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Round-Up October-November 2007
Rock Around the Blockade!
RATB supporters have been out on the streets of Newcastle calling for support for the Cuban 5 and building for the speaking tour in February. Two regional speaking tour organising meetings have been held which have involved new people in RATB’s work. Contact us to get involved. On 5 October a successful ‘Rebel Rendezvous’ music night was held at Northumbria, with bands an political visual projections, taking over £400 towards the speaking tour. On 16 October a forum was held at Northumbria University to discuss Cuba and the refusal of most of the British left to support the revolution.
Democratic Rights
Following a lull in police harassment since the Rally for Democratic Rights on 1st September, four comrades were issued with summonses on 2nd November for collecting donations without a licence at a street event on 5 May against the deportation of the Akdogan family to Turkey. A court appearance on 13 November was picketed by FRFI supporters, Guler Akdogan and members of Tyneside Solidarity Campaign and Tyneside Socialist Forum. The case was adjourned to 4 December. FRFI will continue to fight for the democratic right to collect, in the courts and through our continued activity on the streets.
Northumbria University Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Society
FRFI supporters have been active at Northumbria University with the FRFI Society, holding regular stalls, paper sales, public forums, film showings and music nights, which have attracted a lot of involvement from students.
Victory to the Intifada!
Pickets of Newcastle M&S have continued, protesting against Britain’s drive to dominate the Middle East and its supports for Israel’s attempt to crush Palestinian resistance. Special pickets were held on 20 October to mark the anniversary of the Fallujah massacre on 22 October, and alongside the Stop the War Coalition’s national day of action against any attack on Iran on 22 November. On 7 November a film showing and discussion of The Iron Wall was held at Northumbria University. When Tony Blair spoke in South Shields on 14 November, at a public lecture hosted by Foreign Secretary David Miliband, FRFI activists joined a protest called by South Tyneside Stop the War and used lively street theatre to denounce Labour imperialism and demand the release of the prisoners held at occupied Guantanamo Bay.
Anti-racism
FRFI supporters have continued to work to strengthen TCAR (Tyneside Community Action for Refugees) and the Pledge of Resistance against dawn raids. When immigration police carried out two dawn raids in Fenham in the West End of Newcastle on 24 October, TCAR activists and local people came out to monitor and oppose the raids. Four local people were arrested for obstruction and are due in court in January, but no asylum seekers were taken. From 26 to 28 October TCAR representatives participated in a lively march from Sheffield to Lindholme Detention Centre. On 2 November TCAR held a demonstration outside Government Offices North East against deportations and in solidarity a TCAR member from DRCongo who is currently under threat. TCAR is now building for its next march through the West End of Newcastle in January, which has received promises of support from North West Asylum Seekers Defence Group and other groups around the country.