Skip to content or view screen version

Support Our Six Proud Antifascists

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross | 10.07.2011 13:19 | Anti-racism | Repression | Sheffield | World

“Knowing there’s guys and girls like you on the outside supporting us makes such a difference...It’s really nice not to be forgotten and I’ll be eternally grateful to everyone.” – Ravi Gill



Leeds ABC are an experienced prisoner support group, but with six of our close friends and comrades sent to jail recently, fitted-up for being antifascists, it’s been a stressful time for us. Unfortunately most of the stress has not come from building an effective solidarity campaign for our imprisoned comrades, but from fighting a rear-guard action against those trying to prevent that support. This has wasted a huge amount of time, energy, and personal resources, all of which could have been better spent supporting our prisoners. All sorts of stupid lies and rumours have been circulated, we were repeatedly told for example that none of the prisoners wanted support, that their numbers were all wrong, or that Phil De Souza wanted to be removed from our list of prisoners. All these tales are UNTRUE.

We were gratified to receive a large wad of mail from the prisoners today enthusiastically thanking us for our support. They are absolutely unequivocal in saying that they want to be listed and supported as antifascist prisoners.

While astonished that they were convicted, all remain strong and thank everyone for the support they have received. Their main complaint, apart from being fitted-up, is about the notoriously bad food at Wormwood Scrubs!

These comrades have been fitted-up and deserve our fullest possible support. Please write to them or send a solidarity card (advice on writing to prisoners can be found on the Leeds ABC website). Please send a stamped self-addressed envelope if you would like a reply, or if you can afford it they can receive stamps, stationery, and postal orders (made payable to ‘The Governor’). They can also receive books sent via Amazon.

A solidarity fund has been established for the imprisoned antifascists. If you would like to donate to it please send a cheque made payable to the ‘The Cable Street Society’ to Leeds ABC, 145-149 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 1LJ. Bank details and a PayPal option will be up on the Leeds ABC website within a few days.

We can only hope that those with nothing better to do than spread silly rumours undermining support for our six imprisoned antifascists will now either become involved in supporting them or go and do something else other than making our work as a prisoner support group harder. We would like to thank Indymedia for their support and patience during what has been a confusing period, without Indymedia the prisoners would not have received the support they have.

The prisoners’ details are as follows. As always, assume your letters are being read by our enemies and ensure you do not compromise your own security or that of others. Also please note that Thomas Blak and Austin Jackson are as yet unsentenced.

Andy Baker (21 months)
A5768CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Thomas Blak (Unsentenced)
A5728CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Sean Cregan (21 months)
A5769CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Phil De Sousa (21 months)
A5766CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Ravinder Gill (21 months)
A5770CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Austen Jackson (Unsentenced)
A5729CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross
- e-mail: leedsabc@riseup.net
- Homepage: WWW.LEEDSABC.ORG

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

We're getting there

10.07.2011 19:48

It seems a bit clearer now. Are the guys who are listed as 'unsentenced' convicted but still awaiting sentencing? Are there any comrades still on trial or yet to be tried? It would be good for those of us in London to go along and give them a bit of support in court. I know from personal experience what a difference it makes to see a few friendly faces when you're in the dock.

Finally, if someone within the movement has been smearing these guys then surely we need to know who they are and what their agenda is. It's such a bizarre thing to do, given the apparently clear-cut moral and political issues involved.

Antifa Angel


Solidarity with the prisoners!

11.07.2011 15:16

Love and solidarity to all those imprisoned for standing up to fascism and all those still waiting for their court date. They will never beat us.

Notts antifascist


what Solidarity means to me

12.07.2011 09:43

Solidarity is a core value for anti-authoritarian social struggle. It's the basis of our connection with each other and part of how we do mutual aid.

For us to express solidarity with other people, we need to know what it is they did that merits our solidarity. Without that, you would reduce the word to an empty slogan - wishing someone "solidarity" like wishing them Happy Christmas. And of course that's no use to anyone.

So please let us know - If these 6 comrades are "proud" there's no possible reason for not saying what led them to be imprisoned.

antifa


hm..

12.07.2011 12:44

I had been repeatedly stated that since there are more people on trial, nothing in connection with the case will be discussed. Solidarity to anti-fascist activists should be unconditional, but if you really need to know what they have or they havent done exactly before you offer any solidarity and support then to be honest that support is worth shit anyway.

antifascist


Good enough for me

12.07.2011 16:25

Some of these blokes are long-standing activists. They were fitted-up on conspiracy charges after bumping into a couple of fash. That's good enough for me.

Support the prisoners


Please refrain from discussing the details of the case on this thread.

13.07.2011 07:45

There are still people on trial for matters related to the incident, and until those trials are over, speculation about what happened and why should be avoided.

Clearly we should be looking to support those already convicted, and those who are still on trial. Making emotionally charged claims about the events leading up the trial is not helpful.

If you are unhappy with the way that the thread is being moderated, please contact the admins on  contact@lists.indymedia.org.uk to discuss your concerns.

Thanks

ftp

ftp


Solidarity fund

24.07.2011 11:44

A solidarity fund has been set up to support the prisoners in jail and upon release. If you would like to contribute to it please send a cheque (made payable to ‘The Cable Street Society’) to Leeds ABC, 145-149 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 1LJ. Details for bank transfers are: The Cable Street Society. Account Number: 33333334 Reference: 0827/704 169 523. Sort Code: 07 00 93.

Leeds ABC