SUPPORT ALL THOSE ARRESTED ON THE STUDENT ANTI-FEES DEMONSTRATIONS: DROP ALL THE CHARGES!
November and December 2010 saw three large demonstrations in London against huge increases in fees that University students will have to pay in future. Invasions of the Conservative Party HQ at Millbank on November 10th, and further actions on November 24th and December 9th, led to the arrests of over 200 people. Most were arrested on the three
demonstrations: others have been picked up since. Police tactics on the protests, including kettling or containing demonstrators for hours without food or water, themselves led to many of these arrests.
Most are accused of public order offences, some with criminal damage, others with ‘theft of police equipment’. While some people have been charged and have dates to go to court, the vast majority have yet to be charged with any offence, despite in some cases being questioned by police. Most of those arrested however have been given Police Bail, to return to police stations on a future date; in the meanwhile often being given restrictions on their movements in the form of bail conditions, usually banning them from the London Borough of Westminster (or from particular parts of it), or from attending political protests In London, or both. At least two have already been sent to prison that we know of.
At a meeting on February 6th, attended by 15 defendants from the student protests on November 10th, November 24th and December 9th 2010, the Student Protest Solidarity Campaign was set up to support those arrested at the student protests.
The Campaign aims to:
1. Unconditionally support and defend all those arrested on November 10th, November 24th and December 9th, as well as any later smaller student demos. Defendants includes anyone arrested, whether they have been charged yet or not, or even if their case has been dealt with by caution etc. 2. Be controlled by and accountable to the defendants.
3. Be totally independent of any other organisation. We are not a front for any political party or grouping.
4. Seek support from the student movement, anti-cuts groups and other sympathetic organisations.
5. Co-ordinate the legal defence of those arrested, and practical support for anyone sent to prison.
6. Publicise individual cases and points of view of the defendants. 7. Raise money to contribute towards the defendants’ campaign.
8. Mount a political campaign to drop all the charges from the student demonstrations, oppose kettling and other police tactics, and work towards legal challenges of draconian police bail conditions.
The Solidarity Campaign was set up by some of those arrested on these protests, and has at its heart the interests of the defendants. We aren’t under any illusions: this is a huge task and needs your support. If you agree with our aims we ask you to -
• Get involved. There’s a huge amount of work to be done: visiting courts to support defendants, publicity, and much more.
• Help us to raise money; towards the costs of printing information, hiring meeting rooms, legal costs and travel costs for defendants (many from far off etc).
• Publicise the campaign’s existence and future meetings and actions.
• If you were arrested on any of the student demos: get in touch. We realise that for many of those arrested, this is a worrying time, with legal proceedings hanging over their heads. Information can be difficult to come by, and especially those on serious charges, but for all defendants, the fear of what might happen can be overwhelming. The best way to deal with this is to meet others in the same position as yourself and stick together. The police want you to feel isolated and alone – but meeting and talking with other people facing the same pressures, and working together, can make everyone stronger. The police are not all-powerful, they can be challenged, and even getting charged does not mean you will be convicted. Defence campaigns in the past have helped people to win in court, and helped to win support for people facing charges.
• If you witnessed an arrest on any of these protests; contact us, we can help to try and connect you with the person you saw being detained and their solicitor. Your evidence may help get someone acquitted.
Contact us:
email studentdemodefendants[at]riseup.net
http://studentprotestsolidaritycampaign.wordpress.com/
