Peace Camp Set to Defy Ban
mcr imc | 19.09.2006 20:19 | Anti-militarism | Iraq
"We think it's because it's the Labour conference and they don't want us going and voicing our opinions" Rose Gentle, Military Families Against the War
"They have got every right to protest, and I think we will find they will protest. Whoever is responsible for this are idiots." Walter Wolfgang
A protest group is planning to defy a ban on setting up a peace camp in Albert Square imposed on them by Manchester City Council. Military Families Against the War - an organization of relatives to members of the Armed Services opposed to the war in Iraq - will be pitching camp outside the town hall in the run up to the Labour Party Conference. Come Saturday the camp will be joined by thousands of people protesting against the continuing military occupation of Iraq and British foreign policy in the Middle East.
The Council claim the ban is in place for 'logistical' and 'health and safety' reasons, a claim that is strongly disputed by MFAW, who say the council is merely doing the bidding of the Labour Party. A further claim that there were 'security issues' with the camp have been denied by GM Police.
The conference is set to meet a high level of dissent this September. Aside from the peace camp a march and rally has been called by the Stop the War Coalition on Saturday 23rd which will include an anarchist block. Also on the menu, welfare rights group, Coalition Against the Welfare Reform Bill, are planning a demonstration and lobby on Monday 25th in reaction to the punitive approach towards disabled welfare claimants outlined in the bill.
Military Families to Defy Ban [ 1 | 2 ] Demonstrate Against Welfare Reform Bill [ 1 | 2 | 3 ] | Military Families Against the War | Stop the War Coalition | Time To Go? | Anarchist Block
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info for welfare protest out of date!
21.09.2006 16:33
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21st September 2006
Stroll, Roll and Rally against the Welfare reform Bill!
All Roads lead to Manchester for disabled people protesting about the
Government's Welfare Reform Bill…
Disabled people, their organisations and allies from across the U.K
are gearing up for the 'Stroll, Roll and Rally against the Welfare
Reform Bill in Manchester on Monday September 25th. Co-coordinated by
the Coalition against The Welfare Reform Bill (CAWRB), planning for
the Stroll, Roll and rally continues apace: we have had the very good
news that John McDonnell: the high profile Labour MP who has recently
launched his bid for the Labour leadership will be in attendance. We
also have the support of the NUS Disabled Campaign and the national
officer, Alex Kemp, will be speaking at the rally, as will Simone
Aspis of the British Council of Disabled People (BCDP) and many
others.
The Bill will see disabled people be threatened with the loss of
benefits and pushed into unsuitable work or medical treatments, on top
of abolishing housing benefit. The bill fails to address major issues
such as incorrect medical assessments and discrimination by employers.
Alex Kemp says: "The NUS Disabled Students' Campaign is very concerned
about the Welfare Reforms proposed by New Labour. We know that
implementation of these reforms would lead to further abject poverty
for disabled people. We know that disabled people will be forced into
work that they cannot do and do not want to do. Its about the
government sat up and realised that, as disabled people, we know what
is best for us - we are the experts on our own lives''.
The Event
Stroll/Roll, Rally against the Welfare Reforms at the Manchester
Labour Party Conference.
Monday 25th September 2006
Stroll/Roll begins at 3pm from Exchange Square, (opposite the Arndale
Centre) on Corporation St, through Manchester centre to the Rally at
the G-MEX centre on Lower Mosley St (Labour Party Conference
location).
The Rally/Static protest will be from 4pm. Speakers include Simon
Apsis (BDCOP), John McDonnell MP and Alex Kemp (NUS DS).
Plus
Labour Party Conference Fringe Meeting and CAWRB Launch: 8pm, Chetham
Suite, Novatel Hotel, Portland St.
Notes for editors
The Coalition Against the Welfare Reform Bill is a wide grouping of
many different user led disability groups: it includes the British
Council of Disabled People (BCODP) which represents some 80 groups run
by disabled people in the UK who between them have a total membership
of around 350,000 disabled people. Other affiliates include: National
Union of Journalists Disabled Members Council, United Kingdom Advocacy
Network, Alliance for Inclusive Education, National Union of Students
Disabled Students Campaign (NUS DS), UK Coalition of People Living
with HIV and AIDs, Trade Union Disabled Peoples Alliance, Spinal
Injury Association, Disabled Peoples Direct Action Network, National
Centre for Independent Living, Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity
Association, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and over
20 other groups.
