Press Release – For immediate release - 13th May 2015
SUPPORT THE HOMELESS CAMP IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL'S ATTEMPT TO EVICT THEM
RALLY TO BE HELD BEFORE THE APPEAL HEARING TOMORROW, THURSDAY MAY 14th
RALLY: 9.15am, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Bridge Street West, Manchester
COURT HEARING STARTS AT 10am
CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE CAMP GATHERS MOMENTUM AS:
- 300 people attend last Saturday's Solidarity Protest outside the Central Library and another Protest is called for this Saturday, May 16th
- Petition is handed in to Manchester City Council today
Residents of Manchester's Homeless Camp in St Peter's Square will be at the Civil Justice Centre in Bridge Street West tomorrow, Thursday May 14th, to challenge the City Council's bid to evict them.
RAPAR is organising a rally outside the court at 9.15am and is urging as many people as possible to attend. In the week the Conservative Government is threatening to scrap the Human Rights Act, RAPAR is asking supporters to stand up for the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and housing. Please bring your banners and show the Campsite residents they are not alone in their fight for justice.
Last weekend's Solidarity Protest outside Central Library was a great success - with Saturday shoppers and people waiting to board the tram stopping to watch Campsite residents and around 300 supporters rally outside the Library. There were speakers, music and dancing – including the Macarena which has now become a regular Rush Hour spectacle at the Camp.
The range of speakers included a Church of England clergyman from Wythenshawe, people from the Homeless Camp, a 16 year old boy who had come along to show his support, and lawyers Ben Taylor and Nicky Hall. An exiled journalist, who is seeking asylum in the UK, highlighted the similarities between people in the Homeless Camp and refugees who have been made destitute because of the UK's asylum system.
For tomorrow's hearing, Ben Taylor, of WTB Solicitors, has instructed Gary Willock of Garden Court North Chambers, a specialist in housing law, to represent Scott Russell. Gary will challenge a previous decision to grant the City Council a Possession Order to evict the Camp. He will be citing the Human Rights and Housing Acts.
Currently lawyers are working on judicial proceedings to challenge the Local Authority's action in refusing access, in a discriminatory manner,to Manchester’s largest public library in St Peter’s Square.
A 38 Degrees petition, in support of the Homeless Camp, has attracted nearly 1,000 signatures in only a few days and will be presented to Manchester City Council today (Wednesday). https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/homeless-rights-of-justice-mcr
The Homeless Camp was set up on April 15th following a demonstration against homelessness in the city. Around 30 people have been living in the Camp, first in Albert Square and now in St Peter's Square, to raise awareness about the unfairness of Manchester City Council's homeless assessment policy.
The Facebook Page for Homeless Rights of Justice Mcr now has more than 2,200 Likes
https://www.facebook.com/HomelessRoJ
Also, please keep an eye on the RAPAR website for updates www.rapar.org.uk
For more information, contact Dr Rhetta Moran 07776264646 or Kath Grant 07758386208