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WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER...
Issue 208, Friday 16th April 1999
HILLSBOROUGH - 10 YEARS ON
"I've followed Liverpool for over 50 years and what I saw that day at Hillsborough will stay with me till the day I die. We could see something was wrong even as the match started, the pens behind the goal looked packed, although there was plenty of space either side. We couldn't believe the scenes we witnessed, we were in deep shock as it became obvious that things were wrong. Why weren't the police helping? I watched them come on with police dogs, whilst younger supporters ferried the dying and injured on advertising boards. They were heroes, yet the media portrayed them as thugs and animals. It's not right that 10 years later most of those responsible have never been charged with a criminal offence; what kind of country are we living in?"- Pensioner who was at Hillsborough
Ten years ago on April 15th 1989, Liverpool were playing Notts Forest in a FA Cup semi-final at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. As kick-off approached, the ancient turnstiles at the football ground became a bottle-neck as five thousand Liverpool fans tried to get in. When the police eventually opened the main gates, instead of directing the fans to the open terraces they sent them into a crowded pen.
"I was at the front of the pens, and you could see people were dying. I
asked, pleaded, with a copper to open the gates. He just looked at me as if I
wasn't there. Some who tried to climb out were pushed back in, maybe to
die."
- Hillsborough Survivor
96 Liverpool fans did lost their lives and 400 were injured that day in the Leppings Lane terraces- crushed to death against the jail-like railings, which became twisted from the pressure. As people tried to get on the pitch, the police pushed them back, thinking there was a pitch invasion. At 3.06 pm the game was finally abandoned.
What followed was a monumental and arrogant cover-up of inadequacies and incompetence, which one supporter described as an 'active propagation of mistruths'as the police sought to hide their mistakes.
The subsequent inquiry by Lord Justice Taylor left no doubt where the blame lay: "The main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control."
Not however according to the SUN newspaper, which, in the aftermath of the tragedy, dragged its gutter self to new depths. In a front page spread editor Kelvin MacKenzie blamed the tragedy squarely on Liverpool supporters: "Some fans picked pockets of victims."…"Some fans urinated on the brave cops", "fans beat up PC giving kiss of life."
During the thirty-one days of the Taylor inquiry no one mentioned hooliganism.
Nearly two years later, an 80 day inquest, verdicts of accidental death were reached. But as the Hillsborough Justice Campaign pointed out "Senior South Yorkshire police officers were responsible They committed a criminal act when they threw open exit gates for the fans to enter the stadium,. they should have delayed the kick-off that day."
Then in December 1996, Carlton TV's "Hillsborough" ripped apart the inquest decision that the victims suffered only accidental death. They unearthed evidence that a camera, which the police claimed was not working, held vital evidence that people were being crushed. This footage mysteriously vanished. It highlighted the fact that more fans might have survived if medical treatment had been available sooner. It exposed police lies, such as blaming fans for forcing a gate open to get in the ground . There were allegations of cops putting pressure on people giving evidence at the enquiry. And Still no police officers have yet to face any disciplinary hearing.
"Unfortunately, the facts concerning Hillsborough haven't been told - all
we've had is the usual manipulation of facts to be served up by the media
circus - football supporters become SCUM and ANIMALS, easy scapegoats. South
Yorkshire police were rubbing shoulders with journalistic filth before the
bodies of the dead grew cold. I'll never forget what the S** printed. I
remember burning a copy with my father. I'll never forgive those journalists,
they could have refused to print the police's lies."
- Liverpool supporter
As Trevor Hicks - who lost his daughters at Hillsborough - said "We got two disasters at Hillsborough : the one on the day and one that's happened since. There was evasion and an orchestrated cover up against us from the beginning. Nothing has been done willingly."
- The Hillsborough campaign are calling for a boycott of the Liverpool v Sheffield Wednesday football match on 8th May?
- The High Court gave the go ahead in March for two police officers to go face charges of manslaughter and wilful neglect of duty in court
- A campaign against The Sun got under way with sales slumping by almost 40% costing £10 million a year. The boycott is still going on
WHO KILLED BLAIR PEACH?
