Support The M&S Picket
Victory to the Intifada group, Manchester | 04.01.2005 14:32 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles
ALL OUT THIS SATURDAY, 8TH JAN AT MARKS AND SPENCER ON MARKET STREET.
SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
On Saturday 4th December, Manchester Police arrested nine pro-Palestinian protesters who were taking part in the regular picket of Marks & Spencer. Prior to this the Chief Constable had imposed a unilateral ban on the picket for the Christmas and New Year period. The reason given by the Police was that the picket would cause ‘serious disorder’ amongst Christmas shoppers - though this is the first time in four years that this has happened. This comes at a time when the picket is under attack from Zionist and fascist supporters of Israel who want to kick us ‘off the streets of Manchester’. The ban is very convenient for them but this was not mentioned by the Police as both have the objective of criminalising pro-Palestinian activity.
Chief Constable Todd banned the Victory to the Intifada (VTI) Picket from outside M&S arguing that it should be held in the Peace Gardens, half a mile away, and limited its numbers to 20 and its duration to 3 hours under Section 14 of the 1986 Public Order Act. Police officers informed members that a picket of the Manchester Evening News also fell within the terms of the ban. This is therefore a ban on a particular organisation, rather than an event. On 4 December, as the M&S demonstrators were led away under arrest, other political demonstrations and stalls were taking place in Market Street, free from police attention.
The nine arrested picketers were banned from entering the city centre for upto six weeks – beyond the term of the ban on demonstrations - though they have yet to be charged with any offence. We are now pursuing appeals against these bail conditions and a Judicial Review against the ban. So all financial help would be greatly appreciated to meet potential court costs etc. (see slip at bottom).
The ban did not hurt the resolve of the group and pickets of M&S appeared spontaneously in the surrounding areas of Manchester giving us a great opportunity to branch out and keep the pressure up on M&S. The ban of the Market Street protest ended on 3 January 2005 so the time to rebuild is now. The Police and Council will persist with their draconian measures and the Zionists will return but nothing can stand in the way of a rightful protest in solidarity with the oppressed.
Every Saturday for the last four years, Victory to the Intifada, supporters of the Palestinian liberation struggle, have picketed Marks and Spencer, calling for a boycott of the store for its close financial and political links with the Israeli state. Underlining these links, The Guardian recently quoted overseas workers in Gaza as saying that organic produce from greenhouses that they laboured in was destined for Marks and Spencer – a completely illegal trade. On 9 December, Stuart Rose, M&S Chief Executive, will be guest of honour at the annual dinner of the British-Israeli Chamber of Commerce alongside the Israeli ambassador and the British ambassador to Israel.
Support the Defence of the M&S 9. Make a donation to the Defence Campaign.
Cheques/PO's payable to: 'Defend the M&S Picket Campaign'.
Send to Campaign at, PO Box 20, Bridge 5 Mill, 22A Beswick St. Manchester, M4 7HR.
Name… Donation…
Address…
e-mail/phone…
For more info contact,
Victory_intifada@hotmail.com / 07816547066
SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
On Saturday 4th December, Manchester Police arrested nine pro-Palestinian protesters who were taking part in the regular picket of Marks & Spencer. Prior to this the Chief Constable had imposed a unilateral ban on the picket for the Christmas and New Year period. The reason given by the Police was that the picket would cause ‘serious disorder’ amongst Christmas shoppers - though this is the first time in four years that this has happened. This comes at a time when the picket is under attack from Zionist and fascist supporters of Israel who want to kick us ‘off the streets of Manchester’. The ban is very convenient for them but this was not mentioned by the Police as both have the objective of criminalising pro-Palestinian activity.
Chief Constable Todd banned the Victory to the Intifada (VTI) Picket from outside M&S arguing that it should be held in the Peace Gardens, half a mile away, and limited its numbers to 20 and its duration to 3 hours under Section 14 of the 1986 Public Order Act. Police officers informed members that a picket of the Manchester Evening News also fell within the terms of the ban. This is therefore a ban on a particular organisation, rather than an event. On 4 December, as the M&S demonstrators were led away under arrest, other political demonstrations and stalls were taking place in Market Street, free from police attention.
The nine arrested picketers were banned from entering the city centre for upto six weeks – beyond the term of the ban on demonstrations - though they have yet to be charged with any offence. We are now pursuing appeals against these bail conditions and a Judicial Review against the ban. So all financial help would be greatly appreciated to meet potential court costs etc. (see slip at bottom).
The ban did not hurt the resolve of the group and pickets of M&S appeared spontaneously in the surrounding areas of Manchester giving us a great opportunity to branch out and keep the pressure up on M&S. The ban of the Market Street protest ended on 3 January 2005 so the time to rebuild is now. The Police and Council will persist with their draconian measures and the Zionists will return but nothing can stand in the way of a rightful protest in solidarity with the oppressed.
Every Saturday for the last four years, Victory to the Intifada, supporters of the Palestinian liberation struggle, have picketed Marks and Spencer, calling for a boycott of the store for its close financial and political links with the Israeli state. Underlining these links, The Guardian recently quoted overseas workers in Gaza as saying that organic produce from greenhouses that they laboured in was destined for Marks and Spencer – a completely illegal trade. On 9 December, Stuart Rose, M&S Chief Executive, will be guest of honour at the annual dinner of the British-Israeli Chamber of Commerce alongside the Israeli ambassador and the British ambassador to Israel.
Support the Defence of the M&S 9. Make a donation to the Defence Campaign.
Cheques/PO's payable to: 'Defend the M&S Picket Campaign'.
Send to Campaign at, PO Box 20, Bridge 5 Mill, 22A Beswick St. Manchester, M4 7HR.
Name… Donation…
Address…
e-mail/phone…
For more info contact,
Victory_intifada@hotmail.com / 07816547066
Victory to the Intifada group, Manchester
e-mail:
salfordfrfi@hotmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.manchesterfrfi.5u.com
Comments
Display the following 29 comments