attacks on workers, and the chilling effect that political sentencing was designed to have on the right to protest.
speakers, rappers and poets highlighted the political and class aspects of imprisonment, pointing out that the murderers of mark duggan, ian tomlinson and smiley culture are still free, that the bankers responsible for the financial terrorism that has devastated our public services are still getting huge bonuses, while those affected by the cuts are repressed and criminalised for protesting this unjustice.
after the open mic, there was another half hour of noise protest. the sound system, whistles, pots and pans, and the rather noisy high wire fences (when struck), all added to the cacophony.
at 6 the group decided to leave together just as police returned once more to check the scene.
the protest was supported by 'defend the right to protest' (www.defendtherighttoprotest.org) and the legal defence monitoring group (www.ldmg.org.uk). 'defend the right to protest' were also publicising their 'twin with an imprisoned protester' campaign, which encourages individuals, students unions, and trade unions, to build public pressure for their release, and provide support to their family and friends.
The managed decline of Liverpool
31-12-2011 20:34
2011 - A year of action in pictures
31-12-2011 20:23
Nottingham Indymedia: review of 2011
31-12-2011 18:55
The past year has been a particularly tumultuous one which has seen the wave of Middle Eastern revolutions, the Libyan war, the August Riots, the indignados and occupy movements, the Eurozone crisis, Hackgate, the continuing militancy of the anti-cuts movement and much more. Nottingham has felt the reverberations of many of these global events, with an Occupy Nottingham camp in the Market Square, anti-police riots, the biggest trade union march for decades and many solidarity and anti-cuts actions and demonstrations.
January
January saw many issues carried over from the previous year. The Ratcliffe Trial was to have been concluded, but all came to a shuddering halt as the truth about Mark Kennedy was unearthed by the mainstream media. Student-led protests against cuts to EMA also continued.
Ratcliffe Trial: Sentencing | Undercover police officer back in the spotlight | Notts students protest EMA cuts | Nottingham Indymedia statement on recent events
February
February saw Nottingham respond to the revolutions beginning to spread across the Middle East, with solidarity demonstrations and concerns about the involvement of local arms dealers Heckler & Koch. In other arms trade-related news, a Nottinghamshire businessman was implicated in an international arms trafficking racket. Workers at Nottinghamshire County Council were the first to take strike action against the cuts. The Beeston offices of notorious work capability assessors, Atos Origin, had windows put in and were graffitied by ‘Angry People’.
Corporate spy was active in Nottingham | Nottingham Solidarity with Egyptian Revolution | Middle East dictatorships armed by H&K | Notts County Council workers strike against cuts | Notts arms dealer in trafficking conspiracy
March
March saw local campaigns against the cuts step-up a gear as the city council met to set it’s budget for the next year, dogged by protesters. Protesters disrupted the council meeting and chased Jon Collins around Market Square. Later in the month Nottingham residents would be among the hundreds of thousands who joined the TUC march in London. Direct action was taken by anti-capitalists against a branch of Tesco’s and Natwest bank.
Notts Uncut campaigners shut Natwest Bank | No Cuts in Nottingham! | Resistance to Nottingham City Cuts | International Women’s Day 2011 in Nottingham | Notts Joins March Against Cuts | Notts Arms Dealer Back in Spotlight | Notts Strikes, Protests and Marches Against Cuts
April
In April, animal rights activists were pleased to announce a local success as a Derby Road shop committed to no longer selling fur. Campaigners concerned about the future of the NHS started to organise with health-focused Uncut actions, a national day of action and a public meeting cheekily titled “Kill the Bill.” New revelations emerged about the “Nottingham Two,” Hicham Yezza and Rizwaan Sabir, arrested at the University of Nottingham, in a paper by Dr Rod Thornton that was highly critical of the University.
Notts Shop Withdraws Fur After Protest | Nottingham Mobilises to Save NHS | Save Hayward House Daycare | Heckler & Koch armed Bahrain regime | Big changes are coming to Indymedia UK | New light shed on the Nottingham Two
May
As is traditional, May got started with the usual celebration of International Workers’ Day. A campaign to defend university whistleblower, Rod Thornton, after he was suspended. A dispersal order was imposed and resisted by local activists. Campaigners for the NHS got to grips with the government’s “listening” process while later in the month, Notts Uncut joined other groups nationally in acting to defend the NHS. Anarchists attacked a Nottingham company responsible for selling CCTV cameras to local schools in an action against social control.
Mayday 2011 in the East Midlands | Censorship at University of Nottingham | Protests against Office Angels and ATOS | Dispersal order in Forest Fields | Notts Uncut: Still Protesting | Support grows for Uni of Nottingham whistleblower | Victories for Notts Campaigns | Notts Rejects Plans For NHS | Nottingham Solidarity with Spanish Revolution
June
Local Tory MP and Justice Minister, Ken Clarke, was targeted by direct action against his constituency office and the West Bridgford Conservative Club in the aftermath of comments he made about rape and cuts to legal aid. More concerns about surveillance were raised following the announcement that the City Council’s Workplace Parking Levy would use a spy car equipped with ANPR technology. The month ended with the first of the year’s large national strikes as teachers and civil servants too action in defence of their pensions on June 30th.
Notts Uncut: Emergency Operation | Workplace Parking Levy to use ANPR | All Out For June 30th!
July
The 63rd anniversary of the NHS was on July 5th, campaigners marked the date with a demo at the London Road Roundabout and followed it up with a “trial” of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. A Reclaim Nottingham party toured the city centre in an attempt to reclaim public space. Activists held a protest at the Morton Hall migrant prison. Vivisection breeder, Highgate Farm, had a delivery vehicle put out of action by animal rights activists.
