June 11th: Solidarity with long-term anarchist prisoners @ Kebele

As part of the international day of solidarity on June 11th:
Bristol ABC presents an infonight/benefit evening  for long-term U.S. anarchist prisoners Eric McDavid & Marie Mason. We will be sharing food, discussing the latest on Eric & Marie’s case and watching a short documentary on Jeff “Free” Luers.

6:30pm: Vegan food served (Suggested donation: £3)
7:30pm: Discussion on Eric & Marie’s case
8:00pm: Film screening of ‘The Jeff Luers Story‘ (40 mins).

Marie Mason is a long-time environmental and social justice activist and loving mother of two. In March 2008, she was arrested on charges related to Earth Liberation Front actions that occurred in Michigan in 1999 and 2000; no one was injured in the actions. On February 5, 2009, Marie received an outrageous 262 month sentence (a little under 22 years). The sentence was higher than even that asked for by federal prosecutors. Marie’s sentence is the longest given to any “Green Scare” defendant to date.

 In September 2007, Eric McDavid was found guilty of conspiracy to sabotage federal facilities in the name of the environment. The government’s case was based on the word of an FBI informant who was paid over $75,000 to fabricate a crime. Both of Eric’s co-defendants testified against Eric in return for a lesser charge. On May 8, 2008, Eric was sentenced to an outrageous 19 years and 7 months in prison for a crime that was never committed. Eric is appealing his conviction

Solidarity, Food and Films

End:Civ Tour Screening @ Kebele this Thursday

END:CIV UK Tour
Thursday 12th April @ Kebele Social Centre, Easton
w/ Talk from Franklin Lopez & discussion on civilisation and resistance
Food served from 6:30pm, film starts at 7:30pm
+ Animal & earth liberation prisoner letter writing

Having attended over 110 screenings in America, Mexico, Canada and Japan Franklin López will continue his world tour in the UK this April his film END:CIV (http://endciv.com/)

END:CIV illustrates the brutality of a civilization addicted to systematic violence and environmental destruction, and the heroism of those who confront it head-on.

Through rapid-fire video-game graphics, interviews, war footage and satire END:CIV mocks the excesses of the global economic system, and examines the necessity for effective resistance.

As the UK is beginning to experience more frequent environmental crises resulting from climate change and a history of poor environmental management this film will be instrumental in bringing awareness of the need to confront the system which allows this destruction to continue.

After the screening Franklin will answer questions relating to the film and ask those present to consider what action they are prepared to take to save the landbase they rely on to survive.

An award-winning filmmaker, Franklin López hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994 he founded SubMedia.tv and his work has been featured on Canada’s City TV, Current TV, BET, and Democracy Now!

“By far, the most routinely-praised contemporary media activist is Franklin López. His shows and films not only possess a distinctive look and feel, but they also contain a wicked sense of humor … López’s work engages in constructing a new vision where popular culture serves the interests of the poor and dispossessed, where humor is reignited within activism, and the D.I.Y. ethics of punk and hip-hop allow those with talent and gumption to be the media, once again.” – Chris Robé, Pop Matter

Suggested donation for food: £2.50

French Antifa Documentary ‘Chasseurs De Skins’ @ Kebele Cafe Sun 25th March

If A Tree Falls Screening & Discussion @ Kebele

Bristol ABC Presents:

If A Tree Falls: Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Thursday 26th April 2012
w/ talk & discussion on activist security

Food served from 6:30pm, film starts at 7:30pm

In December 2005, Daniel McGowan was arrested by Federal agents in a nationwide sweep of radical environmentalists involved with the Earth Liberation Front– a group the FBI has called America’s “number one domestic terrorism threat.”

For years, the ELF—operating in separate anonymous cells without any central leadership—had launched spectacular arsons against dozens of businesses they accused of destroying the environment: timber companies, SUV dealerships, wild horse slaughterhouses, and a $12 million ski lodge at Vail, Colorado.

With the arrest of Daniel and thirteen others, the government had cracked what was probably the largest ELF cell in America and brought down the group responsible for the very first ELF arsons in this country.

IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT (http://ifatreefallsfilm.com/) tells the remarkable story of the rise and fall of this ELF cell, by focusing on the transformation and radicalization of one of its members.

Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thrilller, the film interweaves a verite chronicle of Daniel on house arrest as he faces life in prison, with a dramatic recounting of the events that led to his involvement with the group. And along the way it asks hard questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism.

Drawing from striking archival footage — much of it never before seen — and intimate interviews with ELF members, and with the prosecutor and detective who were chasing them, IF A TREE FALLS explores the tumultuous period from 1995 until early 2001 when environmentalists were clashing with timber companies and law enforcement, and the word “terrorism” had not yet been altered by 9/11.

 

Suggested donation for food: £2.50

 

Kebele Social Centre, 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol. BS5 6JY
Vegan food served from 6:30pm, films start at 7:30pm

Film Night at Kebele. Sunday 4th Dec from 5.30pm: Prison? “A Film by Charlie Ryder”

Bristol Anarchist Black Cross and Bristol Defendant Solidarity are proud to present Charlie Ryder’s new film Prison? Following the 80 minute film there will be a Q&A with discussion.

Prisoner support film and letter-writing night

FILM & LETTER WRITING NIGHT

Wednesday 13 July, 7 to 9pm
The Factory social space, Cave St/Portland Sq, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8RU
All welcome, free entry, donations welcome. Cake & drinks available.

FILMS
Ashanti Alston
The former political prisoner & anarchist black panther spoke at Monkeywrench books in Feb 2010 (Texas, USA). He talks about his politicisation, the black panther movement, black liberation army, solidarity & anarchism (50mins)

Submedia punk shit up!
Submedia bring us their classic brand of humorous political updates from around the world. In this episode they talk about the Vancouver ice hockey riots, Chilean urban ecodefense & updates on those facing charges following the G20. (15mins)

Interview with released Ottawa 3 defendant

The Ottawa 3 were charged with a firebombing in spring 2010, an action that was made in solidarity with the upcoming anti-G8/G20 protests in and around Toronto in late June. One of the 3 defendants, Joseph Roger Clement, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3.5 years. The other 2 have been released.

An interview with one of the 3, Matthew Morgan Brown, has been recorded and released on an excellent and entertaining Sub MediaTV broadcast reviewing 2010. Link to video and campaign support info.

Callout for Solidarity with the Thessaloniki 4

Beaten Up, Fitted Up, Don’t Let Them Get Banged Up

Over a hundred people were arrested after a demonstration confronting the European Union summit, held in Thessaloniki in Greece back in 2003. Seven people were imprisoned and held on remand, including UK protester Simon Chapman. The prisoners began a hunger strike that lasted more than 50 days.

A massive worldwide solidarity campaign followed including demonstrations, direct action and occupations leading to all seven being released on bail (archive of solidarity actions). All the charges were eventually dropped.

Years later after appeals from the Prosecutor the charges were reinstated. The first case finally came before the Courts in January 2008 where Simon Chapman and three of the other defendants – Suleiman “Kastro” Dakdouk (Syrian origin), Fernando Perez Gorraiz (Spain) and Michaelis Triakapis (Greece) – were found guilty.

Cops plant black rucksack filled with petrol bombs on Chapman after he'd been beaten up

All of those accused maintain their innocence and video and photographic evidence clearly shows police planting a rucksack filled with petrol bombs next to Simon. This didn’t stop him receiving a prison sentence of more than eight years, with the other defendants all receiving over five years.

They will now face the Appeal Court again in January 2011,

Albert Woodfox of the Angola 3 moves prison after 40 years

Yes that’s right, according to a mailout by the Angola 3 campaign, Albert has been moved to another prison after more than 40 years, and for nearly the last 38 years he’s been in solitary confinement.

Just think about the complete inhumanity of that for a moment…nearly 38 years in isolation, over 40 years in one prison, and most of that time for a murder he didn’t even commit. The American dream? Land of the free? What a sick joke. Its time to set them all free.

Albert Woodfox’s new address since the start of November is reported to be:
Albert Woodfox
NIA #3-CCR
David Wade Correctional Center
670 Bell Hill Rd.
Homer, LA  71040, USA