Heathrow 13 Demonstration on Wednesday in Willesden details

Heathrow 13 Demonstration tomorrow morning from 9am Willesden Magistrates Court. 448 High Road, NW10 2DZ Neasden or Dollis Hill Tube

For all those joining us WEAR RED, and together we will form a massive #redline on aviation expansion!! solidarity http://350.org/heathrow-13-the-uks-first-climate-prisoners/

Final line-up from 9am to 12 noon
9:00-9:25 Heathrow13 interviews, singing, solidarity
9:25-9:30 Heathrow13 Statement
9:30-9:45 Heathrow13 Go in to court
9:45-10:23 Speeches
9.45: Intro by John Stewart
9.47: Caroline Lucas, MP
9.51: John McDonnell, MP
9.55: Tracy Howard (Heathrow resident)
9.59: Andy Slaughter
10.03: Wretched of the Earth
10.07: Sian Berry, Green Mayoral Candidate
10.11: Christine Taylor, Jane Taylor (Heathrow residents)
10.15: Asad Rehman, Friends of Earth
10:19: Neil Keveren (Heathrow resident)
10:23+ Live updates for supporters who can stay outside until sentencing, expected 11.00-12.00.
+ music, samba and much more!!!

Show your solidarity with the Heathrow 13 facing jail - Willesden Magistrates Court on Wednesday

Rob Basto is one of the Heathrow 13 who face being jailed on Wednesday for fighting for climate justice.

There will be a solidarity demonstration for the Plane Stupid activists outside the Willesden Magistrates Court  from 9am on Wednesday February 24th

Stand up for Climate Justice - Support the Heathrow 13 Wednesday February 24th

The #Heathrow13 will return to court for final sentencing, on Wednesday February  24th at Willesden Magistrates Court, having all been found guilty of aggravated trespass and entering the security restricted area of London Heathrow Airport’s (LHR) north runway in protest of plans to build a third runway. All 13 have been told by District Judge Deborah Wright that they "should all come expecting custodial sentences”,

Caroline Lucas MP said:

Sending the Heathrow 13 to prison would be utterly unwarranted. They took a principled and non-violent stand against the colossal environmental cost of expanding an airport that already breaches air pollution laws- yet they’re being treated is if they are somehow a danger to society.

The real danger we face are the toxic fumes emitted by airports and the looming threat of catastrophic climate change. Sending these committed activists to jail would be deeply unjust.

Please come and join the protest  OUTSIDE the court from 9am SHARP to 10am, together with Heathrow residents and others, to say that climate justice is the only appropriate form of justice here; that prison time for protecting the climate is a massive #Redline, and that we need to Stop Aviation Expansion & Stop Co2lonialism!

Come ready to express your solidarity, be it in song, spoken word, festival or dancing, as we co-create and animate our climate defence in support of the #Heathrow13

Sentencing expected around noon. Your solidarity is welcome all day here on FB and on Twitter #Heathrow13

The full address for the court is:
Willesden Magistrates’ Court
448 High Road
London
NW10 2DZ
Nearest tube: Neasden OR Dollis Hill (Jubilee Line)

Note: the solidarity hashtag will be #Heathrow13 so please keep sending your support before and on the day!

Note: The sentencing hearing will start at 10am, and we have been informed access inside the court has been ticketed and restricted to family only.

Sending the Heathrow13 to prison threatens everyone's right to protest

Shahrar Ali (far left) deputy leader of the Green Party at Willesden Magistrates demonstration January 18th

 Caroline Lucas the Green MP has joined with John McDonnell MP and Michael Calderbank of Brent Central CLP to warn of the threat to the right of protest posed by possible jail sentences for the Heathrow 13, in  a letter to the Guardian: LINK

Last month, 13 activists were tried in court for carrying out a peaceful protest against the expansion of Heathrow airport (Report, Opinion, 25 January, theguardian.com). They were found guilty of aggravated trespass, and await sentencing on 24 February.

We believe it would be unjust for these people to receive prison sentences for their actions.

Sending peaceful demonstrators to jail would represent a massive threat to our right to protest in the UK.

Heathrow will cause 150 premature deaths a year by 2030 if it gets a third runway. Which is the criminal act?

Aggravated trespass would usually incur a fine. Prison is an utterly disproportionate punishment, and would mark yet another example of heavy-handed treatment leading to the suppression of political dissent in the UK today.

We also share the concerns of these activists. Our judicial system has judged the actions of the Heathrow 13 to be criminal. Meanwhile, the aviation sector threatens the aims of the Climate Change Act, while additional runways in London would worsen an already deadly air quality crisis. MIT estimates that Heathrow will cause 150 premature deaths a year by 2030 if it gets a third runway. Which of these is really the criminal act?

