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Rock Around the Monument! Cuba solidarity report on Tyneside, police harrassment

Revolutionary Communist Group North East | 30.07.2007 01:28 | Free Spaces | Repression | Social Struggles

On Saturday 28 July supporters of the Revolutionary Communist Group and its newspaper Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! organised a 'Celebration of Resistance' in the centre of Newcastle to mark the 54th anniversary of the 26 July attack on the Moncada Barracks, a turning point in the Cuban revolution.







The celebration was well-supported by rock band O.P.E.N., local DJ Stu, and comrades' own musical talents, and heard from speakers on the Cuban revolution and its relevance to the struggle in Britain. Those present had the opportunity to hear about the sacrifices made by working Cuban people in order to take control of their own future, and how that is enabling them to rationally address questions of equality and sustainability.

The event received severe harassment by the police, who arrived mid-way through and demanded the names, addresses and date of birth of all those involved in running the event, under accusations of collecting money without a permit. The organisers maintain that they do not need a permit, as collections taken at a meeting in the open air are exempt under council regulations. The police then attempted to seize the money which had been collected as evidence. When a comrade holding the money tin explained that we had firm legal advice that such a seizure of money was unlawful, he was arrested for obstruction. A lively picket was then organised at the police station, which was supported by passers-by and members of Tyneside Stop the War, and continued until the comrade was released three and half hours later. He has been bailed without charge to 3 September, and comrades will now be discussing how best to organize in defence of all our democratic rights.

The event was well-supported by passers-by, and continued for the full planned time despite the police harassment and the need to organise a simultaneous picket of the police station. The right to collect money at street meetings is an essential part of grassroots political activity, and is coming under increasing pressure in Newcastle, with harassment of not only the RCG but also animal rights and anti-war campaigners, with two formal warnings issued to members of Tyneside Stop the War in recent weeks. The RCG will not allow the police to harass political activity off the streets of Newcastle, and they will work with anyone on the left who wants to stand up against these attacks. Comrades would appreciate it if anyone who witnessed the harassment on Saturday could email a statement on what they saw to:  frfinortheast@googlemail.com.

For people wanting to find out more, there will be a public forum in Newcastle this week:

Cuba - Workers In Control
Thursday 2nd August, 7-9pm, St. John's Church Hall, bottom of Grainger Street, near Central Station, Newcastle
With a range of speakers, including brigadistas from the 2007 brigade to Cuba, who saw Cuban democracy first hand, and spoke to the workers and the youth who are the driving force behind the revolution. With plenty of time for questions and discussion, all welcome.

Revolutionary Communist Group North East
- e-mail: frfinortheast@googlemail.com
- Homepage: http://www.frfinortheast.co.uk

Comments

Display the following 28 comments

  1. correction — Annie
  2. Castro and his terrible regime — simon
  3. Simon you are boring and wrong — old commie (not young and naive)
  4. Sad Cuba — simon
  5. Sad Simon — Dave
  6. Deluded Dave — simon
  7. stupid — northerner
  8. Same old crap from the reactionaries — old commie (not young, not naive, still a fan of Cuban socialism..)
  9. old commie — northerner
  10. where do you get your info? — old commie getting younger by the minute
  11. Wise up — simon
  12. Internet use and the blockade — Dave
  13. What US blockade? — simon
  14. Cuba, Cuba... — F Espinoza
  15. Democratic US - really Simon? — rejuvenated communist
  16. Younger by the minute — simon
  17. So come on then Simon, who are your good guys? — communist of voting age (that means over 16 in Cuba)
  18. Dear Communist of Voting Age — simon
  19. Over and out — Viva la Revolucion
  20. sad — anarchist
  21. Devaluing Indymedia — simon
  22. Cuba, Cuba... — F Espinoza
  23. for those more interested in facts than abuse.. — Another Commie
  24. Just how gullible can you be? — simon
  25. Sad Simon and posturing Anarchists - A response. — Woggle
  26. Woggle, you are either deluded or an apologist for totalitarianism — simon
  27. Woggle - one party state, not a no party state. — simon
  28. Simon the opportunist, fraud, anti communist & squalid Miami Mafia cheer leader. — Woggle