UK Promoted Newswire Archive
John Voysey's census case: photos and report from Wrexham Magistrates Court
02-02-2012 12:49
25 supporters gathered at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 1 February in solidarity with John Voysey, 82, of Herefordshire who is charged with failing to complete the 2011 Census. John, who registered as a conscientious objector in 1947 while still a schoolboy and later became a Quaker, has refused to complete the 2011 Census on moral grounds because of Lockheed Martin's £150 million contract for processing the census data. The case has now been adjourned until Friday 2 March midday for a pre-hearing and will be heard by a District Judge in recognition of the important legal points raised by the defendant, who is representing himself in court.
DPAC and ukuncut block Regent Street
28-01-2012 14:29
At about midday, a group of activists strung a chain across the Regent Street North junction with Oxford Circus, and a number of wheelchair users attached themselves to the train. Police were fairly slow to arrive, by which time numbers were also swelled with the arrival of those who had responded to the call out.
The protest was a response to the draconian measures being taken to slash welfare provision, with disabled people being some of the hardest hit. A propoganda campaign mounted by the state and corporate media has produced a nasty backlash against disabled people. One woman told me that she has been asked if she really needs her wheelchair.
DPAC called for more protests to be held across the UK, and it is to be hoped that this will happen.
Do you want to help stop the world’s most destructive project?
27-01-2012 17:15
police solidarity blockade of shell petrol station
27-01-2012 00:55
in many years of independent reporting, i've often seen situations where police have caused larger disruption than a handfull of protestors, closing roads, sometimes closing down businesses, and sometimes massively amplifying the power of the protestors alone (not that that's their intention). however, this evening was, i think, the first time that they so completely did the job of the activists for them, that the campaigners could sit in a nice warm pub and toast the met, instead of standing around in the cold themselves.
click on image for larger version. 'some rights reserved' - free for credited non-commercial use, otherwise contact author for permission
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the protest this evening was called by the climate-conscious shell-bashing 'london rising tide' group, in co-ordination with the legendary activist samba band 'rhythms of resistance'.
each january, the band commemorate the life of activist, val jones, a woman who helped put the rossport county mayo struggles on the political map, and who, as a designer, produced many brilliant huge banners for the movement. she was sadly struck down with motor neurone disease and passed away two years ago. in memory of val, the commemoration takes the form of a shell garage blockade each year.
so, tonight, the call-out was for a blockade at the shell station in old street, the scene of previous blockades. around twenty people turned up to the meeting point, armed with drums, banners, and leaflets. well, actually someone forgot the leaflets, but as it turned out they weren't needed.
the usual time-line for these events is that the activists turn up at the garage, the band plays on the forecourt, the large banners are used to close the entrance to the site, and leaflets are handed out to staff, to motorists, and to passers-by. the staff then close the shop and call the police, who turn up after about half an hour. the police warn people that they might be committing aggravated trespass, and then they forcefully facilitate the continuation of the action on the pavement, so that the garage opens for business once more.
however, tonight, something was very different. even before the demo began, the garage went dark, bollards blocking its entrance, and small groups of police lurked on street corners nearby.
so the activists were confused. what to do? was there any point attempting a blockade of a garage that was already closed for business? previous estimates from blockades show that garages lose several thousands of pounds of business when they close, and this is of course part of the point of the protests. also, someone had forgotten the leaflets, so although there was a suggestion of moving to a different target, there was the concern the protest wouldn't be so effective without this element.
every now and then, someone went out to check the site, and the garage remained totally closed for business, all lights off, staff locked in their shop, and nonchalant street-corner policing. so, another drink, a bit of food, plans afoot for future actions, and as the cold wind built up, and the wet drizzle came down, the occasional check that the police were continuing to carry out the activists' mission.
an hour passed, another one, a third. wow, this was better than any previous small-scale blockade. there was fond reminiscing of the upper street blockade a few years ago, val and the band present, on a saturday. this had closed the upper street shell garage for five or six hours, and ended with loads of TSG arriving , a couple of arrests, and a lot of details taken. but it was a much larger scale event with lots of prior planning. tonight was always meant to be a small, token, and commemorative action.
after three hours, the police scaled down and appeared to leave, but the garage stayed closed for a futher two hours, until finally near 11pm it opened for business once more.
this has to have been the most successful blockade without a single activist present. maybe they should contact the guiness book of records. we have the photos, the eye-witness reports.
various theories emerged as to why this happened tonight, but none of us really know, so in the meantime, the met should be heartened that a glass or two was raised to them for their sterling work this evening in costing shell five hours-worth of business at a normally very busy london garage, and thanks to them that a couple of dozen activists stayed warm, safe and conspiratorial.
all involved hope that the met join in with even more solidarity for the big blockade on the 8th february (occupyoil).
