On Saturday 2nd November 2013 a fundraising benefit gig for the family of imprisoned whistleblower Chelsea Manning, organised by WISE Up Action, at The Casa in Liverpool, a pub set up by sacked Liverpool Dockers, suffered multiple violent attacks.
The day before the physical and verbal attacks on the anti-war activist organisers and The Casa staff, a statement on Adam Ford's blog, "from a group of activists who will be supporting Chelsea Manning but opposing Ciaron O'Reilly at an event in Liverpool tomorrow" claimed that "Ciaron O'Reilly - a main organiser of tonight's event - does not support Chelsea Manning in the same way that we do" and said that they "intend to protest against that". Ten days before the attack an article opposing the event, published on the blog of a member of the Liverpool Solidarity Federation and reproduced the next day on Libcom, claimed that Ciaron O’Reilly was a "vile misogynist and transphobic shitbag" and that "O’Reilly’s fundraiser in Liverpool will be challenged on the basis of his behaviour towards women and on the basis of his support for Julian Assange." Ciaron O’Reilly refutes the allegations against him, in response to the accusation that he made some sexist remarks he has said "I am not sure I have" and in response to the charge that that he refers to Chelsea Manning using her previous name of Bradley, he has made it clear that he does "not refuse to use the name Chelsea".
On 19th October 2013, outside the Anarchist bookfair in London Ciaron O’Reilly was physically and verbally assaulted because of his ongoing support and solidarity work for Julian Assange of WikiLeaks who has been sheltering from persecution in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for over a year.
Links: Catholic among the Pigeons | Solidarity gigs/events for US prisoner of conscience Private Manning | Drunk Attack on Chelsea Manning's Family Fundraiser in Liverpool | Weekend of Solidarity with Chelsea Manning's Family - the good news! | Photos and audio from Chelsea Manning's Family Fundraiser in Liverpool
Attackers outside The Casa
Comments
Hide the following 35 comments
Something rotten
09.11.2013 12:51
A London @
London
09.11.2013 13:28
This group has a long history of doing this and the observation today is that they have done massive damage to our movement, through violence, lies and attacks on activists.
This has played into the hands of the state, only question remains are there agents of the state within these groups.
If you read and believe Paul Lewis and Rob Evans they is a high probability. Now is the time for the wider activist and anarchist communities to deal with this bullying once and for all.
observation
Bullshit!
09.11.2013 17:10
Jason
@Jason
09.11.2013 17:20
Would you like to elaborate on how you believe this is a bias and disingenuous report? Do you have evidence? Maybe you could present your evidence to indymedia or the CASA bar?
I am lead to believe the comments were removed because they are abusive attacks on activists without evidence, this sort of behaviour is what lead to the attack on Ciaron O Reilly at the bookfair and the attack on the CASA bar. Would you like me to list and name all the activists attacked by these people?
The attack was not because of the presence of one activst it had been planned for a number of weeks. This group has a history of this sort of behaviour, I would like to thank indymedia, especially Chris and others who have been recording this disgraceful episode. Trust me, having spoke to them in person, they are not taking sides with anyone.
There is ample evidence available via the previous thread and posted online about the behaviour of this group towards activists, there is also photographic evidence and CCTV. Your attempt to counter this is a feeble attempt.
So unless you can bring NEW evidence to this issue, May I suggest you re-focus your energies towards activism?
squirrel
Some background
09.11.2013 18:03
Alison tweeted to Adam Ford from blocblac by mistake
Works for major Defence company.
Alison Banville announcing my presence in the CASA via blocblac
blackmail
Mike Raddie and the EDL
Alison Banville and Mike Raddie
Jeff and Ann Marie
The people involved in the attack were
Alison Banville, announced my presence via twitter using the twitter name @blocblac, has since then deleted the account. Alison has been involved in a hate campaign against me for over 3 years. She has even claimed to have been in contact with dissident Irish republicans to have me seriously hurt or killed, I have included an email where she says I am digging a hole he may never get out of. Alison and her boyfriend Mike Raddie has put various lies about me online, they have posted pictures of my children and sent false information to the MET Police saying that I had broken bail conditions. She is currently along with Iain Cognito trolling the indymedia website and admins. Her and her boyfriend were behind my details being passed to the EDL (see screen shot) @dibbleedl who was convicted of harassing Mo Ansar and injured by the Police at the last big EDL demo.
Jay Moffett (jumped on my back)
James/Jay Moffett has been stalking me for about 18 months on twitter and possibly facebook. He is the person who jumped in my back which has been caught on CCTV. He can be seen in the report by journalists on indymedia. Jay has since went on to try and organise further attacks against me in London.