It’s ironic that this decision comes so soon after the UK government signed a global climate deal. We cannot take meaningful action on climate change while the aviation industry continues to expand. Efficiencies can be made, but they won’t outstrip expansion. There is no substitute for reducing the overall number of flights to keep global carbon emissions at safe levels.

The Heathrow 13 understand the dangers presented by a new runway in London. The judgment against them noted the “astronomical” costs incurred by a few delayed flights. We recognise that the costs of unchecked climate change and pollution will be far higher, and far graver. This is what our government and judicial system should be cracking down on, not peaceful protest. We stand in solidarity with the Heathrow 13.

John McDonnell MP Lab, Hayes and Harlington
Caroline Lucas MP Green, Brighton Pavilion
John Sauven Chief executive, Greenpeace UK
Piers Telemacque NUS Vice-president for society and citizenship
Tatiana Garavito Wretched of the Earth
Marc Stears Chief executive, New Economics Foundation
Dr Mark H Burton Steady State Manchester Collective
Richard Dixon Director, Friends of the Earth Scotland
Sally Davison and Ben Little Co-editors, Soundings Journal
Dr Richard Dixon Director, Friends of the Earth Scotland
Aaron Kiely People’s Assembly Against Austerity
Neil Kingsnorth Head of activism, Friends of the Earth
Sam Lund-HarketGlobal Justice Now
Dr Jo Ram and Joel Benjamin, Co-directors, Community Reinvest
Andrew Taylor People & Planet
Jenny Tonge Former Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park
Fionn Travers-Smith Campaign manager, Move Your Money
Hilary Wainwright and Michael Calderbank Editors, Red Pepper Magazine
Catherine West MP Lab, Hornsey and Wood Green
Nicolò Wojewoda Europe team leader, 350.org

There will be a demonstration in support of the Heathrow 13 outside the Willesden Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 24th from 9am. Details from #Heathrow13 Facebook below

The #Heathrow13 will return to court for final sentencing, having all been found guilty of aggravated trespass and entering the security restricted area of London Heathrow Airport’s (LHR) north runway in protest of plans to build a third runway. All 13 have been told by District Judge Deborah Wright that they "should all come expecting custodial sentences”,

Please come and join us OUTSIDE the court at 9am SHARP, together with Heathrow residents and others, to say that climate justice is the only appropriate form of justice here; that prison time for protecting the climate is a massive #Redline, and that we need to Stop Aviation Expansion & Stop Co2lonialism!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The full address for the court is:
Willesden Magistrates’ Court
448 High Road
London
NW10 2DZ
Nearest tube: Neasden OR Dollis Hill (Jubilee Line)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come ready to express your solidarity, be it in song, spoken word, festival or dancing, as we co-create and animate our climate defence in support of the #Heathrow13. More details and itinerary to follow.

Note: the solidarity hashtags will be #Heathrow13 & #nonewrunways so please keep sending your support before and on the day!

Note: The sentencing hearing will start at 10am, but allow 30 mins for bag checks if you plan on coming inside the building.

Heathrow 13 Judge's record on 'good character' - a question of integrity

Heathrow 13 outside the Court

District Judge Deborah Wright during the trial of the Plane Stupid activists known as the Heathrow 13 admitted that they were 'people of integrity concerned about climate change' but told them they should expect a custodial sentence despite their previous good character.


Judge Wright has been involved in other cases where she has referred to the  good character of the accused.

Sentencing former Conservative Mayor of Barnet and ex-GLA member Brian Coleman in May 2013 Judge Wright said the “well-known politician” was a man of “previous good character” who had made significant contributions to society.

Coleman had attacked a cafe owner who was filming him parking illegally.  LINK

In 2006 sentencing a policeman who beata man up while on duty and  assaulted another when off duty she said he would have been jailed had it not been for an "exemplary character reference" from his former employers. LINK

Neither case involved  selfless action seeking a safe environment for future generations.

After the trial verdict Plane Stupid said:

Today’s judgment demonstrates that the legal system does not yet recognise that climate defence is not an offence. We took action because we saw that it was sorely needed. When the democratic, legislative and processes have failed, it takes the actions of ordinary people to change them.

Judge Wright will sentence the Heathrow 13 on February 24th at Willesden Magistrates Court and are likely to have many supporters outside expressing solidarity.

Green Party 'Proudly stand alongside' Plane Stupid activists found guilty today

Sian Berry, Green Party candidate for London Mayor reacts to the news

 The Green Party of England and Wales has issued a statement in support of a group of environmental activists called the Heathrow 13 who were found guilty today of “aggravated trespass” and told to expect prison sentences.

