Mayday! Solidarity against state oppression!

The history of Mayday is rooted in the struggles for freedom and against oppression. Whilst the original roots of Mayday lie in pagan celebrations based around the land and fertility, since 1886 Mayday has been synonymous with the struggles of workers for decent pay and conditions and against state repression of those same struggles, and indeed against the the efforts of workers to self-organise.

The roots of the Anarchist Black Cross can be traced back to Russia in 1872, when the Political Red Cross was formed to assist workers and rebels who were imprisoned and harassed during czarist crackdowns on the struggle for freedom.

EDO Decommissioners solidarity & related events

This weekend is exactly 3 months since the Bristol-based EDO Decommissioners entered and wrecked the EDO/MBM ITT factory in Brighton, in an attempt to prevent greater war crimes occurring in Gaza and elsewhere.  Since then there has been solidarity with them in Bristol – benefit gigs, meetings, petitions, graffiti, flyposting & flyers, a prison solidarity picket at Bristol prison, and unconfirmed reports of property damage against weapons manufacturers and the state. Down in Brighton the Smash EDO campaign continues apace, alongside solidarity with defendants including fundraising and attacks on property.

Prisoner support meet & G20 protests

Thanks to all who attended the recent Big Greek Benefit gig on 28 March. Money raised at that gig, and a previous one in February, now totals almost £1000 and will be sent to groups in Greece supporting defendants and prisoners.

Bristol prison – support the solidarity picket for EDO Decommissioners on remand

Meet this Saturday, 21 March at 3pm, on the corner of Cambridge Rd & Gloucester Rd (A38), Bishopston, Bristol BS7. There’ll be an info exchange with local people passing by for an hour, to explain about the EDO decommissioning action last January, followed by a protest outside Bristol prison at 4pm (when visiting hours end) in solidarity with the 2 Bristol EDO Decommissioners on remand.

Bristol prisoner support meeting

Bristol ABC Prisoner Support – Regular monthly discussion and letter writing meeting

Bristol’s EDO Decommissioners face unfair trial

Another state clampdown on dissent as 2 defendants remain on remand

It appears that the 6 Bristol EDO Decommissioners, along with the 3 Brighton residents who have been charged with them, now face an unfair trial.

‘We live in fear and under a police state’

…and police states have lots of political prisoners

Who said that? Not us, but Stella Rimington, the former Director-General of MI5 from 1992-6. In fact she didn’t say exactly that, but that’s how the mainstream press are reporting it. Lets face it, she should know, as part of her job was to ensure such a situation is developed. Here’s her quote in full from an interview she gave last week:

Love Freedom? Dance against the state!

A benefit night for the Bristol EDO Decommissioners Defendants support campaign AND prisoners of the ongoing Greek rebellion.

Things to do to support Bristol’s EDO Decommisioners on remand

The Bristolians who took action to decommission the EDO military hardware manufacturer in Brighton need our support, and in particular the 2 who remain on remand.

We need to be clear that not only do they all face a serious criminal trial for their action, they also face a political trial. Not only because they themselves are making a political defence – that they acted to prevent the greater crime of war crimes – but also because any such action is treated politically by the state. The state cannot allow itself to be seen to tolerate in any way such an attack on the military industrial complex, also known as ‘making a profit from wars’.

Bristol – Smashed EDO defendants latest

Today in Brighton the Bristol woman who was injured, when she took part in the EDO MBM decomissioning action at the weekend, has now been bailed on strict conditions and a curfew to an address in Bristol.