For further information, please contact:
Simone Aspis
Tel: 020 8459 2998
Mobile: 07778569053
email
Steve Blake
Tel: 01362 850130
e-mail:
Additional contact:
Jason Leman
Tel: 07956 384142
e-mail:
Resources:
www.bcodp.org.uk
www.swansheffield.org.uk
Sheffield Welfare Action Network
e-mail:
sheffieldwelfare_an@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.swansheffield.org.uk
info for welfare protest out of date!
21.09.2006 16:35
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21st September 2006
Stroll, Roll and Rally against the Welfare reform Bill!
All Roads lead to Manchester for disabled people protesting about the
Government's Welfare Reform Bill…
Disabled people, their organisations and allies from across the U.K
are gearing up for the 'Stroll, Roll and Rally against the Welfare
Reform Bill in Manchester on Monday September 25th. Co-coordinated by
the Coalition against The Welfare Reform Bill (CAWRB), planning for
the Stroll, Roll and rally continues apace: we have had the very good
news that John McDonnell: the high profile Labour MP who has recently
launched his bid for the Labour leadership will be in attendance. We
also have the support of the NUS Disabled Campaign and the national
officer, Alex Kemp, will be speaking at the rally, as will Simone
Aspis of the British Council of Disabled People (BCDP) and many
others.
The Bill will see disabled people be threatened with the loss of
benefits and pushed into unsuitable work or medical treatments, on top
of abolishing housing benefit. The bill fails to address major issues
such as incorrect medical assessments and discrimination by employers.
Alex Kemp says: "The NUS Disabled Students' Campaign is very concerned
about the Welfare Reforms proposed by New Labour. We know that
implementation of these reforms would lead to further abject poverty
for disabled people. We know that disabled people will be forced into
work that they cannot do and do not want to do. Its about the
government sat up and realised that, as disabled people, we know what
is best for us - we are the experts on our own lives''.
The Event
Stroll/Roll, Rally against the Welfare Reforms at the Manchester
Labour Party Conference.
Monday 25th September 2006
Bring music, banners, your own placards, whistles, and yourself
Stroll/Roll begins at 3pm from Exchange Square, (opposite the Arndale
Centre) on Corporation St, through Manchester centre to the Rally at
the G-MEX centre on Lower Mosley St (Labour Party Conference
location).
The Rally/Static protest will be from 4pm. Speakers include Simon
Apsis (BDCOP), John McDonnell MP and Alex Kemp (NUS DS).
Plus
Labour Party Conference Fringe Meeting and CAWRB Launch: 8pm, Chetham
Suite, Novatel Hotel, Portland St.
Notes for editors
The Coalition Against the Welfare Reform Bill is a wide grouping of
many different user led disability groups: it includes the British
Council of Disabled People (BCODP) which represents some 80 groups run
by disabled people in the UK who between them have a total membership
of around 350,000 disabled people. Other affiliates include: National
Union of Journalists Disabled Members Council, United Kingdom Advocacy
Network, Alliance for Inclusive Education, National Union of Students
Disabled Students Campaign (NUS DS), UK Coalition of People Living
with HIV and AIDs, Trade Union Disabled Peoples Alliance, Spinal
Injury Association, Disabled Peoples Direct Action Network, National
Centre for Independent Living, Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity
Association, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and over
20 other groups.
For further information, please contact:
Simone Aspis
Tel: 020 8459 2998
Mobile: 07778569053
email
Steve Blake
Tel: 01362 850130
e-mail:
Additional contact:
Jason Leman
Tel: 07956 384142
e-mail:
Resources:
www.bcodp.org.uk
www.swansheffield.org.uk
Sheffield Welfare Action Network
e-mail:
sheffieldwelfare_an@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.swansheffield.org.uk