Occupy Sheffield: High Court Judge decides protestors have a case
27-01-2012 00:11
Sheffield Cathedral vs Occupy Sheffield - hearing set for 21-22 Feb 2012
26-01-2012 13:42
Tinlings Ltd make eviction threats against Occupy Liverpool
25-01-2012 12:43
Eviction threats against Occupy Liverpool.Occupation Camp Nottm: Collected coverage 100 days
23-01-2012 00:55
To celebrate the 100 days mark .... I thought it would be a good time to collate the coverage so far.
Occupation Camp in Nottingham is part of a global network of occupy camps, to protest at governments cuts. Critical of growing inequalities. Anti-globalisation, anti-capitalist and in favour of helping to bring about fairness in society.
'Collected' Indymedia Links at: http://wp.me/p8CiF-rE
Flickr photoset at: http://tinyurl.com/8yyq3mn
On the flickr set, you can also select the 'slideshow' and watch it cycle through the collection
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Occupy Sheffield's Rally for the 99%
21-01-2012 15:17
Glasgow Picket Against Adecco Supplying scabs at ABB Factory Spain
21-01-2012 14:31
Red and black flags waved as a dozen people from the Anarchist Federation, Industrial Workers of the World, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Solidarity Federation and other individuals took part in a picket of the Glasgow premises of Adecco for one hour between 4 and 5pm on Friday 20th January.
Montgomery Primary School Strike
21-01-2012 13:10
Montgomery Primary school is being forced to become an academy, a move which both teachers and parents are opposed to. In December, all staff went on strike, and were joined by parents on the picket line.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2011/12/490171.html They will be on strike again on the 25th January.
A Tank of an Idea (Part 2)
20-01-2012 20:51
Heh - in Tank of an Idea (Part 1) we told you there was more to come on the dodgy relationship between Occupy Justice and Mastcraft Limited. Our friends at Corporate Watch have been digging about and what they have found, leads them to ask What would Mastcraft gain from agreement with Occupy Justice?
It seems that ideas of turning the old court house into a centre known as the Community Courthouse Iniative, ran into trouble when Hackney Council applied strict planning conditions on the listed building. The project felt it could only attempt to meet these restrictions, which added to already costs, if they were given a written commitment by the Metropolitan Police Authority to sell them the building should they clear Hackney's hurdles. The MPA refused to play and the innovative scheme was duly scuttled. This lead to the building being placed on the market, and duly snapped up by Mastcraft, with plans to turn it into a luxury hotel.
Squatters March Through Brighton Streets
20-01-2012 11:39
Today squatters and supporters will be marching through Brighton's streets. Three Squats are due in court as the owners of the buildings try and regain possession.Merseyside Police violently attack peaceful anti cuts protesters 18.01.12
19-01-2012 00:33
Salvation for the Citadel of Hope
18-01-2012 01:32
Occupy Sheffield have come to an agreement with the proprietor of the Citadel of Hope building. At the application for Possession hearing taking place at Sheffield County Courts on 18th January, both parties will agree an end date for the occupation set for one month’s time. This stay of execution will enable negotiations to continue between the occupiers and the proprietor, to determine if there can be a proper legal basis for the use of the building. This agreement, which has only been possible due to direct and open discussions between Occupy Sheffield and the proprietor, will be ratified by tomorrow’s court proceedings.Liverpool Census Refuser cases: two adjournments, one 'guilty' verdict
17-01-2012 20:23
Two cases adjourned pending the outcome of judicial review in the High Court. One defendant found guilty.
hi court parl sq victory but then eviction tonite!
17-01-2012 00:55
after a postponed hearing at the high court today, parliament square protestors won the right to sustain their injunction against westminster council, stopping the council from enforcing the new and untested PASRA law to clear tents and other structures from the square. the injunction will run until a further 2-day high court hearing during march, which will effectively decide the legality of the new law.
click on image for larger version. 'some rights reserved' - free for credited non-commercial use, otherwise contact author for permission
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about a dozen campaigners and supporters turned up at the high court this morning, attaching 'right to protest' banners on the court railings in the bright morning sunshine.
all parties shuffled into the small basement court ready to hear the case, but the judge said there'd been a mix-up, she wasn't sure why we'd all turned up, and the hearing wasn't till this afternoon. in fact, everyone had received the official court listings on friday afternoon, and the case was listed for 10.30, but the judge asked all to return at 2pm.
the 'claimant' in this case is maria gallestegui, who runs the 'peace strike' protest in parliament square, her two large boxes creating quite an impressive presence opposite the gates to parliament. along with the 'parliament square peace campaign', who continue the late brian haw's ten-year vigil, she received an enforcement letter from westminster council on the 19th december, the commencement date for the PASRA legislation giving the council powers to prevent overnight stays in the square and to seize sleeping equipment, tents and other structures. (see my previous articles for a fuller background etc)
so, maria went to the high court and asked for a temporary injunction to stop westminster (who then became the 'defendant') from exercising this new power without a judicial review.
today's hearing was meant to decide whether westminster had the power or not. if the case went against maria, westminster could have forcibly removed her tent and possibly her boxes.
