The programme for our national conference is out now!
It takes place Sunday 16th November, 11am til late @ SOAS Students Union
Space is limited so make sure to book your place and look out for further announcements!
OPENING PLENARY 11am-12noon: Injustice Everywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere:
HELEN STEEL McLibel defendant & Spies out of Our Lives, CAROLE DUGGAN Mark Duggan’s Aunt, JULES CAREY lawyer to Ian Tomlinson’s family, HAMJA AHSAN Free Talha Ahsan, JOHN MCDONNELL MP and NINA POWER Defend the Right to Protest
12noon-2pm:
*Undercover cops and the secret state with Rob Evans author Undercover –the True story of Britain’s secret police Jenny Jones GLA, Dave Smith Blacklist Support Group, Merrick Badger Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance
*Policing the neoliberal university with Areeb Ulah KCL VP Education, Jelena Timotijevic Defend the Right to Protest & UCU, Malia Bouattia NUS Black Students, Alexis Wearmouth SOAS UCU executive & fractional rep fighting victimisation, Simon Behrman Acquitted protester
*Deaths in custody - is justice possible? with Susan Alexander mother of Azelle Rodney, Marcia Rigg sister Sean Rigg, Sheila Coleman Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Deborah Coles INQUEST and Janet Alder sister Christopher Alder
*Protest, surveillance, stop and search – know your rights/get organized with Kevin Blowe Coordinator NETPOL, Rachel Harger DtRtP, Taher Gulamhussein Community Engagement Coordinator StopWatch
3-4.30pm
*How is neoliberalism changing the police? with Stephen Graham Cities Under Siege – the new military urbanism, Robert Reiner The Politics of the Police
*Still the Enemy Within - strikes, solidarity and the law with Mike Jackson Lebian and Gays Support the Miners, Norman Strike striking miner, Owen Jones author The Establishment and Nia Hughes Ritzy worker & BECTU rep
*Fracking: the future face of protest policing? with Simon Pook lawyer representing fracking cases, Helen Monk & Will Jackson, Lindsey Bessell Justice 4 Barton Moss, Ewa Jasiewicz Fuel Poverty Action Raj Chada lawyer representing Fortnum Mason, Critical Mass & Dale Farm cases
*Justice for all – not just the rich: resisting the assault on civil liberties with Matt Foot Justice Alliance and Danny Dorling Inequality & the 1% and Cerie Bullivant CAGE
4.30-5.30pm Closing Plenary and speak out with Rev. Osagyefo Sekou on the Ferguson protests (skype), Hannah Dee Chair Defend the Right to Protest plus open mic.
5.30pm - 11pm Social (food available - pay what you can - £2-£5 suggested donation)
*6.30-7.30pm Film Screening of BURN (30minutes/UK/2014/Migrant Media) followed by Q and A with Director Ken Fero & Fidel Santigi
*8.30-9.30pm Spoken word with Jason Nwansi and others to be announced
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, last August sparked worldwide outrage and a protest movement that is still on the streets. Ferguson has become a symbol of the racism and violence that is the hallmark of policing across the world.
In Britain years of campaigning have exposed the extent of injustices past and present: the fitting-up of striking miners who took on Thatcher, the appalling response to the Hillsborough disaster, police spying on Stephen Lawrence’s family and the treatment of women activists by undercover cops. Those seeking accountability face a long, hard struggle with many powerful institutions ranged against them.
Now we see fresh attacks on our civil liberties. Despite the death of Ian Tomlinson in 2009, demonstrators continue to be kettled and physically abused by police. Trade unionists are hemmed in by anti-union laws and face further threats to their rights to strike and demonstrate. Legal aid cuts are stripping away people’s ability to challenge state policies and abuses. On top of this the Conservatives have pledged to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
Austerity, escalating inequality and the “war on terror” form a wider context to this assault. Protests, occupations, organising and solidarity are the only tools we have to fight back and raise alternatives – whether it is in Ferguson, Hong Kong, Cairo or here in Britain.
We hope this conference will provide a space where we can come together to discuss what’s going on, share experiences, equip ourselves to defend our basic rights and think about how to build a stronger movement against injustice for the battles ahead.
Book your place here
