Latest on Calais Convoy and tonight's Rally from the People's Assembly

Latest on Calais Convoy and tonight's Rally from the People's Assembly

Tonight's rally is going ahead. In light of the horrific events surrounding the murder of Jo Cox MP however, we will be ending the rally early and take everyone to Parliament Square for the vigil in memory of Jo Cox MP. The rally begins at 6.30pm and will now end at 7:30pm.

We will have a briefing on the convoy, a few brief speeches and then move on to the vigil.

Currently the ban on the convoy, put in place by the French Police, is still in place and we are trying our hardest to get it overturned. We will still be converging on Whitehall at 8.30am tomorrow and we look forward to meeting you there. We will be heading down to Dover to demand that the convoy is allowed to pass onto Calais.

Please continue to sign & share the petition.  LINK 

We are also asking people to write to the French Embassy to demand that the convoy is allowed to pass onto Calais.


http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Contact-us-21735

Greenpeace frack Parliament's front garden #frackminster

Gandhi looks on approvingly

Greenpeace brough the fracking issue into the heart of government today when they erected a fracking rig in Parliament Square. This is their statement:

Take power now. Don't let yourself, any longer, be ruled by someone else.'

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Commuinities and Local Government

Today we are fracking Parliament Square.

The government probably doesn't want fracking on its doorstep...neither do we.

In June last year, Lancashire council rejected a fracking application, but the government in Westminster plans to recall the council's decision, potentially forcing this dirty industry, and all its impacts, on local residents and councils. Meanwhile, the government is piling the pressure on councils around the UK to fast-track decsions on fracking.

By bringing fracking to the heart of democracy today, we are calling on Greg Clark, the Secetary of State for Communities and Local Government, to make the right decision.

Instead of siding with the fracking industry and railroading local residents and councils, he should uphold their decisions, letting the 'take power' and not ;beruled by someone else.'

To sign the petition to stop Greg Clark from undermining local democracy and forcing fracking on the UK, go to www.greenpeace.org.uk

#frackminster

Greenpeace

The rig is expected to be there until 5pm this evening, Why not pop down and offer your support.

 

 

Details for People's Assembly March Saturday June 21st

Demonstration for Yashika 4pm today Parliament Square

Message from Oasis Academy

Dear Friends

We are having a demonstration at Parliament Square, at 4:00pm today, to call for Yashika's deportation tomorrow to be halted.

The authorities intend to force her onto a 5pm Air Mauritius flight from Heathrow at 5:00pm, alone, on Mother's Day.

Yashika is still being detained. She deserves to be at school, not locked away in Yarl's Wood as if she were a criminal.

Please join our facebook group and share widely with friends, family and supporters.https://www.facebook.com/events/1410777295849969/?fref=ts
Get down to Westminster and join our protest!

We are issuing a deadline to Theresa May to address students of Oasis Academy Hadley by 8:00pm tonight.

She has intervened to stop deportation before. She must now do the same for Yashika. She has the final decision and she must make the right choice.

We want Yashika back! #FightForYashika

March 22nd Stand Up to Racism and Fascism 11am Parliament Square

Stand up to racism and fascism demo 22 March 2014 marking UN Anti-Racism Day

- No to scapegoating of immigrants
- No to Islamophobia
- Yes to diversity

Rally and Demo marking UN Anti-Racism Day
11am, Saturday 22nd March 2014
Central London

A day of action against racism has been called for across Europe to coincide with UN Anti-Racism Day. With eyes on the European elections in May parties in most countries of the right, centre and even the traditional left are allowing politics and the media to be dominated by racism and xenophobia. Islamophobia and antisemitism and the scapegoating of minorities – immigrants, Roma, Black and Asian communities – have become the norm. In Britain the fascist and far right are seeking gains, but there is an even greater immediate threat.

No to scapegoating immigrants

That is the increasing tendency of mainstream political parties to tail-end the right-wing, populist UKIP. They are out-vying each other in calls for draconian ‘antiimmigration’ policies and generally promoting a ‘Little Englander’ anti-foreign, anti-European mentality, most recently seen with the hostility and racism whipped up towards the projected arrival of Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers.

No to Islamophobia

In particular it has become acceptable to promote fear and hatred of Muslim people and Islam as a religion. This racism creates a climate of Islamophobia, leading directly to more attacks on the Muslim population, including murder and violent attacks on mosques.

Remember Mandela – YES to diversity

In remembering Nelson Mandela we too should cherish “the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and equal opportunities”. UN Anti-racism Day commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, when 69 peaceful demonstrators against apartheid were killed by South African police forces.

Many organisations and communities have come together to call for this parade and rally. Join us in rejecting racism and showing that migrants are welcome. Let’s celebrate diversity by expressing our cultures and identities. Let’s demonstrate our confidence in a future free of scapegoating, racism and hatred.

Organised by the TUC and sponsored by CWU, GMB, NASUWT, NUT, PCS, Unison, Unite the Union

Anti-fascists far outnumber BNP in Westminster demonstrations today

BNP demonstration opposite parliament

When I arrived at around noon to today's unity demonstration against the BNP's attempt top stir up racial hatred in the wake of Woolwich,  only 20 or so BNP members were present and 2 hours later there were still below 100. Anti-fascist demonstrations far out-numbered them and it was heartening to see how many were spirited young people determined to show the BNP that they would be resisted..

When I left the ant-fascist demonstration was in two parts with the first, mainly young,  arrivals clustered around  BNP but separated from them by a line of police. The later arrivals, who included many trades unionists, were separated from the others by police vans.

I spoke to an officer just before I left who said that the police were trying to negotiate with the BNP and anti-fascists for each to march in a different direction - but so far there was stalemate.

Democracy Village removal won't stop the movement for democracy

The late Brian Haw at his Anti-War protest

Police last night removed the tents of the 'Democracy Village' from Parliament Square LINK. It is a symbolic  move in this 'Decade of Democracy' which has seen the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement.

However pristine the Square will now be it cannot conceal the cockroaches that inhabit the area.