Increasing social control in Nottingham | Nottingham Workers Join June 30 Strike | Protests in Notts Mark 63rd Anniversary of NHS | Reclaim Nottingham! party hits town | Climate activists’ convictions quashed | Campaigners target Morton Hall IRC
August
In August, the rioting and looting which had begun in London following the police shooting of Mark Duggan, spread to Nottingham. Nottingham was also at the forefront of post-riot repression with courts handing down ridiculous sentences and city council leader Jon Collins calling for rioters and/or their families to be evicted from council homes.
Nottingham Critical Mass is on the move | Nottinghamshire Pride 2011 | Riots spread to Nottingham | Post-riot repression hits Nottingham
September
In September good news came through that anti-fascist defendants in London had been acquitted, much to the delight of supporters in Nottingham, while Tescos lost their battle for a new store in Keyworth. At the end of the month, a protest was held at Atos Healthcare as part of a national day of action against the company, Nottinghamshire Police arrested two of the participants.
Anti-fascist prisoner support in Nottingham | Tesco loses battle for Keyworth store
October
On October 15th, Nottingham joined the growing ranks of occupied cities around the world. Originally planned as a 24 hour occupation of the Market Square, the camp is still there at the time of writing. Meanwhile an arson attack was carried out against a vehicle at Nottingham Prison.
Nottingham protest rattles Atos | Nottingham is occupied | Nottingham Occupation Continues | Occupy Nottingham: Moved but still in occupation
November
November saw the occupation continue and indeed grow, while the two protesters arrested at the Atos Healthcare demonstration in September were charged with aggravated trespass. Council Leader Jon Collins’ was visited by a No Evictions demonstration outside his home to protest against his plans to evict social tenants found to have been involved in the August riots. An old Tory social club was temporarily occupied for an anti-cuts free space. The month ended on a high with the public sector strike action in defence of pensions and the largest demonstration in Nottingham in decades.
Occupy Nottingham: Still there | No Evictions campaign targets council leader | Lowkey “Soundtrack to the Struggle” Gig Success | Nottingham’s ‘Atos Two’ Charged | STRIKE on 30th November! | NSAFC Report on @OccupyNotts 36 Days In | Occupy Nottingham: No plans for eviction. Yet. | Solidarity With Nottingham’s ‘Atos Two’ | Bigger Society Free Space in Nottingham | All out for N30 in Notts!
December
As Christmas approached, the occupation found itself surrounded by the “Winter Wonderland”, nevertheless they persisted continuing through Christmas and inviting supporters to join them for New Year’s Eve. Nottinghamshire Police failed to get into the festive spirit and took it upon themselves to arrest two people at the Notts Uncut “Christmas Special” and a third at the police station later that evening. They also wrongfully confiscated a student photographers material outside the Occupy camp. Meanwhile, the dubious smell associated with Mark Kennedy returned as the first report into undercover policing was released, to widespread criticism, while eight former lovers of undercover officers began legal proceedings against the Met.
Student photographer hassled by Notts Police | Notts workers strike for pensions | First report into undercover policing: “whitewash” | OccupyNottingham: Two months in | Criminalisation of protest in Nottingham | Women sue Met over undercover cops | Occupy Nottingham: Xmas and New Year in Market Sq
Unsustainable Israeli Politics of Exclusion in Jerusalem
31-12-2011 16:45
While the history of the world is moving decisively toward a culture of inclusion, diversity and pluralism, Israeli politics seems to challenge history by moving in the opposite direction of exclusion and unilateral self - righteous monopoly of geography, demography, history, archeology and culture, especially in Jerusalem.
Protest against cuts to Disabled people's benefits & services
30-12-2011 15:04
Protest against cuts to disabled people's benefits and services and the destruction of the NHS.Time: 1pm Friday 20th January
Place: Lemington Spa, Warwickshire. At CHRIS WHITE, MP’s office, 43a CLEMENS STREET, OLD TOWN, CV31 2DP, not far from railway station. Meet outside constituency office at 1pm
Concern raised re Londons Globe Theatres decision to host Israels Habima Theatre
30-12-2011 12:48
Winter blues - How energy companies are making a killing
30-12-2011 11:32
Longshore Workers, Truckers: Shut the Ports, Coast to Coast!
30-12-2011 01:23
Ports up and down the West Coast were blockaded, from Seattle to San Diego. Despite a barrage of hostile propaganda in the media, opposition from union bureaucrats and heavy police repression in some places, overall the blockade was successful – this time. The blockade was called in solidarity with longshore workers fighting a union-busting assault in Longview, Washington and with port truckers seeking union recognition in the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach. This support should have been greeted. Instead, the union bureaucracy attacked the port blockade, although longshore workers respected the picket lines. But now the class war on the West Coast docks is coming to a head, and it can’t be waged from the outside. Bay Area labor has called for a caravan to Longview. The goal should be a real occupation of the terminal by the workers to prevent the loading of the scab cargo. Longshore militants have called on the longshore unions to shut down every port on the West Coast, and the East and Gulf Coasts, to smash EGT’s union-busting. Can it be done? Yes, but only though sharp struggle against the pro-capitalist labor bureaucracy."Consultation on police powers to promote and maintain public order"
29-12-2011 19:14
A Home Office consultation on police powers in public order situations was launched in October. It closes on 13th January 2012.Full article | 1 addition | 2 comments
Occupy Northwood Military HQ
29-12-2011 14:44
Brent council can`t be trusted
29-12-2011 14:09
The court ruling was that Brent council wouldn`t move books from the closed libraries while the legal process was still active.