Solidarity - articles before 22 November 2002, Civil liberties, justice, crime

Defend right to protest; support Milan Rai and Maya Evans

Submitted on

Date: 
10 April, 2007 - 15:00 - 16:00
Location: 

Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX

Description: 

Demonstrate outside the court where Milan Rai and Maya Evans will be on trial.

Last October scores of peace activists held an "unauthorised" 24 hours peace camp in Parliament Square to mark the 2nd anniversary of the devastating November 2004 US/UK assault on Fallujah (www.rememberfallujah.org) and to demand an immediate end to the military occupation of Iraq.

Under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) organising or participating in such a demonstration is a criminal offence. Thus far - despite the publication of a letter from the organisers in a national newspaper, confessing their 'crime' - only two people have been prosecuted in relation to this protest: author and activist Milan Rai ('Chomsky's Politics', 'War Plan Iraq') and Maya Evans.
In December 2005 Maya achieved a degree of national renown after becoming the first person to be convicted for participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament. Subsequently, Milan became the first person to be convicted of organising such a demonstration.

description:

Demonstrate outside the court where Milan Rai and Maya Evans will be on trial.

Last October scores of peace activists held an "unauthorised" 24 hours peace camp in Parliament Square to mark the 2nd anniversary of the devastating November 2004 US/UK assault on Fallujah (www.rememberfallujah.org) and to demand an immediate end to the military occupation of Iraq.

Location:
Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX

"Free Mumia Abu Jamal" protest

Submitted on

Date: 
17 May, 2007 - 20:30
Location: 

Outside US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London W1A

Description: 

For further information: freemumiauk@googlemail.com, 07722 044 710, or www.freemumia.multiservers.com

description:

For further information: freemumiauk@googlemail.com, 07722 044 710, or www.freemumia.multiservers.com

Location:
Outside US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London W1A

Mass act of defiance against new law banning protests within 1km of Parliament

Submitted on

Date: 
7 August, 2005 - 14:00
Location: 

Parliament Square, London

Description: 

The new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) makes all unauthorised protests within 1km of Parliament illegal after 1 August.

The first targets of the Act are likely to be Brian Haw's 4-year 24-7 peace vigil in Parliament Square and the weekly Anti-war Community Picket of the Global Women Strike (also in the Square), but the law will affect *all*
activists and campaigners.

Bring your banners, leaflets, placards and campaigns for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal
rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc... to this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to demonstrate near Parliament.

Please note:

[1] There is a risk of arrest at this action, since it is an unauthorised protest against a law which makes such protests illegal. Please read the legal briefing below before deciding to attend.

[2] This is a peaceful protest.

A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for the Mass Act and beyond will take place on Sunday 31st July: 11.30am to 5pm, St Martins Community Centre, 43 Carol Street, London NW1 (nearest tube Camden Town). Please note that there is NO parking near the centre. If you're planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group. For more info. e-mail
massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm.

The new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) makes all unauthorised protests within 1km of Parliament illegal after 1 August.

Human rights lobby of Parliament

Submitted on

Date: 
11 March, 2005 - 12:00
Location: 

Houses of Parliament, London SW1

Description: 

Lobby of Parliament, from noon Friday 11 March to noon Saturday 12 March, to demand human rights denied under "anti-terror" legislation. Organised by the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities. For more info email humanrightslobby@yahoo.co.uk.

Lobby of Parliament, from noon Friday 11 March to noon Saturday 12 March, to demand human rights denied under "anti-terror" legislation. Organised by the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities.

Tories move to criminalise squatting

Submitted on

Author: 
Dan Rawnsley

In June this year the Communities and Local Government Department reported that 44,160 households were accepted as homeless last year — a rise of 10% on the previous year. In the meantime the Empty Homes Agency estimates that between 500,000 and 725,000 buildings are empty in the UK, enough to house around 1.8 million people.