Adam Ford (coordinated the attack on twitter)
Was not present, however I believe he acts for the leader of this group and you can see that he has been planning this attack for a number of weeks.
Helen (Sheridan?) Blond dreads locks.
Kicked me in the shins to get a reaction, launched a pint glass at Ciaron O Reilly narrowly missing him. Was also the person behind kicking Ciaron at the Bookfair.
Rhiannon Lawton (Red head) Assaulted bar staff.
Liam O Brien
Involved on the assault on me and has previous made threats through a third person to kill me.
Paul Robinson
Involved on the assault outside the bar.
This attack came on the back of threats issued via twitter and other social media.. The same people are behind a post on the libcom.org website which names me as an ‘informer’ and has seriously put my life at risk. They have also been behind other campaigns against activists, another statement appears on the Angry Women of Liverpool website.
On the night of the attack a number of accounts on twitter were tweeting my whereabouts to others twitter users with the hope that I would be attacked. Those accounts are Adam Ford @neon_black1871 who organised the attack and @blocblac an account set up and run by Alison Banville (woking). Alison has been stalking and harassing me for over a number of years. Alison has been engaged in this hate campaign with her boyfriend Mike Raddie, who ran the twitter account @ThamesHouse009.
Prior to be going to Liverpool made an attempt at blackmailing me to not go. His account is @nymphomation which is still suspended, Iain lives in Catford and has remained a ghost in this situation, manipulating it from behind a computer screen.
He also runs the twitter account @JuneFaction another account which was set up with the sole purpose of attacking me and my family. Iain is also behind setting up this tumblr account
Seamus
Wrong screen shot
09.11.2013 18:08
screen shot that was missing is included
Seamus
Death threat from Liam I Brien via Leila Davey
09.11.2013 18:37
Alison Banville and Mike Raddie
Death threat sent to me from liam O Brien via Leila Davey.
Seamus
More Manson than Leon, methinks
09.11.2013 19:31
This is starting to sound more like the Manson family. Charlie & Adam are no shows when push comes to shove, just dispatch their minions to make their violent statements. The Tate killings were apparently some kind of protest against the Vietnam War, still not not sure what the attack on Casa bar staff was meant to be?
Were the Manson Family really hippies?
Probably no.t
Are these people really anarchists or feminists?
Probably not.
it was just a scam, Charlie recruited heavily from abused teenage runaways at Greyhound bus stations. gave them an ideology & hate targets to funnel their understandable anger. This looks pretty similar. The anarchist scene in Britain is so deflated and depleted, they can get away with it. Who are they accountable to?
A lot of what passes as leftist micro groups from the SWP to this group are basically cults. The people at the top don't believe in the ideology, it just greases the wheels for the rank and file turnover. Some of these jerk offs enjoy making life a misery for people, keeping them in a permanent state of tension & anxiety through internet bullying.
Call it anarchist militancy if you like. call a turd a pudding and decorate it - but I for one ain't going to eat it.
pretty vacant
facts on Assange.... (TW: discussion of sexual assault)
10.11.2013 13:19
Ciaron is one of his supporters. He lambasts the anarchist anarchist movement for not supporting Assange (despite the fact that most anarchists do a fucton of activism and organising around other issues, and put a lot of work into supporting prisoners who aren't rapists), and was deliberately provocative of them at the bookfair. For him, the struggle against patriarchy clearly isn't as important as his anti-war campaigning. His uncritical support for Assange has made people feel unsafe, and is undermining the work of feminists to make the anarchist movement a welcoming and safe-space for women. Is it any wonder that Ciaron is getting attacked for going into a pro-feminist space and telling everyone to hero-worship a known rapist? Not really.
From the sound of things, the fundraiser the other night was also attended by Seamus - an attempted rapist, who has used abuse & violence against women (see
It is a shame that all this is going to have an adverse effect on Chelsea Manning's family. The fact that she has been so vocally supported by Ciaron will have put many people off. This is the effect that male-domination has on our movement - big male egos take charge and then push people away, crippling our effectiveness. They then reinforce this by saying that anyone who challenges them is harming the movement - despite the fact that they created the situation in the first place! When patriarchy wins, so does the state. Hopefully anyone reading this who has spare energy will put some independent effort into fundraising for Chelsea's family and supporting her. Ciaron's monopolisation of Manning solidarity has gone on long enough...