"As the police rushed past him, one of them hit him on the head with a stick..He tried to get up, but he was shivering. He couldn't stand. The police came back and told him'Move!Come on, Move!'They were very rough with him and I was shocked because it was clear he was seriously hurt. He was in a very bad state and he couldn't speak. Then he just dropped down."- Mr. Parwinder Atwal
On 22 April 1979, 5,000 people marched from Southall to Ealing Town Hall to hand in a petition of 10,000 signatures demanding that the National Front (NF) should not be allowed to come into their town and insult their community. The next day 4,000 cops arrived to deal with the 20,000 people had turned out to oppose the fascists. The police attacked the protesters with the utmost brutality. Blair Peach and his friends were trapped…at least six witnesses saw a riot cop club Blair Peach in the head, he later died. No inquiry took place and no one has ever been charged with his murder.
Blair Peach was a white school teacher in East London, active within the South Hackney and Shoreditch branch of the Anti Nazi League. His murder became a symbol of establishment incompetence and police brutality. "his death….exposed how black people were treated by the police, and how both black and white people were affected by racism….It united people who saw that the National Front was a threat to our democracy."
The Scarman Report in 1981 sugggested the 'bad apple' theory- that a few police 'let down the force' but the police force themselves are not intrinsically racist. The report suggested 'race awareness training'….Stephen Lawrence's case is just one of many incidents which confirm a blatant lack of such awareness to date. Muhammad Anwar, of the Centre for Ethnic Relations at Warwick university explained " You cannot isolate one incident, just as you cannot isolate one institution, but these all contribute to an accumulated perception of how the police treat black people. Many of today's young people weren't even born when these incidents took place, but they learn from parents and community leaders. You cannot separate attitude from experience. They are just as important as each other."
On Sat 24 April there's a Demo Against Racism in Southall Park. Meet 1pm @ Dominion Centre, The Green, Southall. Coaches from Brighton outside the Royal Pavilion at the Old Steine at 10.30am Tickets £7/5 for sale at the Peace Centre. For Information Tel: 0181 980 3601.
TUBEWAY BARMY
Reclaim the Streets! On Sat 1st May its time to transform the tube! Meet at Tower of London, 2pm,Saturday 1st May with your party-pants on. Bring food and drink and fun and games-The Party Line terminates at Clapham Common May Day Festival. For too long has the tube been the stomping ground of the wealthy, an unattainable luxury for those on low incomes. The government's privatisation plans put profit before passengers as always through the intended full-scale sell off of the tube.London's tube system is already the most expensive in Europe and fares will spiral out of reach of poorer pockets as private profit is increased at our expense. Anti- strike legislation has put paid to any arguments from the underdog, consequently workers suffering attacks against their pay and conditions are only likely to make an impact through 'unofficial' action."
So on 1st May let's turn the tube into a Place to Party! Show your solidarity and revel against the fat cats. Bring food, drink, musical instruments, decorations, toys, games, masks, banners and flags. Further information: Reclaim The Streets: 0171 281 4621.
- Transport from Brighton, tickets from Peace Centre, Gardner Street
MAY DAY EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MAY DAY MARCH. Meet 12 noon Clerkenwell Green to Trafalgar Square. 100 years of celebrating trade union rights, human rights and international solidarity. + May 2nd, May Day International Evening-music from around the world at Subterania, 36 Acklam Rd, London W10(Ladbroke Grove)4-11pmReclaim May Day The Oyster House 6-11pm, Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth. £3/2. Featuring bands and DJs. Food 6-8pm.
Cannabis Coalition Beltane Ganja day. Celebration of Cannabis March and free-festival on Clapham Common. Meet noon Brixton Ritzy. Tel: 0171 737 6289 mayday@schmoo.co.uk
Nottingham May Day events 26th April to 1st May. Program available from Mushroom Bookshop, 12 Heathcote St, Nottingham
Bradford May Day. Tel: 01274 734160 1in12@legend.co.uk
DIY Resist Global Action. B'ham. Fight back against global economic power.. Meet 11am outside NatWest HQ. Colmore Row, City Centre.