Green Party deputy leader, Shahrar Ali, who attended a demonstration in solidarity with the Heathrow 13 outside the court on the trial’s first day, said:

I am deeply disappointed by the irony of this judgement. The Judge finds the Heathrow 13 guilty of Aggravated Trespass and their actions in need of punishment. Yet alongside the support shown for them beyond the courtroom her acknowledgement that the campaigners are ‘principled’ demonstrates the legitimacy of their cause.

Bigger airports make no climate sense. The UK cannot make its contribution to cutting carbon emissions while expanding airports and increasing emissions from aviation. Greens applaud the determination of the Heathrow 13 for standing up for increased numbers of residents who will suffer enormously from increasing noise and air pollution if expansion gets the go-ahead at any London airport.

We proudly stand alongside these activists who had the courage and foresight to stand up for the well-being of not just today's citizens but tomorrow's, too.

The Green Party 2015 Autumn Conference passed the following resolution:

Plane Stupid activists occupied Heathrow Airport on 13 July 2015, less than two weeks after the Airports Commission recommended a new runway at Heathrow. Heathrow Airport is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The science confirms that greenhouse gases must be dramatically reduced from present levels to tackle climate change. In addition, Heathrow Airport is a major cause of illegal and deadly levels of air pollution in London. Local residents also suffer serious health impacts as a result of noise pollution and sleep disturbance.

Conference instructs GPEX to include and publicise an item on the Green Party website supporting the 13 Plane Stupid climate activists who on 13 July 2015 took non violent direct action at Heathrow Airport. Their trial is from 18 - 29 January 2016 at Willesden Magistrates Court.
 

Rally to support Heathrow 13 at Willesden Magistrates Court on January 18th

From Facebook events page hosted by No Dash for Gas

In the summer of 2015 activists staged a peaceful direct action at Heathrow Airport – less than a fortnight after the Airports Commission recommended a third runway at Heathrow. The action itself involved occupying the northern runway and erecting a tripod and fencing which the activists locked on to. The action stopped some flights, saved greenhouse gas emissions and most importantly put climate change, air and noise pollution back on the agenda.

The science tells us that deep cuts are required from existing levels of emissions to tackle climate change, but successive governments have failed to act. Direct action, therefore, is our only hope of securing a decent future for children everywhere. A new runway, and the hundreds of thousands of extra flights it would allow, would make the necessary cuts far more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In addition, Heathrow hugely contributes to illegal levels of air and noise pollution, which have massive impacts on human health for people living near the airport.

For defending the planet and human health, the activists have been charged with aggravated trespass and being in a restricted area of the airport without permission. All 13 pleaded not guilty to all charges. If you want to show them your solidarity, please join for the first day of their trial on the morning of Monday 18th January 2015, at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

To prevent catastrophic climate change and reverse the deadly levels of air pollution in our towns and cities we need to stop airport expansion. This is why we stand in solidarity with the 13 brave activists who occupied the runway at Heathrow, to say, No Ifs! No Buts! No More Runways!

Join us for a rally starting at 9am sharp outside Willesden Magistrates' Court

Please bring banners and come with well rested vocal cords!

The full address for the court is:

Willesden Magistrates’ Court
448 High Road
London
NW10 2DZ

(Nearest tubes: Neasden or Dollis Hill on the Jubilee  line

Sweets Way Solidarity Rally, Willesden Magistrates Court, 1pm Friday

From Sweets Way Resists

JOIN US TO STAND UP AGAINST SOCIAL CLEANSING AND THE CRIMINALISATION OF PEACEFUL PROTEST!

On 23 and 24 of September, the Sweets Way estate was evicted by dozens of High Court bailiffs and 7 vans of London Met police. Nearly a hundred occupiers of dozens of homes were turfed out, as was Mostafa, the last original resident of the estate. Supporters peacefully attempted to stop Mostafa's eviction, many of whom were arrested. Fifteen now face criminal charges for obstructing High Court Enforcement Officers.

Their trial is scheduled to take place over three days, from 10am on Wednesday, December 16, through Friday, December 18. Supporters are encouraged to attend the hearings each day, but we are calling a solidarity rally outside Willesdon Magistrates Court for 1pm on Friday, December 18 to take a stand with those who were arrested for standing up to social cleansing.

Solidarity as more Brent residents are summonsed by Brent Council for non-payment of Council Tax

Members of Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group, Brent Trades Council,  Ealing Housing Co-op, Unite Community, Brent Fightback and Brent Green Party stood outside Willesden Magistrates Court today when a new tranche of Brent residents appeared in response to summonses issued by Brent Council for non-payment of Council Tax.

Following Council Tax benefit changes many residents who previously did not have to pay the full amount, and in some cases any, now have to pay. Brent Council's scheme expects more in payment than many other local authorities, some of which have chosen to maintain 100% council tax benefit.

