PRISON? event at The Cube (Bristol)

Bristol Indymedia and Bristol ABC, in association with Bristol Anarchist Bookfair, present PRISON? – a one man performance written and performed by Charlie Ryder. This is a true story which is creatively told using a variety of theatrical devices including puppetry, masks, physical theatre and dance.

August prisoner support list and letter-writing solidarity night

Public solidarity letter-writing night on 11 August

Bristol ABC’s August 2010 list of prisoners requesting support is available here as a pdf: prisoners list_AUG 2010
We are aware these lists may not be 100% correct, especially for international prisoners, but we do try! Where possible the list includes links to support websites and other resources. If you have any confirmed updates or additions please email us. Thanks.

8 out 1 to go so free Elijah Smith now

(UPDATE – Elijah was released on bail from prison on Thursday 8 July. He can now be found out and about in Bristol. Welcome back. He remains on bail facing charges relating to alleged threats against Paul Hills, the EDO boss).

Free the Atenco prisoners: protest at London Mexican Embassy

While world headlines feature the deployment of the army by the Mexican government in a seemingly losing battle against  drug cartels, it’s less well-known that the Mexican government has moved ruthlessly to crush grassroots people’s  movements who have nothing to do with organised criminality.

Twelve activists from the Peoples Front for the Defence of the Land from San Salvador Atenco near Mexico City are serving jail sentences of up to 112 years.  Now their case is set to be reconsidered by the Supreme Court in Mexico and people in Britain are to gather at the Mexican Embassy in London on 29th June to demand their release.

Prisoner support list and letter writing night on 16 June

solidarity with political prisoners

Monthly letter-writing night for people to come along and send cards/letters to people imprisoned for their political activities. These small gestures can be a real boost for people locked up for their beliefs, and an opportunity for you to find out more about their cases/campaigns and prison reality. Whether you just write a short one-off solidarity note, or go on to engage in long-term correspondence…is up to you.

Legal progress for the EDO Decommissioners but one remains on remand

UPDATE: Read a report about the Decommissioners court hearing last Monday, by someone who was there.
Elijah ‘James’ Smith has been moved back to Lewes prison. Please write and send him your support and solidarity: Elijah Smith, VP 7551, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA

Some good news today on the legal front for the EDO Decommissioners.

The 6 EDO Decommissioners from Bristol, along with the 3 campaigners from Brighton allegedly implicated in the case, were in court in Brighton today, 1 March,  to hear the judge rule on whether or not they could proceed with their defence. That defence is based on the arguement that whatever crime(s) they may have committed were justified by the fact they acted to stop a far greater crime – namely that by decommissioning the EDO MBM/ITT arms factory in Brighton they would contribute to stopping the Israeli state from bombing Gazan civilians during the attack in December 2008/January 2009. First reports from the court indicate the judge has ruled in their favour!

Solidarity fundraiser for Russian anti-fascists

(Update: From Russia With Love – the fundraiser enabled some £300 to be sent to comrades in Russia, who have sent a big ‘thank you’ in return. Details at Bristol Antifa).

Recent years have seen a rise in right-wing nationalism in Russia. Dire economic problems alongside a lessening of Russian influence on world affairs has led many of its politicians and industrialists to foster nationalism as a way of diverting the anger of workers and land workers down a path that will not threaten their power. Unsurprisingly there has been a growth of racist and fascist groups, including a growing and violent skinhead/hooligan culture, that take their anger out on vulnerable groups in society.

Bristol EDO Decommissioner Elijah Smith a prisoner of war for one year

Elijah (James) Smith has now been locked up on remand for one year, ever since his arrest last 18 January 2009 after the EDO/MBM ITT factory in Brighton was trashed by 6 campaigners from Bristol. His and the other 5’s trial for that action commences on May 17 in Brighton (along with 3 other people from Brighton allegedly implicated in the action), however he faces being held on remand at least until his trial for the Raytheon 2 (formerly 3) starts in Bristol in early September.

Letter from Elijah James Smith Bristol EDO Decommissioner on remand

Back on 20 December, at the Bristol EDO Decommissioners solstice fundraising cafe at kebele social centre, a card was produced for Elijah (James) Smith by a Bristol ABC activist, and all present were asked to send him a seasonal and new year message. Elijah of course is still locked up in prison, now nearly for 1 whole year on remand, innocent until proven guilty – but locked away anyway by the state.

Well the card was sent, and on xmas eve Elijah penned a reply, that has now been received in the post. Here’s what he had to say:

Update on international hunger strike

Update on the hungerstrike (translated from Italian): “Around 7 people were arrested and 2 “Carabineros” injured at a demo in Santiago, Chile. According to Chilean press there were around 70 people at the demo, which was organised in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike in Europe and Chile itself. 2 Chilean anarchists, Matías Castro and Pablo Carvajal, are under “preventative arrest” since September after an arson attack at a police station and have both joined the hunger strike. The “Carabineros” Special Force intervened to stop the demo and 2 of them were injured. Buildings and cars were also damaged.

To my knowledge, pickets outside jails will be taking place in the next few days and New Year’s Eve in Italy and Switzerland in solidarity with the strikers and all prisoners.”
And here is a later update at the end of the stike.