The incident that led to police raids across the country and 23 arrests occurred on 28th March 2009 when a number of antifascist activists travelled to Welling in south-east London to protest against a neo-Nazi "Blood and Honour" skinhead gig at the Duchess of Edinburgh Pub. No fascists have been arrested or charged or have even appeared as witnesses in the court case and in the absence of any evidence forthcoming from the fascists the Police and Crown Prosecution Service spent a vast amount of time and resources to press charges which are tantamount to a thought crime and if widely applied would in effect make it illegal to organise protests against fascist events. The use of "conspiracy" charges against large groups of activists — charging them for things that might have thought about rather than charging them for anything they have actually done is clearly being done to suit a political agenda which involves the draconian repression of progressive activists, no doubt intended as a "deterrent" to others. While at the same time real corporate criminal conspiracies are covered up and swept under the carpet, contrast the treatment of the activists with the kid-glove treatment by the state of the Murdoch media crime family, as the collusion between powerful media, corrupt police and the political establishment is further exposed.
Articles: Leeds ABC Rebel Night! A benefit for imprisoned antifascists | UK Antifascist Prisoners In Need Of Support | Freedom: Comrades Jailed | Inside SchNEWS | Support Our Six Proud Antifascists | UK Antifascist Prisoners | Antifascist Prisoners In Need Of Support | Antifascist Prisoners In Need Of Support
Wormwood Scrubs. Photo David Hawgood CC A-SA
The double standards of the establishment could not be more stark as when you contrast the number of state operations against protests which have resulted in murder, actual bodily harm and violent disorder being perpetrated by the Police against protesters, and how many times sections of the Police force have been charged with "conspiracy to commit violent disorder".
The verdict of the Ratcliffe case in which activists were initially found guilty of "conspiring to commit aggravated trespass" was overturned on 19th July 2011 on appeal following the suppression of evidence gathered by the Police spy Mark Kennedy by the Crown Prosecution Service. It is to be hoped that the similar conviction of the antifascist activists will in time also be overturned, in the meantime Leeds Anarchist Black Cross have some suggestions about what can be done to support the wrongfully imprisoned activists:
Prison addresses for the antifascists are given below. Please write to them or send them a card. Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope if you would like a reply. You can also send them cash, Postal Orders (made payable to ‘The Governor’), and stationery. For advice on writing to prisoners please see the Leeds ABC website.
A solidarity fund has been set up to support the prisoners in jail and upon release. If you would like to contribute to it please send a cheque (made payable to ‘The Cable Street Society’) to Leeds ABC, 145-149 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 1LJ. Details for bank transfers are: The Cable Street Society. Account Number: 33333334 Reference: 0827/704 169 523. Sort Code: 07 00 93.
The Anarchist workers co-op Sabcat have also produced two benefit T-shirts in support of the imprisoned antifascists. Further details on the Sabcat website at www.sabcat.com.
In view of the forthcoming trial of other comrades please refrain from discussing the details of the case on this thread.
Andy Baker (21 months)
A5768CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Thomas Blak (Unsentenced)
A5728CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Sean Cregan (21 months)
A5769CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Phil De Sousa (21 months)
A5766CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Ravinder Gill (21 months)
A5770CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Austen Jackson (Unsentenced)
A5729CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
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Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Benefits in support of the prisoners
22.07.2011 06:30
Antifascist
I think conspiracy laws have been around a lot longer than 2005...
01.08.2011 10:17
And conspiracy charges for bank robbers have always been used.
It's an easy catch-all when they can't get you on any real crimes.
anon
Criminal Law Act 1977
02.08.2011 17:17
eagle
shaun milburn sab
24.06.2012 22:59
mrfox