Thank you to everyone who attended the Red and Black Fest yesterday, it was a great afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, despite intense preliminary cleaning, by 8:30 the filth arrived. They made some reasonable noises about respecting our premises but wanting the volume turned down due to complaints, and said they were leaving. The music not only went down, it went off whilst we had a look keeping it a bit - by which time they'd called the bigger boys in the Tactical Support Group and decided they'd just raid us instead.

Make no mistake, the law is written by the rich for control of the poor - but nothing about the Fest was actually illegal; under Section 6, the venue was private property and what the police did legally amounts to trespass and criminal damage [potentially]. The idea that a small concert was disturbing *student flats* during fucking FRESHERS WEEK at 8:30PM (not 2AM) is bollocks - this will be gone into later. We are not anti-social, these concerns are actually fairly central to our choices.

A full report with picture evidence is on the way, this is just to say thanks to everyone who kept their head whilst the police tried to provoke a riot, and more importantly - thanks to the bands and supporters who stayed and kept the party going! We stuck together and there were no arrests and the sound systems got out safely.

My personal view - had a great time. The bands were great and the atmosphere really welcoming/united, which made choosing to do it DIY worthwhile for me. I have to say a massive thanks to The Autonomix Collective for coming all the way down from fucking Newcastle, not getting to play, and still rocking the show by sheer force of character! Most of all thanks to our driver, you legend.

If anyone has any pics of the police, the gig, their dad naked, please send them in to the  sheffield@af-north.org

This gig was, and is, in solidarity with Mexican community activists imprisoned in their struggle for freedom when the state cracked down on the movment in Oaxaca; i don't know what sugar cane plantation looks like and i doubt they'd recognise a call centre - but solidarity is international.

Solidarity Is Forever!

- see you next time x