During the carnival, the samba band found itself in Canning Street, surrounded by police forces, after a peaceful walk of only ten minutes. Without any explanation, the group was held at this location for hours. After the protesters were allowed to leave one by one, seven musicians, seemingly randomly, got picked out of the group and got detained.
Three of them are still in jail. A day later also two dancers got arrested.

Rhythms Of Resistance is a growing international network of drummers and dancers, striving for a socially and ecologically just world. The local groups came together in Scotland to pursue their ideals at the G8 protests.

The bands are appalled that in a democratic society drum beating can be equivalent to riot leadership, eventhough criminalisation of political samba bands is nothing new.

During the next days, the sambistas will support their jailed friends, e.g., by visiting them and by playing for them outside the prisons. Also, they want to raise awareness for their cases by public performances. We demand an immediate end of this injustice and the release of the innocent drummers, dancers, and other inappropriately arrested detainees.


Rhythms Of Resistance Aachen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bremen, Ghent, Helsinki, Leeds, London, Maastricht, Manchester, Oxford, Paris, Sheffield, Torino