PARTY & PROTEST APRIL ROUNDUP

The Party & Protest listings are what SchNEWS is all about: getting people off their arses and becoming involved. Here’s a round-up for April...

AUSTERITY / ANTI CUTS

 * Following the successful occupation the week before, Trafalgar Square will be re-taken for 24 hours from 6.30pm on April 9th http://occupytrafalgarsquare.wordpress.com

* In protest against Housing Benefit cuts and Westminster Council criminalising sleeping on the street or handing out free food, there will be a demo at Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP on April 14th 5pm-9pm. http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com

* UK Uncut demos continue all this month – targeting tax dodging by corporations and the rich, estimated to cost the state $95bn a year. April 9th - Bath, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, York; April 14th – London; April 16th – Edinburgh, Glasgow, London; April 23rd - Burnley, Newcastle, Sheffield (TBC); April 30th – Brighton (see below), Leeds; May 1st – Oxford. For full details see www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/list

* On the 3rd National Day Of Protests Against Benefits Cuts, April 14th: Leeds meet 11am at Leeds train station for 11.30am demo at Atos Origin, 1 Whitehall, LS1 4HR then to A4e, Zicon House, Wade Lane, LS2 8DD www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155593464493862 – Brighton 2pm-5pm Churchill Sq http://brightonbenefitscampaign.wordpress.com – London protest against the Daily Mail and their knee-jerk reactionary politics, in this case their lies about people on benefits. 2pm-5pm, Daily Mail Headquarters, Young Street, London, W8 5TT http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com – Bristol 12pm-5pm Bristol Government Buildings, Flowers Hill, Bristol BS4 5LA www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk - Poole outside Jobcentre, Dear Hay Lane, Poole, 12pm-2pm www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161332900587762

* Mayday Brighton: mass party & protest, April 30th 12 noon – location TBA. Not just a demo against the cuts, bringing together UK Uncut, as well as Critical Mass, No Borders, South Coast Climate Camp, Anti-Fascists, Smash EDO, Hunt Sabs and more – going for a whole range of targets. http://brightonmayday.wordpress.com

ANTI WAR / ARMS TRADE

* The Faslane Peace Camp is holding a grand re-opening with a weekend of gardening, workshops and of course some protesting over the weekend April 8th-10th. Faslane Peace Camp, Shandon Helensburgh, G84 8ND www.facebook.com/pages/Faslane-Peace-Camp/10143429717

* Shut Down Heckler & Koch will picket the H&K office in Nottingham on April 11th 4pm at the gates of Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2PX (regular event held on second Monday of every month) www.shutdownhk.org.uk

* Disarm DSEi will confront the Counter Terror Expo - an event showcasing the latest equipment used by states to spy on, restrict and repress citizens, supplying despotic regimes the world over – April 19th 12 noon at Grand & National Hall, Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX www.dsei.org/counter-terror-2011

* Smash EDO Noise Demo - every Wednesday 4pm-6pm outside EDO on Home Farm Road, Brighton BN1 9HU www.smashedo.org.uk

ANIMAL RIGHTS

* Demo against the Grand National and horseracing in general, where nearly 400 horses are killed annually. Meet April 9th 11.30am outside main entrance to Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside on A59, opposite train station. www.faace.co.uk

* National Rally for Animals in Laboratories, calling for end to all animal experiments. 12 noon, April 16th, Whitworth Park, Manchester www.wdail.org

POLICE / SURVEILLANCE

“Standing up to Surveillance” - A Network for Police Monitoring Conference. With increased state surveillance in protest groups and minority communities – eg filming people at demos, police databases, infiltration into protest movements and more - this conference will hear from people personally and politically affected by this. April 17th, 10.30am-5pm at Rich Mix, 35–47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA. £5/£10 http://standinguptosurveillance.wordpress.com

COMMUNITY ACTION

* Squatathon - Tory plans to make squatting illegal could make 25,000 people homeless in London alone. There is currently around 250,000 empty properties in Britain - with more to come as the financial crisis bites. April 17th, 10am-1pm – location TBA see www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154118774647735

* Common Place Social Centre in Leeds is closing down after six years. There will be a weekend of events April 23rd-24th including a gig on Saturday night and films on Sunday. Plus - a ‘What’s Next?’ meeting at The Common Place 5pm 17th April. 23-25 Wharf St, Leeds, LS2 7EQ www.thecommonplace.org.uk

* Critical Mass - reclaiming city centres from cars with a mass bike-ride, April 29th and every last Friday of the month - typically at around 5pm. For locations see www.schnews.org.uk/pap/guide.php#crit-mass but check local site to confirm.

ECOLOGICAL DIRECT ACTION

* Titnore Camp tat-down weekend. The five year old camp has successfully saved the woodland in West Durrington, West Sussex from the axe. Climbers particularly welcome. All weekend April 9th-10th. www.protectourwoodland.co.uk

NUCLEAR

* Sizewell Nuclear Power Station will be targeted with a weekend – April 22nd-25th – of workshops, skill-shares, woodland and beach walks, vegan food and demo on the 23rd 12noon. Marking the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl. Sizewell IP16 4UE - on Suffolk coast 8 miles from the A12. www.sizewellcamp.org.uk

ROYAL WEDDING

Not The Royal Wedding Street Party – celebrating people-power rather than inherited privilege, with food, stalls and entertainment – April 29th, from 11.30am, Earlham Street, London WC2 www.republic.org.uk Look on Party & Protest closer to the date for other events and protests during the royal wedding.