HEATHFIELD ARREST DEFENCE CAMPAIGN

Update: Friday 7th December

Comrades and friends,

The Heathfield Arrest Defence Campaign was formed last week to protest at the violent arrest of a political activist in Dundee (see below)

We have never said that the original arrest was politically motivated, just a couple of ignorant and bullying cops! However the swift and organised public response to this has made the issue political.

Democratic rights are under attack right now if police can visit our public meeting in Glasgow and ask to sit in on it and be forwarded details of future meetings.

Likewise the police turned up at Michael's door last night looking to investigate his complaint and ended up warning him that he faced a fine or six months in jail for organising this Saturday's demo!

ALL THE MORE REASON FOR EVERYONE TO UNITE AND ACT TO DEFEND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND TO OPPOSE POLICE HARASSEMENT OPENLY AND PUBLICLY. COME OUT ON SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER, 1.00PM CENTRAL MURRAYGATE, DUNDEE

Heathfield Defence Campaign launched!

On Tuesday evening in Dundee, 27 November the police arrested a comrade from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ Revolutionary Communist Group. Michael was distributing his organisations newspaper and handing out leaflets about the forthcoming Speaking Tour of Cuban comrades. The police arrived at the instigation of the janitors at the new Heathfield Building in Dundee's Hawkhill. Michael was there because this building was the venue for that evening's "Allah Made Me Funny" show. He was receiving a friendly response from the overwhelmingly Muslim crowds and no complaints were made.

The police aggressively demanded that he move on and arrested Michael very violently when he asked what the legal basis for that request was. He was charged at by the female officer, turned round and held by the arms by both officers. It was demanded by the officers that he lie face down on the concrete and present his arms behind him for cuffing. Michael verbally protested at this treatment and shouted to the crowd that he was not resisting arrest or being violent. He was cuffed very painfully and charged at the local police station with Disorderly Conduct, namely "lashing out with arms and legs". He was released just before midnight. Michael is very confident that CCTV and the videoing of the arrest by people will back this account and clear him completely.

Michael's Defence Campaign is being formed to challenge the arrest and charge and to vigorously and publicly demand that the officers themselves be charged. This is a vital moment for all campaigners and political activists as the Labour government plans to bring in even more repressive legislation and the targetting of communities such as the Muslim community is stepped up. Defence of our rights to protest, to free speech, to distribute and associate is under attack. All these rights are guaranteed in law but they must be asserted and defended to be meaningful. It cannot be the case that a crime can be made of making socialist and anti- racist material publicly available and that police officers can behave in this arbitrary and dangerous way.

Please support the campaign. Reply to this email and add your organisations or individual name to the Statement of Protest. Leave contact details and consider a donation to help fund the costs of campaigning. The campaign can be contacted on 07904057790 and at frfiscotland@yahoo.co.uk.

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