Over the past few years, as many of you will know and quite possibly
experienced first hand activists trying to campaign legally within the
city have suffered increasing levels of harrassment from the police,
community support officers and council officials. People have been told
they can't hand out leaflets and must pack their stalls up for
alledgedly causing an obstruction, despite both being a contravention of
their human rights. Anything that is seen as a distraction from shopping
is being clamped down on, buskers beggars and big issue sellers have
been targetted too. As we all know well capital of culture is more about
spending money than celebrating diversity. Many have been arrested for
standing up to the police. Next Saturday, May the 3rd, Liverpool Social
Forum is asking people from all campaign groups to join in a solidarity
stall event whereby we will set up as many stalls as we can get on
church street - whether you've experienced harrassment first hand or not
please try and make sure your organisation is represented. Together we
are stronger and sticking together is the best way of standing up to the
police. Please meet at Next to Nowhere at 12.00 for 12.30 set up on
Church Street. If you don't have a stall table already you can buy them
from rapid for £7, although we may have some spares for the day, other
than that you just need some info about your campaign, leaflets, badges,
petitions if relevant and ideally posters/boards, though these aren't
essential. This is a great opportunity to promote your campaign as well
as showing solidarity and standing up to police harrassment.

Next to Nowhere is opening as a drop-in serving tea coffee cakes and
snacks the same day for the first time, (and will be open on Saturdays
from then on) with films being shown early evening, so those taking part
can go down afterwards for some well earned tea and cake :-)

We hope to see you next Saturday!

Liverpool Social Forum