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| 26th January
1996 | Issue
58 BYPASS THE LAW!BATTLE OF NEWBURY HOTS UP - COME AND JOIN THE FUN"With hundreds of security and police this as the Largest mobilisation of state forces yet against the anti-roads movement. If you can only get to Newbury once - do it. It's not only your chance to stop this insane road being built but also to show your defiance of the Criminal Justice Act." Week three of the Third Battle of Newbury and the imaginative tactics used by the protesters are really worrying the road builders, the government and the police - because they are effectively getting more and more people off their arses and into direct action. Protesters are continually rethinking their tactics in the face of more and more desperate attempts to ensure the site is cleared before the nesting season in March. Around one sixth of the route has now been cleared and the security cordons protecting the chainsaw gangs are now larger than football pitches. The police are not even giving warnings before nicking people for Aggravated Trespass (you can be nicked for this if a copper just thinks that you are going to disrupt a 'lawful activity' on private land). They then dish out bail conditions which amount to a sentence without trial and virtual house arrest. Protesters guilty of no offence are being told not to go anywhere near the protests and some are having to sign on at police stations in their home towns everyday to stop them demonstrating. One solicitor told SchNEWS, "Bail conditions are not meant to be punishments in themselves. In this case they are clearly being used as a political means to suppress campaigns." Bindmans solicitors are currently preparing cases to take to the High Court to get these conditions overturned. As one protester told SchNEWS. "The police are using these bail conditions to try and break the protest. We've got to make them unworkable by breaking them". There are now 20 camps along the eight and half mile route and more people are needed now to help build defences. One way protesters are making sure the road won't be built is by fortifying and defending these camps. Four of them are in the High Court today (Friday) faced with eviction notices. Every morning a convoy of roadbuilders and security flanked by masses of police around three quarters of a mile long converges to the south of Newbury - protesters have successfully slowed up proceedings by driving 10 miles an hour in front of them! The media's big story this week was about the guy who was meant to have cut one of the security vans' brake cables - failing to mention after successfully blockading their coach he was dragged off by security and held onto some wires which snapped. The police later arrested the wrong man for this 'offence'. Protestors have occupied land, blockaded contractors and security transport. D-locked themselves to anything going and generally put every obstacle in the way of the clearance work. Against this, the police are doing what they've always done - using the law, including their new powers under the CJA, to stop any effective protest. So it's pretty worrying when Friends of the Earth -on behalf of the Newbury protesters - put out press releases condemning "deliberate damage" by protesters and calling for protesters to have a "positive relationship" with the police who are arresting them! When SchNEWS phoned Friends of the Earth to clarify their views they told us that "We don't condemn the police - it's unfortunate that they have to take these draconian actions but they do have a job to do" Friends of the Earth are doing loads of useful work to support the campaign but we should recognise that the police's job is to do what the government tells them, in this case ensure the Newbury bypass is built - and that it's kind of difficult to have a "positive relationship" with people who are arresting you for just about anything. "Only Illegal, in-your-face direct action will stop this road - and everybody knows It. With spiraling costs some of the construction firms are getting cold feet and the police are saying publicly they cannot afford to continue to police the protest. In other words this battle can be won - If people get down to Newbury and stop this road! As one activist told SchNEWS, "We need people who are prepared to get up very early and take the battle to the contractors before they get near the site. We need people who are organised and are willing to get arrested to stop this madness. We need hundreds of them and we need them now." LONDON TO NEWBURY. Coaches MON to FRI Call Reclaim The Streets on 0l7l 281 4621/0171 249 9144 to book. £4 each way.BRIGHTON TO NEWBURY Justice? 01273 685913 and leave name and number NEWBURY HOTLINE 01635 45544 KNOW YOUR RIGHTSIf you refuse bail conditions you could also find yourself in jail (one person is already inside on remand for a week for refusing bail) If you are nicked remember don't give em your date of birth and care-of address (could come in handy if the benefits crack down on protestors begins) but make sure people in the house know you are doing this in case the police check -and make sure its your home town or you could end up signing on daily in the Shetland Isles! Remember - Fight all cases, plead not guilty and clog up the courts. Crap arrests of the week* Pantomime Cow arrested for aggravated trespass! The said cow was alleged to have broken "through security cordon towards contractors" with the Intention of disrupting work at Newbury. Now if a pantomime cow can get through security.... * Four people nicked at January's Critical Mass in Brighton are still bikeless - the police are keeping them as evidence! They've also been given bail conditions not to attend any illegal demonstrations anywhere in the country! Give 'em support at Brighton magistrates court on Valentines Day 9.45 am * For picking up a copper's hat! Meddi from Leeds handed back the said policeman's hat which had fallen on the floor at Newbury, and was duly arrested and charged with theft of Queens Property! * Oh, and the 300 plus nicked at Newbury so far as well!
