Home | 5th January 1996 | Issue 55

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER UNCOMPROMISING...

SchNEWS

CJA DISASSEMBLED!

A major part of the Criminal Justice Act-the 'trepassory assembly' sections that allows the police to stop any gathering of 20 of more people they don't like - was in tatters last night as the first two convictions under the new law were quashed on appeal. Dr Margaret Jones and Richard Lloyd walked free from Salisbury County Court to celebrate their victory over a law which their barrister Keir Starmer described as "a real mess". The decision is an important defeat for Michael Howard's and the government's attempts to destroy our right to party and protest as even the courts have been unwilling to go along with the CJA's attacks on our most basic rights of assembly.

Margaret and Richard were arrested at Stonehenge in June last year. They were commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Battle of the Beanfield, when riot police trashed travellers and their vehicles carrying out the largest mass arrest of civilians for hundreds of years. The two were charged under the 'trespassory assembly' provision of the CJA which allows police to set up 'exclusion zones' of up to five miles radius and arrest groups of 20 or more people within that area almost at will. The law was specifically designed to stop gatherings such as that at Stonehenge.

In October last year (see SchNEWS 43) Richard was fined £400 and Margaret £100 in what Margaret described at the time as "a political decision that we will fight in order to uphold our right of peaceable assembly". At their appeal, the defendants argued that they were on the public highway causing no obstruction and that if they were guilty of an offence then a coach load of passing tourists would also be breaking the law. The prosecution admitted quite readily to the court that the law did give the police draconian powers but since Parliament had decreed this law it was the duty of the court to enforce it! Clearly the appeal judges did not agree with this 'just following your orders' attitude to the judicial system and threw out the charges.

After the victory, Margaret told SchNEWS, "I'm elated by this decision which blows a big hole in the Criminal Justice Act. We still have the right to assemble and use the highway - even when protesting. This decision doesn't mean that the law can't be used against other people in the future - but it does mean that the police will have to think twice about using a law that the even the courts have now agreed is unfair and absurd!

NEWBURY - STAY ALERT!

Despite Thursday's court victory by, campaigners against the Newbury bypass - when eviction orders on two of the eight camps along the path of the Newbury bypass were adjourned - the campaign to stop this insane road stays on red alert. Talking to the SchNEWS shortly after the court victory Becca, one of the camp residents, said, "Today's decision in the High Court is excellent news - but it does not mean that work on the bypass cannot be started at any time. In fact it looks increasingly likely that work will be starting next week. People should remember that only about an eighth of the route is covered by the camp s. The rest of the area can be trash a an time without an eviction notice. People have to be ready to get down here to stop the contractors doing that in the very near future".

The 13km New bury Bypass will trash three Sites of Special Scientific Interest, damage a number of local nature reserves, two civil war battlesites, twelve archaeological sites as well as managing to 'pass' three times through the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Already some scrub clearance has taken place - so get on the direct action phone tree 01635 45544. Thousands of people are already on the phone tree which when activated could see the biggest mobilisation of people against a road scheme yet seen in is country.

LOCK HIM UP!

SchNEWS wishes to draw your attention to one of Britains most persistent criminals. A man who whilst constantly breaking the law pours forth outburst upon outburst attacking other criminals. A guy who started '96 at liberty but should definitely end the year behind bars: Home Secretary Michael Howard.

