Jock Palfreeman appeal trial continues 19 January

New public statement issued by Jock!

Jock’s appeal against his sentencing/convictions for murder and attempted murder continued late into December 2010. His next court date is set for 19 January in Sofia, Bulgaria, when the judge is likely to hear pleas from both sides before retiring to consider his verdict – which may take a month or two?

Callout for support for Belarus anarchists facing repression

The following callout was published on the Moscow ABC site by the Belarus ABC & friends of the arrested:

In connection with the situation about repression of anarchists and social activists getting worse WE – anarchists, friends and nearests of repressed ones – are calling you to take part in Days of Solidarity with Belarus Anarchists on the 10-13 December 2010. We consider that only international protests against repressions of independent activists trying to change things in Belarus for the better are able to make Lukashenko (Belarus president since 1994) give the go-ahead to stop mass arrests and to close political cases of Dedok, Frantskevich and Vetkin.

Greek prisoners launch new mass action

Echoing the large mobilisations of November 2008, when prisoners went on meal abstaining/ hunger strikes across the country, a fresh wave of mobilisations in the Greek prisons began last Monday 29 November, as first reported here.

Solidarity poster for Dimitrakis: "What's breaking into a bank compared with founding a bank?" Bertolt Brecht (the Beggars Opera)

This comes as there is a fresh escalation of struggles across various sectors in Greece. December 6 marks the 2nd anniversary of the murder of the teenager Alexis, that led to weeks of street battles. There are then further protests leading up the next Greek general strike on 15 December. Many anarchists & anti-authoritarians in prison face trials in the next few months, starting with the appeal trial of Giannis Dimitrakis on 6 December – read the callout for solidarity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, over the last couple days there has been a huge crackdown by the state in major Greek cities with searches and arrests.

Jock Palfreeman appeal news

According to a report from Moscow ABC, Jock’s appeal case continued in court in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 11 November with 2 witnesses re-questionned by the judge.

However the case was then adjourned again until 25 November, because 3 other witnesses due to be re-questionned did not appear in court. They include 2 cops (!), and a member of the gang who attacked Jock, who is now fortuitously studying abroad! We await news as to whether the case did in fact continue on the 25th?

Jock got 20 years for acting in self-defence in late 2007, when he went to the aid of 2 Roma youth being attacked by a gang of right-wingers, and was himself attacked. More background info here.

Updates on Canadian G20 defendants and prisoners

News received from friends at Toronto ABC…

Toronto G20 Arrestees
June 2010 saw mass protests against the G8/20 meetings in Toronto. There were also mass arrests, with 1093 detained in brutal conditions. Of these over 250 were released facing pending charges, while a few outspoken community activists remain in jail or under house arrest, facing more serious charges.

The Canadian government is clearly hoping to utilize the “conspiracy” model pioneered in the SHAC 7 and RNC 8 cases to terrorize dissidents involved in laying the framework for protests. Your general messages of solidarity to the individuals under house arrest and in jail will mean a lot to them.
More info: g20.torontomobilize.org and Toronto.mediacoop.ca and torontoabc.wordpress.com

At least 10 arrested as thousands wrongfoot cops in Bristol

[Update 1/12 – MP’s to vote at Parliament on the fee increases & other relevant changes on Thursday 9 December. Mass protest London & locally 9 December. Day of action against fees and cuts on 8 December. Further Bristol protests 4 and 5 December.]

Several thousand students, schoolkids and supporters marched, ran and charged around Bristol for about 5 or 6 hours today in the latest protests against rises in university fees and cuts to benefits such as EMA.

Police lines and attempts to kettle protesters were breached multiple times as the up-for-it crowd led cops a merry dance around town. At one point in mid-afternoon as the crowd surged once more into Broadmead and Carboot Circus, it seemed as if the cops just gave up for a while. However the crowd was more exhuberant and joyous, than destructive, and did not attack these temples of consumerism. Later as the numbers dwindled up near Bristol Uni, the cops tried it on and made a number of arrests, resulting in a solidarity demo outside Trinity police station. Good reports on Bristol Indymedia, keep checking their newswire. The UWE occupation continues, Bristol UNI students have an AGM coming up, and LibDem MP and pledge-breaker Stephen Williams faces a protest on Friday.

Legal and practical advice for revolting students and supporters

Don’t forget those students and youth arrested so far!

Hot on the heels of the effective mass protests on 24 November across the UK, a further ‘national day of action’ against students fees increases & cuts across public services has been announced – Tuesday 30 November, meet 11am at College Green. Details here, here, and on Yuk-Facebook (for Bristol).

 

Revolting youth take central Bristol

Here is a fine report on the 24 November Bristol protest, and here a statement from the successful occupation of Bristol Uni student union. Meanwhile the occupation at UWE continues. Here is an interesting comment on the violence on demos debate. Here is a good article on the recent history of the policing of protests.

Arrests mount but Dutch squatters escalate actions against squatting ban

On October 1 in Holland a ban on squatting was controversially introduced, making it technically illegal. For many years Holland has been perceived as a liberal nation in its attitudes to issues such as squatting, dope and sex workers. But like many European nations, recent years have seen the state moved further to the right by its political masters, and the peoples’ gains from previous cultural and class battles slowly eroded.

October 2nd -around 600 people demonstrate in Nijmegen against the squatting ban. Confrontations with the police. 13 people get arrested.

The ban on squatting has provoked serious anger. It has been confronted on a number of levels – on the street, in the courts, and of course by squatting more empty houses. There have been quite a few arrests, and a number of squatters who have refused to give the cops their identities have been remanded in prison awaiting a court date, whilst some others have received sentences such as ‘community service’! A report has been published listing a variety of actions and protests during the period October 1 to November 14. Read the timeline of actions report, which includes a number of links.

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,

The Tattoo Circus DIY prisoner support benefit FUNdraiser

Saturday 20 November, in London, sees the capital’s second Tattoo Circus of the year, and it looks like being another weird and wonderful cracker of an event!

It all kicks of at 11am in the morning. For venue details ring 07908 037170 or 07908 068724 after 10pm on Friday 19 November.