Manchester mini reclaim the streets. Meet Midday, 30th April at University Students' Union, Oxford Road. 0161 2245153 mfox4rhm@fsl.art.man.ac.uk
Hull reclaim the streets Saturday 8th May, meet at Pearsons Park (off Beverly Rd) 12noon
Finally, for those of you who are sick to death of all the politics, fuck it all off and get with the Vegan Organic Network. Permaculture, forest gardening, community gardening, etc. May 1-2 at 'Fresh Horizons', 50 Ditton Court Rd, Westcliff On Sea, Essex. Tel: 01702 303259
INSIDE SCHNEWS
Mumia Abu-Jamal, black rights activist and award winning radio journalist on death row for the past 16 years, has been subject to state oppression since he joined the Black Panthers. He was wrongly arrested in 1981 for killing a Philadelphia cop. In '95 files were finally exposed proving that minority citizens were being routinely framed. Abu-Jamal's years' work exposing state terror led to over 300 victims' convictions being reversed, but even when it became national news his own was not. Mumia again faces imminent execution. Mass demos on 24th April, his birthday. Contact Mumia Must Live! BM Haven, London, WC1N 3XX. http://www.Mumia.org/ [turn Javascript off]SCHNEWS IN BRIEF
- The National Front are planning a march in Worcester on the 24th. The Anti-Nazi League are planning a counter-demonstration, assemble at the Guildhall at 1pm.For confirmation:Tel.: 0171-2844040,e-mail: editors@s-light.demon.co.uk
- This months 'special issue' of The Ecologist is full of information on the growing climate crisis, the political and corporate response, and what the hell we should be doing about it. Our planet is being sabotaged, inform yourself and take action! For copies ring 01403 786726
- Kosova Aid Convoy benefit @Sussex Arts Club, Ship St, Brighton this Sunday ( 18th) 7.30pm with Tartan Amoebas + DJ's Ghecko and Hair Bear.£5/3
- There is another benefit gig for People's lifeline for Kosova on 29th April at New Madeira Hotel, Marine Parade, Brighton. 8-2 with talks and videos £3
- No Pasaran. Get cultural with the Stroud Football Poets compelling accounts of the Spanish Civil War. Sat 24th April, 8pm. Hexagon Theatre, Kingsfield School, Brook Rd, Kingswood, Bristol. Tickets£4/3 - Tel: 0117 9711540
- Alternatively, you could motivate yourselves to march from Westminster Cathedral to the BNFL office in Buckingham Gate to remind them about the Children of Chernobyl who are still suffering as a result of the world's worst nuclear disaster. Tel 0171 6072302
- No Smoke Without Fire is a guide for people who believe they are the victims of a miscarriage of justice, containing advice starting from the moment of arrest through to post-release care. SAE to: Liberty, 21 Tabard St, London SE1 4LA. Tel 0171 403 3888
- Thespionage presents 'TICK-A-TEENTH? because dealing can be murder-' Another tale from the front-line, for those that know the score. At The Komedia, Gardener St, Brighton. Tues 27 and Wed 28 April 8pm 01273 647 100. The Akademia, Manchester St, Brighton. Fri 14th & Sat 15th May 7.30pm 01273 607 171. Tickets £5/4
- Conference on Iboga A talk by Dan Lieberman on the therapeutic uses of Iboga (a psychoactive plant from the Congo Basin). Used by the Bwiti in their 3-5 day initiation ceremonies it has been especially effective in treating opium addiction. At the Akademia, 14-17 Manchester St. Tel: 0181 3878824 ethnobotany@iafrica.com
- The contract for the Avon Ring Road has been awarded to Christiani Nielsen, the Leamington-based outfit responsible for the Wells relief road and the nasty evictions at Dead Woman's Bottom. Work is expected to start on Apr 19; the protest camp is gearing up for action. Contact the camp on 0836 653 723 or 0797 999 0389 or STARR at 84 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB
- World Day for Laboratory Animals is Sat April 24 with a national march in Brighton. Meet Preston Park at noon followed by wreath laying at Shamrock Farm
- First-ever National Animal Rights demo at Medical Research Council, the Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London. The labs here were infiltrated several years ago and such cruelty exposed that top profs had to resign: the experiments still continue- let's stop them. 11am, Fri April 23. Nearest tube Mill Hill East, then 240 bus. More info: Soraya 0181 888 4971; Chrissie 0181 203 2325/ 0467 471111
- Party at Lyminge Forest West Wood protest camp, 24/5 Apr. The battle is nearly won!!