As far as SchNEWS can find, our beloved Home Secretary has been found to have acted illegally by the courts at least eight times in the last two years as Home Secretary. Our intrepid SchNEWS reporters rang his minions at the Home Office to see if they could help dish the dirt on their boss. Apparently the only information they could give us was that in response to a parliamentary question last November he said that hundreds of applications for judicial reviews were received every year, and that there were no centralised records of the results of these applications. So many of these crimes may not have even been reported to the general public, who must surely now live in fear of this potentially "serial offender"

This has prompted SchNEWS to change its tune concerning the benefits or otherwise of prison. The man who pronounced "prison works" should be given some of his own medicine. Perhaps the American system of "3 strikes and you're out" that some states use , would apply in his case. What do you think?

nasty PEPPER pot

Summer time and the boys in blue could well be armed with Pepper Spray. Hand-held spray canisters carried in coppers belts would be able to disable someone in seconds. With a range of 3 feet the white powder affects the tear glands and mucus-secreting areas of the face, causing watering eyes, sneezing and coughing. Planned trials last year had to be halted after a Met. Police instructor needed hospital treatment for bums to his eyes after being sprayed! In a report by the American Civil Liberties Union 14 people died in one year in California after 'pepper spray' was used against them. American experience has also cast doubt on the effectiveness of the spray against people under the influence of drugs!

ROLL OVER, ROLL OVER

This week that great national institution, the National Lottery is having a double Roll Over Jackpot week, with an estimated top prize of £40 million. If anyone should win this obscenely large wedge, it will surely destroy their life as they knowit.

Despite this, more than ever this week people will be saying, "Oh well, when we win the lottery..." Alas, in the year or so since its inception, the hype surrounding the outcome of 49 tumbling balls in a machine has wormed its way into our collective consciousness very successfully. Is it any coincidence that the lotto was brought in just a few weeks after the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act? Both aggressively exploit the poor and dispossessed, both are vulgar and unnecessary, and both end up with the vast majority of people losing out.

If anyone reading this happens to win the Jackpot this week, can we suggest a great way to prevent it ruining your lifestyle... donate it all to Justice?

SchNEWS IN BRIEF

UNDERCURRENTS 4 is now out! 75 minutes long 'the alternative news service' this time covers New Labour and the CJA, the Job Seekers Allowance, Open Cast Mining + more Available from 46 Rymers Lane, Oxford, OX4 3LB for £10.50 inc p+ p A new monthly Bi-sexual news letter has been launched. Bi Community News is the only national bi-sexual publication. A free copy is available for anyone interested from UM Ribbit, London 3XX.

*** The US top secret intelligence service, the National Security Agency (NSA) can now eavesdrop on all telecommunications in the Northern Hemisphere. Menwith Hill is now home to the largest US-NSA spy base in the world. All data is relayed back to one of the worlds most advanced computers and is capable of scanning and sorting 4 million words a minute. MPs are not even allowed to ask certain questions about this foreign installation. From the information that the Menwith Hill Womens Peace Camp have been able to uncover they believe it to be a real threat to world peace and civil liberties. The NSA keeps track of what governments, armies, political groups and unions are up to with an estimated budget of £10 billion. This represents a criminal waste of resources in a world where countless people are in need of clean water, food and decent health care.

*** Robin Webb, press officer for the Animal Liberation Front has had all his charges dropped. His job is to tell the media why people break the law to help animals for his troubles he's been arrested seven times and spent seven months on remand in the last four years. This time he was chart under the obscure section 38 of the Public Order Act which carried a maximum sentence of 10 years. The judge involved imposed a media blackout - yet another example of the authorities attempts to suppress freedom of speech where animal rights are concerned. To counter this the ALF have produced an excellent new diary, detailing direct actions that have taken place in the last year, which needs photocopying and distribution. ALF have 3 established policies. Non-violence towards animals (human or non-humans), to rescue animals from suffering and economic sabotage (damaging equipment and property of those profiting from animal abuse). If you would like a copy of the diary then contact BCM Box 1160, London, WC1N 3XX.

