BRING YOUR TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS, GAZEBOS
OUR STREET HOMELESS YOUTH AND THEIR SUPPORTERS REJECT THE COURT RULING THAT ATTEMPTS TO CRIMINALISE
HOMELESSNESS IN CITY CENTRE MANCHESTER
SOLIDARITY RALLY /DEMONSTRATION, ....call backed by National Leader of the Green Party
Saturday, August 1st, 1pm
St Anne’s Square, Manchester, M2 7LF
The city’s street homeless and their supporters are coming straight back on Manchester City Council’s
injunction, granted yesterday, and designed to stop both the homeless protesters in the camps in St Ann’s
Square and Castlefield, and ‘every single person in the whole world’, from setting up any temporary form of
accommodation in Manchester City Centre.
The call for a solidarity demonstration in St Anne’s Square from 1pm tomorrow is being backed by Green
Party Leader, Natalie Bennett, who visited the camp last month:
"I am very disappointed by this ruling, which demonstrates that Manchester City Council is simply trying to
move the problem of homelessness out of sight, rather than dealing with the clear and pressing need for
appropriate accommodation and support services that I saw first-hand when I visited the camp. I would urge everyone who can to support the call for a demonstration of
solidarity tomorrow. I believe many residents of Manchester want to see a caring city that supports the
vulnerable and give them a hand up, rather than pushing them aside. Tomorrow is a chance to show that."
Solicitor Ben Taylor, who has been representing some of the protesters of the camp since April on a pro
bono basis has described the situation as “outrageous” and explains:
“We want to seek an appeal of the injunction. The Legal Aid Agency refused public funding to the protesters
yesterday on the grounds that this situation was not within scope since the restrictions implemented on 1st April 2013 pursuant to Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Prior to 1st April 2013 legal aid would have been available for my clients. So far, despite our efforts to try to get it granted, legal aid
continues to be refused at this time.”
Wesley Dove, one of the people named in the injunction, who has been street homeless for a year following
the breakdown of his relationship says:
“Everyone who knows the court ruling is wrong and who wants to do something practical to help, please come
to St Ann's square with your tents sleeping bags gazebos whatever tomorrow for 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
The court judgement never considered the lives and well-being of the people of the camp and where they are supposed to go now. We did not create the homelessness
problem, but we are a vital part of the solution.”
Danielle, aged 19, who is living in St Anne’s Square and who became street homeless following domestic
violence from her ex-partner says:
“Please come and be with us tomorrow. It is terrible how we are being forced to live on the streets. This has
to stop. Everyone has an individual story.”
Dave, a former Buckingham Palace Guardsman, who was living on Trinity Way, Salford, under a railway arch
for three years before he joined the camp says:
“Please come tomorrow to show your solidarity, support and welfare concerns for the people of this camp.”
Ameen Hadi Treasurer of Salford UNISON explains:
“This is an attack on the most vulnerable. We all need to come on Saturday and show our support.”
The call to demonstrate tomorrow is also supported by the Manchester and Salford Branch of the National
Union of Journalists, and by the Greater Manchester UNITE Trade Union Branch.
For further information contact:
Dr Rhetta Moran: [email protected]/ 07776264646
Kath Grant: [email protected]/ 07758386208
Please keep your eye on www.rapar.org.uk for updates