They helped bring down a government – solidarity with the Reykjavik Nine

From Anarchist News…
An international week of actions has been called for 10th – 16th of January, 2011 in support of the Reykjavik Nine, nine individuals including anarchists and radical leftists, who face up to 16 years in prison for protest against the Icelandic parliament.

In December 2008 the bullet that killed Alexandros Grigoropoulos set fire to the streets of Athens, a fire that soon spread to every city across Greece. That same December on the opposite shore of Europe, in Iceland another revolt was already under way born out of the wreckage of the economy that had collapsed that fall.

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.

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.

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.

The Prison Works

‘The Prison Works’ is a cracking little pamphlet recently published by the Campaign against prison slavery (CAPS) & Brighton ABC.

Ken Clarke, confused new Tory boss of the injustice system

If you think prison does actually work, then read this. If you dont think it works…well read it anyway as it will broaden your knowledge and understanding. The term ‘prison works’ is a play on the dogmatic ideas of the likes of Michael Howard and the Tory governments from 1979 to 1997. Just put the term in a search engine and you’ll see what we mean!

The 20 page pamhplet contains 4 articles:

Free Jock Palfreeman

Self-defence is NO offence.
An International Week of Action has been called by Jock’s supporters for the 15 to 20 October 2010 in the run up to Jock’s appeal (probably the one and only appeal!) on 21 October. See Jock’s campaign website, and see our previous articles about him.

Jock is a young Australian anti-fascist imprisoned for 20 years in Bulgaria, after being convicted of killing a right-wing football hooligan, and wounding another. Prior to visiting Bulgaria in 2007, Jock had lived for a while in Bristol, where he got involved in a number of campaigns. A number of Bristolians visited Bulgaria at the same time as him. The full callout for solidarity with Jock is below, but first here’s a few Bristol events to get the ball rolling, along with a local flyer (pdf download) Jock_flyer: