Add your name to the open letter: Following the targeting and arrest of anti-fascists during an anti-NF demonstration on Saturday, a letter in support of the Oxford anti-fascist two has been launched (see below). to add your name email: defendtheoxford2@gmail.com
Court Solidarity: Support the Anti-fascist two on Monday 11th August. Join the Solidarity protest 1-2pm Oxford Magistrates and stay for the public gallery if you can. https://www.facebook.com/events/715632088484844/
Defend the Oxford Antifascist2
On Saturday 26 July four antifascist protesters were arrested in Oxford at a demonstration against the National Front. Two now face charges. Bail conditions prevent them from taking part in future antifascist demonstrations. One of those charged has had their passport confiscated and has been put on notice for deportation.
Around 80 antifascists had gathered to oppose the National Front’s attempt to exploit public outrage at sexual abuse to push their dangerous racist agenda. There were about 30 of the fascists.
It is disgraceful that protesters against the National Front were arrested. Antifascist demonstrations in Britain have been crucial to preventing the rise of the kind of fascist parties we see elsewhere in Europe. Attacks by the police like those in Oxford make this harder.
The police operation in Oxford on Saturday 26th July resulted in National Front members being able to march through the centre of the city, while antifascist demonstrators were kettled. The use of horses in a confined space to police the anti-fascists was dangerous and unnecessary.
These arrests are part of a wider pattern of attacks on antifascist demonstrations, such as the mass arrest of 58 antifascist protesters at Westminster last June and 286 antifascist demonstrators at Tower Hamlets last September. There too the police used bail conditions to prevent people from attending other antifascist demonstrations. One antifascist protester Amy Jowett, who had her leg broken by police, is still waiting for action be taken against the perpetrator. Trade unionists attacked by the police on an antifascist protest in Bolton in 2010 are still waiting for justice.
The use of deportation threats to attack the right to protest is also a tactic we have seen from the attacks on cleaners campaigning for a Living Wage in London, to the threat to deport Trenton Oldfield. It is particularly shocking to see this tactic used against those protesting against the foul anti-immigrant politics of the National Front.
We stand in solidarity with the antifascists charged for protesting against the NF in Oxford. Anybody able should make it to Oxford Magistrates Court at 1pm on Monday 11th August to show their support.
Initial signatories: Kae Smith (NUS NEC), Cllr Mike Rowley (Labour), Cllr Sam Hollick (Green Party leader, Oxford City Council), Sushila Dhall (Chair, Oxfordshire Green Party), Ian Mckendrick (Secretary, Oxford UAF), Tracy Walsh (Treasurer, Oxford UAF), Patrick Carmody (Oxford UAF), Bill MacKeith (ODTUC, Ass. Sec.), Louise Livesey (Oxford Feminist Network), Manishta Sunnia (Oxford Black Women’s Group), Michael Biggs (Associate Professor of Sociology, Oxford University), Teresa Hayter (author Open Borders), Dan Fearnley (Unison Health Branch, Oxford People’s Assembly), James Elliott (NUS NEC), John Walker (Ruskin UCU Chair), James Morbin (Unison), Tony Richardson (Unite), Clare Cochrane, Gina Ravens, Vaia Patta, Caroline Raine (Unison), Karen Johnson, Manuel Araújo, Christopher Barrie, Wiktor Ostasz, Nick Evans (UCU), Xavier Cohen (Oxford Activist Network), Peter Hill (UCU), Sophie Williams (BMA), Simon Dawson, Gemma Sheridan (Kilburn Unemployed Workers Support Group), Shawn Paulson, Martin Platais, Ian Terry, Miriyam Aouragh (UCU), Siobhan Fogarty, Dot 23
To sign the statement, please email defendtheoxford2@gmail.com
Please attend the fb event: https://www.facebook.com/events/715632088484844/
Pic: Dan Fearnley
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