VICTORY FOR JAH PEOPLEThe witchhunt against the Exodus collective continues. With Biggs still on a trumped up murder charge and High Court Injunctions are being dished out like confetti the party people from Luton are under serious attack. Last Tuesday another victory has been won against the powers that be. Glenn Jenkins, spokesperson for the Exodus Collective was cleared of breaching an injunction forbidding him from "holding, causing to hold, or permitting the holding of any organised entertainment to which the public have access". The courts were unable to prove that he had any part in organising the rave. However victory was short-lived when Glenn. and three named others, have had another injunction taken out against them by Luton Borough Council. The notice has only been served against Glenn. who is due in court today. They have banned him from attending any unlicensed parties in Luton, South and Mid Beds, and are now trying to scapegoat him by making him responsible for the operations of the rest of the crew. If any other members of the Collective choose to hold another party, Glenn could be imprisoned. The injunction also stops him speaking in an official capacity regarding unlicensed parties. These measures arc an infringement of his civil liberties, his freedom of movement, speech and right to free association. The injunction is in excess of the Council' s power as they are criminalising activities that even Parliament has not (yet) criminalised. And all this despite the fact that they have been trying, since 1992, to seek a resolution to this problem by finding a venue for a community centre and putting on do's each month to finance it. Unlike commercial promoters, money raised from the parties is channelled back into the community- rehousing forty people at HAZ Manor, a former old people's home, building up the stack and helping people create something out of nothing. Glenn's liberty is seriously at stake here. He is being held responsible for the activities of the rest of the Collective. Exodus is a non-hierarchical organisation - something the authorities can't get their heads around. The parties are a collective effort between everyone involved. Exodus- Movement of Jah People. Full power to ya! * Black Moon sound system have a new court date. They are being charged for pre-paring to play at the Mother festy- the one that wasn't! They are now in Corby magistrates at 10am on Tuesday 27th February. Turn up and give them some support! DID YOU KNOW?* During the GLC's fairs fare policy us the early eighties there was an immediate 13% decrease in cars going into London. * In Manchester the new tram system (with a service every six minutes) has proved to be a winner. A survey has shown a 10 per cent reduction in traffic at peak times along its route. * Karosruhe, Germany. A new tram system has led to a 40% switch from cars to trains! * Even in Los Angeles where sixteen lane motorways still didn't stop the traffic jams - trams and railways are now making a comeback as planners realise more roads more cars. TOOLING UP THE BILLFrom 1st March, CS Gas will be tested by sixteen police forces in the UK. This gas is a highly toxic chemical warfare gas that can cause spasms, severe injuries and death. Symptoms caused by the gas include severe stinging to the eyes, nose and throat, skin blistering, severe coughing and chest tightening that leads to impaired breathing. The effects last up to an hour. The six month trials should have started last September, but were postponed when a police training officer suffered burns and eye injuries. Critics - including the injured officer (changed your tune, eh mate?). Amnesty International and Liberty - are especially concerned about the effects of the gas on pregnant women, bronchial sufferers and asthmatics - one in seven children in Britain now have asthma. The gas has been condemned as 'indiscriminate" by an expert on the effects of chemical weapons and Amnesty International has said that it is particularly worried about its use in heavily populated areas. The introduction of CS Gas, hard on the heels of last year's introduction of the side handled baton, marks a further stage in the militarisation of the police. The police say they need the gas to protect themselves against the increase in violent attacks on them - but already the Chief Constable of Gwent police, has refused to rule out using CS Gas against anti-roads protesters. Supposedly, the spray will only he used when the police "'believe themselves to be in danger of assault" - but many fear the police may use it to quell demonstrations, protests and stop free parties and festivals. Given the police's indiscriminate use of their powers of arrest in such situations - a cursory glance through 'crap arrests of the week' will give you the idea - it will only be a matter of time before they start using this vicious weapon against party goers and protesters they take a dislike to. What next, we hear you cry? Why not the incapacitative foam used by UN forces in Somalia last year. The foam contains bubbles of CS gas and can be laid as a barrier to block a road or contain a hostile crowd. Perfect for those dirty, uncouth, scroungy Newbury types - you know, the security and the coppers! SchNEWS in BriefA police helicopter, two landrovers, a riot van, two cop cars and a man on a bike stopped some hunt sabs last week on suspicion of burglary - of six stolen eggs! Apparently the local shop was closed and the hungry coppers fancied some pancakes! *** Plea to anybody who knows the whereabouts of a stolen corner light van 2 ton with tow bar hand painted yellow with pale blue hammerite stripe along sides and billabong sticker on the left hand rear door. Reg MJD 830X - Engine No:32206278, Chassis/Frame No PBCM159OH161933. It's badly needed for upcoming pixie activities so please ring the Justice? office and speak to Paul or Lou no questions asked, you might even get a reward... *** Sgt O'Donnell is stepping up his anti- beggars campaign in Brighton. The undercover squad that patrols the streets, handpicked to combat "aggressive begging" cautioned and threatened another beggar with arrest when they mumbled the threatening words "can you spare a few pence, please'?' Out came the walkie talkies, (crackle, crackle) and the girl had to move on for fear of instant arrest. Can you spare some humanity please Sgt O'Donnell? Probably not. *** The next Brighton Legal Defence and Monitoring Group meeting will be next Thursday 1st February at Brighton Unemployed Centre. RECLAIM THE STREETSR.T.S action in Brighton on Valentine's day. Snogs and pink fluffy shit galore. Come and dance your little pink fluffy socks off. Meet 12.30 Churchill Square Brighton. Phone Justice? (01273 685913) for details. RED ALERT!The Selar Farm open-cast mine protesters at Neath Valley near Cwmgwrach, South Wales, are expecting to be evicted on Monday 29 January. Bailiffs have been seen buying equipment in the area, and it seems one of them let it slip to a local shopkeeper (ooh er, missus!). Get down to the site and support them if you can. Call Norma on 01639 720884 for directions, or Cardiff Action Update on 01222 383363. and FinallyJustice? are desperate for a vehicle - if anyone knows of a decent minibus that isn't going to fall apart in minutes please ring the office - in the meantime leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as we're sorted.... DISCLAIMERThe 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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