(oh, and another thing - just because anarchists think rape is bad doesn't mean we are parroting the state's line on Assange! What happens to a rapist should be the decision of the *survivor*, not the state. We aren't saying he should go to trial or face jail in spite of the survivor's wishes - just that we don't want to support him and we don't think he has any place in our movement at the moment)
anon
Seamus
10.11.2013 14:29
The person who made the allegation was arrested for harassment, after she posted on a website that I raped her, she repeated the claims to the police and she is only not in jail because I under the advice of my solicitor done a no comment interview. I had made a full statement about the allegation already.
You can read more details about this on the following link
It is not the credibilty of Ciaron O Reilly at stake, but the credibility of long terms activsts who have compromised themselves protecting this woman.
This article was put together in a similar way to how AWOL dealt with Paul Cunliffee, No process, no justice. You really should be ashamed of yourselves
Seamus
@anon
10.11.2013 15:08
The gig that was attacked was not a Julian Assange benefit it was a Chelsea Manning benefit.
If this were about confronting those who support Julian Assange you and your 'feminist' friends would be busy confronting a whole host of radical left individuals and groups. From Assange's most outspoken supporter Pilger (has News from Nowhere removed his books from their stocks? - a bit of book burning surely can't be too far away-) to Amy Goodman, Naomi Klein etc. ; from Women Against Rape and Global Womens Strike to Veterans for Peace. You have not picketed, shouted down or attacked any of these.
So Why then are you not attacking other groups and prominent individuals? Why the fixation with an individual (Ciaron) even when he organises a fundraiser for another prisoner? Why attack events organised to support Manning not Assange?
Because like all would be bullies you are cowards and this is a personal vendetta, nothing more than a sordid witch hunt by a petty minded , vicious, sub-grouping of fanatics. You're not trying to make Anarchism safe for women, women with a lot more courage and fortitude than your lot did that a long time ago and will continue to do it a long time after you've moved on to something ( or someone) else and been forgotten by the rest of us.
mf
@mf
10.11.2013 16:23
"If this were about confronting those who support Julian Assange you and your 'feminist' friends would be busy confronting a whole host of radical left individuals and groups." It's partly because of this that George Galloway has been refused a platform to speak at a number of events. So it isn't just Ciaron who has been targeted. Pilger has never claimed to be part of our movement, or turned up at an anarchist bookfair to tell us off for not hero-worshiping Assange. But if he did try to speak at an anarchist event or in an anarchist space, I hope he would be called up on it.
"Because like all would be bullies you are cowards and this is a personal vendetta, nothing more than a sordid witch hunt by a petty minded , vicious, sub-grouping of fanatics" Whatever.
anon
@seamus
10.11.2013 17:09
feminism isnt a dirt word, to be feminist isn't a bad thing.
rape is big issue for working class women because rape is a reality of our lives and so fucking many of us are dealing with the repurcussions of rape every single day.
You believe you got attacked without reason, this is how it feel to survive rape.
if you really want this vendetta against you to stop, then you need to stop handing over information to peoples employers without their consent. you need to stop feeding the media and perpetuating false ideas of anarchism and anarchists and you need to start thinking about what its like to survive rape and sexual asault, what it's like to be a woman and constantly having to fear attack, violence and rape.
I appreciate that you haven't done all you're accused of but you're really not doing yourself any favours by snitching, and getting people sacked and defending mysoginists.
you need to step away from the internet, take some time and chill the fuck out because you really are making things a hell of a lot worse for yourself and everyone else and your just making yourself look like some sort of cunt (sorry sisters!)
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 17:20
feminism isnt a dirt word, to be feminist isn't a bad thing.
- Never said it was a dirt word as you like to call it.
rape is big issue for working class women because rape is a reality of our lives and so fucking many of us are dealing with the repurcussions of rape every single day.
You believe you got attacked without reason, this is how it feel to survive rape.
if you really want this vendetta against you to stop, then you need to stop handing over information to peoples employers without their consent.
- James Moffett broke his contact with his employer for using his work place to launch attacks on me, my family and help put my life at risk. I will continue to fight injustice and take direct action against anyone who attacks me.
you need to stop feeding the media and perpetuating false ideas of anarchism and anarchists and you need to start thinking about what its like to survive rape and sexual asault, what it's like to be a woman and constantly having to fear attack, violence and rape.
- I was sexually and physically assaulted as a child, and at the age of 14 a drunken relative tried to kill me.
I appreciate that you haven't done all you're accused of but you're really not doing yourself any favours by snitching, and getting people sacked and defending mysoginists.
- evidence of this?
you need to step away from the internet, take some time and chill the fuck out because you really are making things a hell of a lot worse for yourself and everyone else and your just making yourself look like some sort of cunt (sorry sisters!)
- Classy
proud feminist
Seamus
What have we learned so far
10.11.2013 17:42
When I was first informed that Ciaron was attacked I was able to identify his attackers before my friend confirmed who there were.
Now why is that? Because the same people have been involved in attacks on me and many others.
They have used the same strategy against Assange, Cunliffe, O Reilly, myself, if people dont put a stop to this, then one of you may be next.
Liverpool Solfed put an article up regarding me as a 'tout'. now this wasnt for an English audience and it was written to put my life in danger. As a result of this article I have not visited my mother at her home since July 2012.
This article was reposted by ALARM. Now when you consider some members of ALARM have resentment towards me because I called them on their bullshit. I stood up for the truth when the statement was released about Paul Cunliffe and I will continue to stand for anyone who is bullied by this group.
There is this constant bulllshit about me being a snitch, let me tell you something, the first time I was arrested was at the early age of 15, and it was for no parking offence. As an Irish republican from a young age I was trained to deal with situations like that. Those who have stood side by side with me here and in other places know this to be bullshit. Your only making yourself stupid repeating it.
I have been arrested over 30 times since I arrived in London, with various activists. In none of those situations has there ever been a complaint of snitching, and I continue to work with activsts, who actually leave the house and are not what I would term 'keyboard commandos'
In the course of the last 18 months I have been accused of being in the EDL, being a snitch, a rapist, and who knows what else.
Being in the EDL I find especially distasteful as I walked behind more coffins than you could count of members of my community who were murdered by fascists. Oh and proud feminist? they were run by the very state you belong to.
Find out who your real enemy is...
Seamus
@seamus
10.11.2013 17:45
regardless of what you think people have done to you, snitching is not ok. you get that right?
nobody likes a rat and it makes it very hard to defend you if you take twitter attacks into irl by getting people sacked and talking to the pigs. that's why people think you're a tout.
also stop slagging off feminists, there is nothing wrong with being for women's liberation.
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 17:49
Seamus
@anon
10.11.2013 17:52
If this were not a witch hunt against an individual and you were to be remotely credible or consistent you would be up for attacking all events, regardless of the topic, where a supporter of Assange spoke or was involved, just as you attacked a Chelsea Manning family fundraiser on the basis that Ciaron was involved. You are not calling for this because you are cowards who do not have the courage of your convictions and are instead seeking to ostracise and isolate an individual (although its very interesting that the only left figure you select for a mention is Galloway, another bete noir of The Guardian).
'Pilger has never claimed to be part of our movement ', Are you joking? What age are you? There is no anarchist 'movement' in this country, just a number of anarchists, very very few of whom would condone your playground bullying behaviour. Pilger is the most outspoken and strident supporter of Assange and on two occasions was the keynote speaker at the Anarchist Bookfair, last time was in 2010 when hundreds of people packed the main auditorium to hear him speak.
p.s. Where's the hero worship? Can you please cite some examples? Ciaron, like a host of others, urges people to support and show solidarity with Whistleblowers who risk and often forfeit their liberty in order to inform the public of disturbing truths.
mf
you are a snitch
10.11.2013 17:54
your twitter account (@blacbloc) is full of references of handing peoples details over to the PIGS and getting people sacked.
You must realise that that is not going to enamour people to you, right?
proud feminist
not repeating myself
10.11.2013 17:58
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 18:00
Rhiannon Lowton will tell you when you can and cant go to the police
Rhiannon Lowton reckons you should go to the police when there is 'gendered assault' I am really not sure what this means... maybe you could explain, maybe you will also explain why Phil Dickens called the police when lies were written about him on Redwatch? No statement released on Libcom about that...
There is no alternative to the unjust system we have at the minute, but at least you get access to a solicitor, something to eat and a cup of coffee and they can only hold you for 24 hours.
Seamus
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 18:05
I support
Chelsea Manning
Julian Assange
Ciaron O Reilly
Paul Cunliffe
Russell Brand
I caught James Moffett stalking me from his employers premises, he was found to be in breach of his contract and he lost his job. There are others involved in this who may lose places at University and with employers.
Is that clear enough for you?
Seamus
@seamus
10.11.2013 18:09
not action that calls on bosses or the police to punish those that have maybe done us wrong.
proud feminist
To Anon & Proud Feminist
10.11.2013 18:36
Don't have time to write two replies, but think one will suffice. Some clarification....
