Playwright Lydia and husband Bernard detained for the 4th time today. Full Press Release here.
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Lawyers to apply for injunction tomorrow (Thurs) to stop deportation of playwright Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey. For more information on their case go to: http://www.rapar.org.uk/lydia-and-bernard-must-stay.html Download the Press Release Here
Manchester MP Sir Gerald Kaufman has again intervened in the case of Mohammad Vahidi, who faced removal from the UK for the third time on Thursday 17th February.
An upcoming public meeting will call for an immediate halt to deportations to Iran. Download the press release here In August, many people supported our campaign for the Vahidi family who were threatened with forced removal to Iran. They remained in the UK but were detained for the second time on Monday, December 20th, by the UK Border Agency and they are now in detention in Yarl's Wood detention centre with removal directions for 4pm on Thursday, December 23rd.
Download the press release here justice4bolton has challenged Greater Manchester Deputy Chief Constable Simon Byrne to watch the Granada TV footage which clearly shows a protestor at the anti EDL demonstration in Bolton being hit twice with an extended police baton. Download Press Release Here:
Tactics adopted by police officers at the anti EDL demonstration in Bolton’s Victoria Square on March 20th were “frightening” a protestor told magistrates.
Dane Kelly, a 24 year old Sociology student from Leeds, was cleared of a charge of using threatening and abusive words and behaviour against a police officer when he appeared at Bolton magistrates’ court on Monday, October 11. He said: “The tactics the police adopted were frightening. They were pushing us back and telling us to move back but there was nowhere to go. There were middle aged people and families with children there and an elderly man, a World War 2 veteran, was knocked to the ground by the police. People were panicking and I was worried for my friends. The police were arresting people in the crowd while trade union messages of support were being read out.” Asked by Joanna White, prosecuting, if he was unhappy with the way the demonstration had been policed, Dane Kelly told her: “I was scared.” Tactical Aid Unit officer Gareth Rowe told magistrates the TAU had been initially deployed to escort the EDL to the designated area in Victoria Square, Bolton.This deployment was because of specific EDL incidents at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester the previous October. PC Rowe explained that officers were then sent to Victoria Square where Unite Against Fascism demonstrators had been gathering from about 10 am. He said that sometime between 11am and 1pm TAU officers were told to “kit up”. PC Rowe said Mr Kelly tried to prevent him from arresting another protestor and that he raised his arm to stop Mr Kelly and unintentionally hit him in the face. PC Rowe claimed that Mr Kelly then used abusive language and called him “a fucking Nazi cunt”. Told by Aiofe Ryan, defending, that Mr Kelly denied using abusive language, PC Rowe replied: “I heard him and I saw him say it. I found it very offensive.” PC Rowe told the court he remained in the police line trying to control the crowd. “Other officers were requested to go into the crowd but this wasn’t what I was doing, I stayed in the line,” he said. Mr Kelly said that PC Rowe struck him in the face three times as the officer reached into the crowd. Mr Kelly denied using abusive language to the officer, saying that as someone who was politically active and had studied feminism, he would not use the words he was accused of saying. Finding Mr Kelly not guilty, the magistrates said they were not convinced that Mr Kelly used the words to the police officer. Surrounded by supporters outside the court, Mr Kelly said he was elated with the result. “If anything, I am now more dedicated to fighting fascism on the streets of the UK and will continue to do so. I would like to thank justice4bolton and Unite Against Fascism for all the support they have given to me.” A spokesperson for justice4bolton said: “Some of the truth about what happened in Bolton on March 20 came out in court today. This verdict is a vindication of the fact that it is not a crime to protest against racism and fascism. It also demonstrates that any attempts by the police to construct anti fascist and anti racist protestors as criminals will be vigorously resisted. The truth will out.” For further information contact: Kath Grant, justice4bolton press officer on 07812471047 TRIALS OF ANTI FASCISTS START AS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF POLICE BRUTALITY AT BOLTON ANTI EDL PROTEST EMERGES
The trials of five anti fascists, arrested at the protest against the English Defence League on March 20, begin at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 4 - as overwhelming evidence of police brutality at the demonstration emerges. A show of solidarity is being organised by justice4bolton outside Bolton Magistrates' Court at 9.30 am on Monday, October 4. Further presences outside the court will take place on the days of the trials which are October 4th, October 5th, October 11th, October 20th and November 4th. The five are facing prosecution for their part in opposing the racist EDL rally in Bolton on March 20. At the same time, justice4bolton has received an alarming number of reports of anti-fascist demonstrators being subject to unprovoked violence and unjustified arrest at the hands of the police on that day. A spokesperson for justice4bolton says: "What emerges is a picture of a determined attempt to criminalise and brutalise those who protested against fascism and racism. We call on every anti-fascist and anti-racist to stand up against such oppressive tactics. We must make clear that opposing fascism and racism is not a crime." justice4bolton says the people facing criminal prosecution in the trials taking place throughout October and November need support and urges all anti racists and anti fascists to join the show of solidarity on Monday. "We call on all those opposed to the racist EDL, which is linked to the BNP, and all those who believe that protesting agianst racists and fascists is not a crime to send delegations to the court and messages of support to [email protected] " In addition, justice4bolton believes that this pattern of police behaviour must not go unchecked and is helping to seek accountability for those who were subjected to police violence and oppression on 20 March 2010. We are asking anyone who suffered or witnessed such treatment to contact us at [email protected] as soon as possible. For more information, please contact: Kath Grant Press Officer justice4bolton 07812471047 MANCHESTER ANTI DEPORTATION COALITION
PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release 21st September 2010 SWINTON COMMUNITY TURNS OUT TO SUPPORT FLORA Supporters of a Swinton woman and her three children, who are claiming asylum on human rights grounds, have criticised the UK Border Agency’s callous “cat and mouse” tactics, saying they have caused the family unnecessary distress. Flora Oyinloye, who is from Nigeria, believes she and her three primary school age children are part of the Government scheme which has been piloting an alternative to detention for children – but which campaigners say is merely “substituting one grave injustice for another”. MANCHESTER COLLEGE STUDENT AND HIS FAMILY FACE FORCED DEPORTATION TO IRAN. Friends and Neighbours sign petition backing family’s asylum claim - case is a human rights issue, supporters say. Download full press release here:
Conference heralds new initiative by young people from Somali communityA youth forum has been set up by young Somali men in Greater Manchester to provide a new voice for their community.
The forum was started with the support of Manchester based human rights charity RAPAR (www.rapar.org.uk) and is funded through a two year development grant from Lloyd’s TSB Foundation. The bold new initiative reflects young people’s concerns about serious issues affecting the Somali community and the absence of credible representatives to address these matters. Members of the new group come from all sectors of Greater Manchester’s Somali community. |