Subvert The City Arts Collective regularly put on independent film nights at The Hobbit Pub and on April 5th we decided to focus on animal rights issues. The films screened were 'Your Mommy Kills Animals', 'Behind The Mask' and the 07/08 SHAC actions overview. We sold plenty of vegan food, raised £25 for the HSA and all in all had a lovely drunken sunday night. Wahey!!!
However after a phonecall and a chat with the manager of the pub a week later all was not so great. Hampshire police had supposedly been informed by a member of the public (hunt scum me thinks eh) that several known animal activists/hunt sabs (you and me) were attending 'meetings' at the pub. Knowing the types of 'terrorists' these folks are, they contacted the pub and told them that having anything to do with animal extremism and particularly raising money for hunt sabbing will land them in trouble with the law should anything unlawful occur in the field/demos/actions that may be a result of the culminating of activists that fateful night. BOLLOCKS!!
This is simply not true. For a start this was not a meeting, it was an evening of independent films and food. Secondly the threats from the police have no grounds what so ever. In a clear cut attack intended to intimidate all involved and suppress our movement the pigs have successfully scared the venue into having nothing more to do with animal rights and even advised them not to get 'political'.
We are currently scheduled for two more evenings but clearly we need a new venue that isn't going to kneel down and cup the balls of the pigs whilst they piss all over our rights. If anybody has any ideas please leave a comment. PEACE. Twiggy