this morning's delay in proceedings gave maria's barrister, jessica simor from matrix chambers, a chance to put a proposal to the westminster lawyers in the corridor outside the court. she told them that even if they were to win the case today, she would immediately be demanding an appeal, and this would have more cost implications to the council. there is also a separate case in the lower courts in which westminster are prosecuting the parliament square protestors for 'obstructing the highway'. jessica also warned that if westminster did go ahead with any enforcement, that there then may be further appeals and the possibility of substantial damages added to any costs.
maria's barrister suggested that the sensible route, since there are clearly overlapping human rights concerns, would be for both cases to be conflated, and to avoid otherwise unavoidable costs, that westminster should back off today, allowing the whole issue to be properly scrutinised in law before any action.
so during the morning, the defendant's (ie westminster's) lawyers had a lot to think about.
by the afternoon, a larger solidarity protest was organised, with a group of supporters joining from the st paul's 'occupy lsx' protest just up the road. the court filled up, and i counted 32 supporters, along with maria's legal team, the westminster legal team, some metropolitan police lawyers, who are an 'interested party' in the case, and police observers from the charing cross events team (who enforce and co-ordinate SOCPA-authorised protests in the area of parliament). there was also a lawyer appearing on behalf of the secretary of state. he said he was there in order to add the home office as a further 'interested party' since it was their new legislation that was being challenged.
in the court were also two uniformed police officers, and outside the high court (for both the morning and the afternoon sessions) were a forward intelligence gathering team, who were taking photographs of all the supporters. two TSG vans were also on standby nearby - perhaps they were worried a group might try to 'occupy the high court'!
once the session got underway, it became clear that the defendant's lawyers had had a word with their westminster colleagues, and backed down over their planned challenge to the injunction.
it was up to maria's barrister to inform the judge that all parties had reached agreement and that the new law would be tested in court BEFORE any enforcement took place. this was a huge victory for maria, as westminster's official response to the court had been a request for the judge to strike down the injunction and allow seizure, after which maria would have the right to try for a judicial review. instead now, westminster have agreed not to act UNTIL the legal arguments are tested.
all this didn't go down too well with the lawyer from the home office. he pointed out that the law had been drawn up by government and was 'primary criminal law'. it was, he said, a most unusual position for a new law to be challenged by the judiciary before it is even used. he was anxious that any new hearing should take place as soon as possible, and also raised the concern that groups such as the 'occupy' movement, might yet try to establish new camps in the square.
(any takers?)
so a lot of diaries were consulted, and eventually it was decided that, after skeleton arguments were drawn up, responded to, and further evidence given, the court hearing could take place over two days in the middle of march. in the meantime, westminster are warned off applying the new law, at least on the 'claimant' maria, although it was briefly mentioned in court, and appeared sensible that no action would be taken against the 'parliament square peace campaign' either. however, this evening's news is otherwise
today's ruling will also have a knock on effect on proposed byelaws that westminster, the dept of culture, and the GLA are all considering, which would introduce the same ban on political camping throughout westminster, the royal parks and trafalgar square.
althought the westminster public consultation on new byelaws is now closed, the other two are still open this week, so it would be great to get a large number of negative responses in to these before they close. given that the whole PASRA camping legislation is under question for human rights compatibility now, it seems very premature to plan byelaws before any hearing and ruling. however, all the consultations give concerns over the growing 'occupy' movement as one of the reasons for wanting rapidly bring in what they refer to as a 'premature' reaction.
the consultations can be found at http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/8710.aspx for the royal parks (ending next monday the 23rd jan), and the GLA one at http://www.london.gov.uk/consultation/draft-byelaws-trafalgar-square-and-parliament-square-garden (ending on sunday the 22nd) for trafalgar square.
parliament square protest eviction NOW!
16-01-2012 20:55
despite high court hearings today and the PASRA law effectively on hold, the metropolitan police and westminster council have begun a forceful operation this evening to remove tents and other structures from around the parliament square protest.
later on i will be posting a report on today's court proceedings, but briefly, maria gallestegui's 'peace strike' scored a victory against westminster council in court today which was thought likely to apply to ALL the protestors in parliament square.
however, this evening, dozens of police, two police lorries, an ambulance, and two forward intelligence teams have turned up and launched a strike against the more than decade long continuous 'parliament square peace campaign', removing any items that could be used to facilitate sleeping (which is the criterion under the new repressive PASRA legislation) as well as any megaphones or sound-amplifying equipment.
it is despicable that they should do this before legal arguments are heard on the compatibility of the new law with human rights, and they've picked one of the coldest nights of the season to conduct their gestapo-like sortie.
(the gestapo law passed by the german government in 1936 gave the gestapo carte blanche to operate without judicial oversight, exempted from responsibility to the administrative courts)
occupy bristol Eviction Threat.
16-01-2012 13:21
EDL Routed In Whitechapel
15-01-2012 17:23
The sorry tale of the EDL is perhaps wending it's way to an anti-climax. Yesterday saw a piss-poor turn out in Barking end up in an ignominious defeat in Whitechapel.