*** Meanwhile on Tuesday hundreds of people held a torchlight vigil to commemorate the start of the live animal export trade thru Shoreham port last year . Some people then went to the home of a Mr Dudley of International Traders Ferry fame. The police kept a very low profile - could this be because the ITF took the cops to court last year? If recent events have put you off hitching why not try Freewheelers, the National Lift-Share Agency. Membership is minimal with a recommended payment of 3.5p a mile to the driver you share with - which from London to Exeter works out at about £6. Give 'em a bell 0191 222 0090

INSIDE SCHNEWS

On January 31st Khalfani Khaldun (aka Leonard McQuay) was charged with the murder of a prison guard and was transferred to a 'Maximum Control Complex' in Westville, USA. He has been victimised for years by the US prison system due to his revolutionary and spiritual beliefs. Before his transferal into solitary confinement (where he spends 23 hours each day), Khalfani was organising classes on political history, self esteem, maths, reading and world politics for his fellow New African inmates.

Khalfani needs support from people on the outside. He has had all of his study materials and books taken from him. Newspapers, political development materials and donations are all urgently required. Send them - along with bright postcards/letters to liven up his cell to: Sonora McQuay, Khalfani Defense Fund, P0 Box 1513, Gary IN 46402. Or write to Khalfani at (Leonard McQuay) no.874304, Indiana DOC - Maximum Control Complex, PO box 557, Westville, IN 46391-0557.

Party And Protest!

MON 8th Mass Picket of West St. Job Centre, Brighton 8am onwards Dole workers around the country are still on strike over performance-related pay. 20 more Job Centres to follow from Jan 15th as well as regional strikes. Increase the pressure! 01273 671213 / 01865 723750

MON 8th Torchlight Procession to Downing Street against the Asylum Bill. Meet at St Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square, 6pm. Brighton Posse meet 3pm, New Kensington - bring banners, placards, torches!

THURS 11th Court Appeal of first ever CJA charges. Manchester Magistrates Court - 9.45am. 0161 2744665

FRI 12th Tree Party at Picasso's, Broad Street, Wolverhampton. Proceeds to support independent tree preservation and reforestation. 01902 24048

SAT 13th Rally against the Asylum Bill. Meet 1.30pm at Bloomsbury Baptist Church.

TUES 16th M65 mass trial begins of 76 eviction- resisters. Blackburn Magistrates Court. Demo planned - 0161 2738338

FRI 19th Lecture- "The Politics of Food". West Yorkshire Playhouse. Includes meal, £6. 0113 2692361

MON 22nd Trial of Kate Witham In court for allegedly causing £21,540 worth of criminal damage at Menwith Hill US Spy Base, N. Yorks 0113 2629365

WEDS 24th National Demo against Asylum Bill. Meet 11am - Embankment to Trafalgar Square

WEDS 24th Launch of William Morris (the Libertarian Socialist) Centenary Programme. Numerous events- contact 0181 7413735

FRI 26th Launch of Homelessness Networking Project to set up self-help groups around the country. Tel: Housing Information Project 0171 277 7639

e-SchNEWS
email: Justice@intermedia.co.uk
PLEASE NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS: Web site: http://www.cbuzz.co.uk

And FINALLY

Think things can't get any worse? - think again. In a new year message predicting how society will be in years to come, Professor Ian Angell of the London School of Economics - a top boffin in information technology - is not too cheerful. "We have massive unemployment coming. We will have city states, town walls (electronic, not masonry), mercenary armies hired to protect certain areas and the idea that the police protect the property of the rich, not society at large (sounds familiar). There will be a lot more. New Age Travellers, because increasingly the dispossessed will simply roam the countryside and be a nuisance. We'll reinvent the Poor Laws to find new ways of brutalising them into submission. The Criminal Justice Act has already started the process."

And a happy new year to all our readers!!!!

DISCLAIMER

The SchNEWS warns all readers not to attend any illegal gatherings or take part in any criminal activities. Always stay within the law. In fact please just sit in, watch TV and go on endless Xmas shopping sprees filling your home and lives with endless consumer crap. you will then feel content. Honest.

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Next Justice? Meeting Wednesday 10th January, 7:30pm Unemployed Centre, off Carlton Hill behind Amex - discussing what to do about the crack down on squatting in Brighton.

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