LDMG UPDATE 21ST AUGUST 2003

LDMG UPDATE 21ST AUGUST 2003

LDMG AT DISARM DSEI

LDMG will provide Legal Observers at the Disarm DSEI protests on 10th September 2003. Legal Observers can be identified by their orange bibs. We will also circulate a bust card giving basic legal advice for use throughout the event. The text will also appear on our website.

The 10th is described by the organisers as a "'Day of Direct Action Blockades' to shut DSEi by any means possible" for more information see

 http://www.destroydsei.org or contact  dsei_da@london.com. or  http://www.dsei.org/

We will also provide two legal workshops.

The Legal Workshop will take place on:

Sunday 7th September from 10:30-12:00 and it will be repeated on:

Monday 8th September from 16:00-17:30

(both the workshops will be the same).

They will be held at the Convergence Centre, Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, London E3.

SIMON CHAPMAN LATEST

Simon remains in custody in Greece on serious charges after being severely beaten up. Two appeals are coming up against his charges which were brought during the Thessaloniki EU protests.

A good way to support Simon (and all prisoners) is by sending letters of support, to keep up his spirits as he waits for a decision form the panel of judges. Knowing that others are out there thinking about you is vital to remaining strong while inside. Please send letters to: Kratoumeno SIMON CHAPMAN Dikastikes Fylakes Diavaton T.K. 540 12 Thessaloniki GREECE NB. Letters which DO NOT have a return address on the ENVELOPE will not be delivered to prisoners. This new procedure applies to all prisoners.

Funds are still urgently required. Please send cheques payable to “ABC” can be sent to BM Automatic, London WC1N 3XX from where they will be forwarded to Greece to help Simon and others with legal costs.

There is a benefit every Friday night/Saturday morning there will be sound systems, DJs, MCs or bands at the squatted Eton Mission Social Club in North London in aid of the people arrested at the EU Summit. Also films, a cocktail bar and an scrummy quality vegan cafe. £3 suggested entrance fee with all money going to help set the prisoners free. 8:00 pm - 7:00 am, 81 Eastway, Hackney Wick ( by the church), 0208 986 7966.

The campaign is holding a meeting at the Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, 25th October, 2003 in room 3B at 1pm at ULU, Malet Street, London

For more details on the campaign for Simon see  http://www.enrager.net/simon/

MAYDAY 2003

All the remaining Mayday cases (where people have pleaded not guilty) are adjourned. The next hearings are in September, but trial dates are not yet fixed. No Mayday people are in prison.

THE FUTURE OF LDMG?

The Legal Defence & Monitoring Group was reformed (on a one-off basis!) for J18 and has continued to provide Legal Observers, a newsletter, website, do workshops, support prisoners etc. since. We are now considering the future of LDMG. Do Legal Observers help or hinder direct action? Doesn’t it lead to an unhealthy specialism? Shouldn’t we all be legal observers on actions? We are holding a meeting at the Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, 25th October, 2003 to discuss this. Please come and join the discussion. The meeting will be in room 2B at 1pm at ULU, Malet Street, London.

For more details see:  http://www.anarchistbookfair.org/

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