HEATHFIELD ARREST DEFENCE CAMPAIGN
PROTEST! DEFEND FREE SPEECH!
SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER 1.00PM
CENTRAL MURRAYGATE, DUNDEE
Campaign News
Legal Aid not available to defend Michael on the grounds of his salary of £21,000. How does anyone defend themselves from criminal charges if Legal Aid is not available? Equal before the eyes of the law? We don't think so!...Craig Murray, Rector of Dundee University has contacted the campaign to express his concern...has been asked to contact the University to see if CCTV tapes are secured. We wouldn't want them to go missing, get lost or taped over eh! See you all Saturday!
VENCEREMOS! WE SHALL WIN!
Legal Aid not available to defend Michael on the grounds of his salary of £21,000. How does anyone defend themselves from criminal charges if Legal Aid is not available? Equal before the eyes of the law? We don't think so!...Craig Murray, Rector of Dundee University has contacted the campaign to express his concern...has been asked to contact the University to see if CCTV tapes are secured. We wouldn't want them to go missing, get lost or taped over eh! See you all Saturday!
VENCEREMOS! WE SHALL WIN!
Background
On Tuesday evening in Dundee, 27 November the police arrested a comrade from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ Revolutionary Communist Group. Michael was distributing his organisations newspaper and handing out leaflets about the forthcoming Speaking Tour of Cuban comrades. The police arrived at the instigation of the janitors at the new Heathfield Building in Dundee's Hawkhill. Michael was there because this building was the venue for that evening's "Allah Made Me Funny" show. He was receiving a friendly response from the overwhelmingly Muslim crowds and no complaints were made. The police aggressively demanded that he move on and arrested Michael very violently when he asked what the legal basis for that request was. He was charged at by the female officer, turned round and held by the arms by both officers. It was demanded by the officers that he lie face down on the concrete and present his arms behind him for cuffing. Michael verbally protested at this treatment and shouted to the crowd that he was not resisting arrest or being violent. He was cuffed very painfully and charged at the local police station with Disorderly Conduct, namely "lashing out with arms and legs". He was released just before midnight. Michael is very confident that CCTV and the videoing of the arrest by people will back this account and clear him completely.
Michael's Defence Campaign is being formed to challenge the arrest and charge and to vigorously and publicly demand that the officers themselves be charged. This is a vital moment for all campaigners and political activists as the Labour government plans to bring in even more repressive legislation and the targetting of communities such as the Muslim community is stepped up. Defence of our rights to protest, to free speech, to distribute and associate is under attack. All these rights are guaranteed in law but they must be asserted and defended to be meaningful. It cannot be the case that a crime can be made of making socialist and anti-racist material publicly available and that police officers can behave in this arbitrary and dangerous way.
Please support the campaign. Contact the campaign (see below) to add your organisations or individual name to the Statement of Protest. Leave contact details and consider a donation to help fund the costs of campaigning. The campaign can be contacted on 07904057790 and at frfiscotland@yahoo.co.uk."
BULLETIN 1.MONDAY 3 DECEMBER
Comrades and Friends, thank you for all the solidarity, support and assistance you have given. Much more of this and much more organisation is necessary in order to send out a clear message that attacks on democratic rights will be fought and resisted by all! PUBLICISE AND JOIN THE CAMPAIGN. CIRCULATE THIS CALL! SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT!
Michael's Defence Campaign is being formed to challenge the arrest and charge and to vigorously and publicly demand that the officers themselves be charged. This is a vital moment for all campaigners and political activists as the Labour government plans to bring in even more repressive legislation and the targetting of communities such as the Muslim community is stepped up. Defence of our rights to protest, to free speech, to distribute and associate is under attack. All these rights are guaranteed in law but they must be asserted and defended to be meaningful. It cannot be the case that a crime can be made of making socialist and anti-racist material publicly available and that police officers can behave in this arbitrary and dangerous way.
Please support the campaign. Contact the campaign (see below) to add your organisations or individual name to the Statement of Protest. Leave contact details and consider a donation to help fund the costs of campaigning. The campaign can be contacted on 07904057790 and at frfiscotland@yahoo.co.uk."
BULLETIN 1.MONDAY 3 DECEMBER
Comrades and Friends, thank you for all the solidarity, support and assistance you have given. Much more of this and much more organisation is necessary in order to send out a clear message that attacks on democratic rights will be fought and resisted by all! PUBLICISE AND JOIN THE CAMPAIGN. CIRCULATE THIS CALL! SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT!
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