Defend democratic rights in Manchester!

1. Over the last few months organisers of anti-war stalls and anti-zionist pickets in front of Marks & Spencer in the city centre have been subject to police harrassment, including the issuing of summonses and confiscation of material (tables, megaphones etc). Protestors have generally been charged with "obstruction" although no one has been obstructed or has complained. We call on the City Council to withdraw the summonses for both the anti-war protests and the Marks & Spencer picket.

2. After the very successful Manchester Peoples Assembly on Saturday June, two young activists went to the edge of Albert Square where a military band was putting on a display and unfurled a banner saying "Another world is possible". Within minutes over a dozen police officers had arrested two people (not those who had displayed the banner). One was released after being cautioned. The other, James Thorne from Manchester University, was released later. However, he has now been charged with a public order offence and with assaulting a police officer. These charges - which James completely refutes - have serious consequences. James is a former British army officer and has played an important and critical role in the anti war movement in Manchester.

Leaflets in pdf format can be downloadedat the folowing site:

 http://www.manchesterstopthewar.org/