Anon - You judge Assange to be a rapist and therefore you are going to attack (and accuse of hero worship) anyone who shows any support for him on any front, particularly if they have the gall to turn up at the anarchist bookfair where, as we all know, there's a strong party line to be toed. What's more, the fact that someone doesn't agree with you makes you feel unsafe, and they have to be attacked to protect your 'safer spaces' (although this strategy doesn't seem to have worked, does it?)
Anon says: "Is it any wonder that Ciaron is getting attacked for going into a pro-feminist space and telling everyone to hero-worship a known rapist?" You obviously weren't there, Anon. None of that happened, apart from Ciaron being attacked.
Anon goes on to blame Ciaron for monopolising Manning solidarity and apparently single-handedly stopping other people from supporting Manning. Ciaron is by no means the only person who's been active for Manning over the past three years, but the number of people actively doing solidarity work has been very low. There has been plenty of opportunity for others to get involved without working with Ciaron. Using his involvement as a retrospective excuse is pathetic.
Proud feminist smugly tells Seamus that, as a victim of attack, he now knows what it's like to be a woman. At least proud feminist acknowledges the vendetta against Seamus. That's a start, even if it is followed up by a volley of 'what you need to do' instructions, winding up with a statement that he's making himself 'look like some sort of cunt' which is a really weird thing for a proud feminist to say.
Where do we go from here? I'm looking forward to seeing all this energy being diverted from destruction into something worthwhile to support Chelsea Manning. Here's hoping.
feminist woman
seamus
10.11.2013 18:57
no love......say no more.
i was on your side seamus but not now!
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 19:28
In the same police interview, there were other allegations put to me, they are as following
- That I carried out an arson attack in Belfast against a car showroom. Resulting in a couple of millon £s of damage, The attack I believe was carried out by members of a republican organisation
- That I carried out an arson attack on a premises in North London.
- That I hacked one (Name redacted) and mined information from his computer.
There were over 15 pages of police statements, do you know who made those statements? So called activists in London. I will not name them. These people have been supported by a couple of high profile activists and at least one anarchist. Other than to say that I have written about it
So take a moment to reflect on that and dont lecture me about snitching.
Seamus
why am I being censored?
10.11.2013 19:35
my comments are being censored.
calling a woman "love" when you dont know them is sexist seamus. i was trying to help you but you know what mate go fuck yourself!
on your own on your own on your own.......
proud feminist
forget that
10.11.2013 19:37
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 19:37
People should be on the side of truth, nothing else. This morning I was told off for something by someone I have a lot of respect for. I took the advice and amended by behaviour, because I know they are acting with honor in this situation.
Maybe you could take a leaf out of their book?
Seamus
you have no idea who i am
10.11.2013 20:03
coz you are so in love with the sound of your own voice i know all about you.
i am making a judgement about you based on what you say about yourself, not what others say but what you state about yourself.
stop snitching and start growing up
proud feminist
@proud feminist
10.11.2013 20:32
Seamus
@ anon re Anarchist Bookfair, Pilger and Assange
11.11.2013 09:39
"Pilger has never claimed to be part of our movement or turned up at an anarchist bookfair to tell us off for not hero-worshiping Assange. But if he did try to speak at an anarchist event or in an anarchist space, I hope he would be called up on it. "
According to Ian Bone - Pilger did declare himself an Anarchist at the London Anarchist Bookfair in 2008
Pilger also attended the 2010 Anarchist Bookfair, where he was interviewed by London Indymedia and does make a reference to Assange.
There is no record of him having discussed his views on the allegations against Assange then, although apparently the allegations were public knowledge by that time:
Pilger has earlier this year referred to the allegations on his own site:
A few months before that, writing in The Commune, Adam Ford opined:
" It is perfectly possible – indeed under the circumstances it is necessary – to value Julian Assange’s work with WikiLeaks, and keep an open mind on what he did in private."
lynx
an alternative account
26.11.2013 22:58
...and think it should be made available to help people to make up their own minds.
me
An 'alternative account' is a load of lies
27.11.2013 13:15
Chris
ASSANGE IS NOT A RAPIST (OBVIOUSLY)
06.05.2014 04:35
The rape allegations were obviously trumped up charges to smear his name.
O Reilly's attackers are seriously confused people spoiling for a fight (possibly even working for the police)
It's people like you that give feminists and anarchists a bad name. Go get drunk and fight some fascists instead.
P.S. Assange released files on the personal details of BNP members, but oh wait the mass media said he's a rapist so it must be true! Honestly you people are beyond a joke.
All support to Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, and to Ciaron O'Reilly as well!
Feminist for Assange