- Third Battle of Newbury are suspending their monthly meetings until 2nd Sep, due to lack of cash
- The camp at the B'ham Relief Road need tarpaulin & wood, sorry no tel no as one of the dogs buried the mobile
- Don't forget: this Satuday (17) Benefit gig with comedian Tony Allen @ Hobgoblin London Rd upstairs 9pm. £1.50
SIMON JONES MEMORIAL CAMPAIGN
Meeting next Thursday 22nd April 7.30pm upstairs at The Hobgoblin. Phone 01273 685913.WATCHING ME, WATCHING YOU
Each person in this country watches an average 4 hours of TV a day; that's a quarter of the waking life of everyone spent staring at a piece of furniture. Scary, but we ain't seen nothing yet.How about a TV that watches you? Every time you click the remote control of a new Digital TV, the set notes what you are watching and for how long, and then relays this information to the service provider. As you explore the interactive new world of entertainment a file is being compiled of your interests and viewing habits, name, address, bank details... This will then be sold to the multi-national corporations, so they can target you with specific products, or to any other organisation who wants it.
The happy advertisers of TV's 'digital revolution' promise more "viewer power", but in fact the opposite is true. Pilot interactive TV projects have created programmes that are designed to extract even more information from people, through on-screen quiz shows and questionnaires. Matthew Timms, head of programming at Two Way TV says viewers are happy to answer personal questions:
"They tend to be fairly honest... because somehow they feel they're sitting there, it's just them and the television, even though the reality is it's got a wire leading straight back to somebody's computer..."
And there's more in store. The service providers can send new software to your telly at any point, without telling you, and they're working on the idea of artificial intelligence programming so the box can respond to the information it gleans about you. It could sell you products you might like, suggest programmes to watch, work to increase your viewing, or your children's...turn off, tune out and drop off drop the thing out of a twelve storey window.
22-28th April is International TV-Turnoff Week, coordinated in this country by White Dot. They encourage you to "Take a healthy break from TV and you'll find out what you really enjoy doing." More information on this and the leaflet "Spy TV" about digital telly from White Dot, PO Box 2116, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3LR; http://www.whitedot.org/
SHIT HAPPENS
April 19th-25th is Real Nappy Week - did you know that British parents throw out 8 million disposable nappies a day, that's over 800 000 tonnes a year of nappy waste - all have to be disposed of. For every £1 spent on nappies, the taxpayer pays 10p to get rid of them.The Real Nappy Association and Women's Environmental Network are trying to expose the environmental damage caused by nappy waste and promote alternatives. Councils are joining in, giving away free real nappies and encouraging use in maternity wards. Apart from the volume of waste, the campaign is concerned with the ingredients of disposable nappies, which are not subject to govt controls and include at least one chemical removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. Real Nappy Association, PO Box 3704, London SE26 4RX, 0181 299 4519AND FINALLY
Tomatoes around the country are going all gooey over drum and bass. Growers have found that blasting the fruits with loud bass-heavy music which helps to dislodge the pollen, which falls on the sigmas and a baby tomato is born. Ahhh. "Music with a stong beat is best" reckons Alan Parker, chair of the Tomato Growers' Association "Even growers whose taste inclines more towards Radio 3 recognise the merits of drum and bass. We have not compiled a tomato top 10 yet, but it is safe to say Simply Red will be in there".SchNEWS has unconfirmed reports that Monsanto is trying to splice a DNA gene from Goldie into tomatos.
DISCLAIMER
SchNEWS warns all readers that their TV is full of disposable shit. Honest!Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send us first class stamps (e.g. 20 for the next 20 issues) or donations (cheques payable to "Justice?"). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week. Ask for "original" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners. You can also pick SchNEWS up at the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre at 43 Gardner Street, Brighton.
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Last updated 29 April 1999
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