Speaking to local residents as they arrived it became clear that these weren't the 'idle and feckless scroungers' as stereotyped by ConDems and the media.

They were often people on low pay or zero hours contracts who found themselves having to choose between paying their rent or paying the Concil Tax. Needless to say they opted to pay rent to keep a roof over their heads.

Previously Muhummed Butt, leader of Brent Council,  has justified the summonses as the only way to force residents to engage with the Council about their arrears. Today a Brent Council officer was in court to give advice before any formal proceedings and some residents came out having settled terms for payment or been referred for further help with benefits. One resident was complimentary about the helpfulness of the officer.

It does seem a pity that residents had to go to court at all, with all the associated worry and stigma, and I hope backbench councillors and the Opposition will explore with the Cabinet how to better enagage people before matters reach this stage.

Preferably of course it would be best to revise the scheme so that people are not faced with the unpalatable choice of having to choose between payment of Council Tax and payment of rent or purchase of food.  However, the Council approved the scheme earlier this year with only slight modifications, despite protests.

Contacts:
www.unitetheunion.org/community   Pilgrim.tucker@unitetheunion.org
http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.com/  kilburnuwg@gmail.com
Zacchaeus 2000 - Justice for Debtors http://z2k.org/

Residents summonsed to Magistrates Court Tuesday for non-payment of Council Tax

Brent Council has summonsed residents to appear at Willesden Magistrates Court on Tuesday August 19th for non-payment of Council Tax.


Many hard-pressed households now expected to pay Council Tax are already finding it hard to pay rent and buy food for the family. They are likely to be charged £90 court costs on top of their arrears.

In November last year Brent Council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt was challenged by demonstrators outside Willesden Magistrates Court when the first of over 3,000 summonsed for non-payment  were due to appear LINK

A demonstration  will take place on Tuesday from 9.30am at Willesden Magistrates Court, 448 High Road, NW10 2DZ (260, 266, 297 bus or Neasden/Dollis Hill on Jubilee line)

Summer blues for Brent families as Council issues Council Tax Summonses

Brent Council have just issued summonses for non-payment of Council Tax. They've tied in both the last financial year and the current year where necessary. There is then an additional £90 court costs.

The summons makes no reference to the further £30 for proposed Liability Orders that have been mentioned in previous correspondence.

Hearings will be held at Willesden Magistrates Court on Tuesday 19th August, 10am.

Many hard-pressed households now expected to pay Council Tax are already finding it hard to pay rent and buy food for the family.

In November last year Brent Council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt was challenged by demonstrators outside Willesden Magistrates Court when the first of over 3,000 summonsed for non-payment  were due to appear LINK

Perhaps the hope is that the issue will not be so high profile in the middle of the summer break.

There is advice for people having difficulty paying their Council Tax on the Brent Council website HERE

Brent Council wants to leave Council Tax Support unchanged despite summonsing 3,300

The demonstration outside Willesden Magistrates Court

Some Brent Council consultations get more publicity than others. This one on the Council Tax Support Scheme seems a little hidden away so I thought I would bring it to your attention. The present system resulted in 3,300 people being summonsed to Willesden Magistrates Court by the Council for non-payment and a demonstration outside the court which received wide publicity. Some of those summonsed incurred extra court charges of £90 or more on top of the amount owed.

This consultation started without fanfare on November 11th and ends on December 12th.

Now believe it or not the Council, with minor changes, wants to keep essentially the same scheme despite Muhammed Butt vowing that Labour would protect the vulnerbale at last night's Council Meeting.

Below is an extract from the Council website. You can see the full consultation portal and submit your views HERE

Council Tax, Railways, Energy - Focus for action tomorrow

The People's Assembly is calling protests across the country to mark the 'Bonfire of Austerity' tomorrow, November 5th.

There will be a demonstration outside Willesden Magistrates Court at 9am tomorrow to protest at Labour controlled Brent Council's decisions to issue courts summonses to some 12,000 people who have not paid their Council Tax. These are often people already on low incomes who have had to pay a portion of their Council Tax for the first time this year due to changes in the Council Tax benefit system which is now administered by local councils.

Cllr Muhammed Butt was on the London section of Sunday Politics yesterday defending the Council's decision. He said that Council officers will be present at court to help those who have been summoned.

His appearance can be seen here at 53mins LINK

The Campaign for Renationalisation of the railways will be leafleting at Ealing Broadway station from 5.30pm until 7pm.

The London focus in the evening includes Anonymous in Trafalgar Square and Block the Bridge at Westminster Bridge:

Block Westminster Bridge – Assemble at Jubilee Gardens at 6pm, contact office@thepeoplesassemblyorg.uk/ Facebook

Bring your energy bills: we will be burning our energy bills on the bridge to highlight the massive rise in energy prices which have left people choosing between heating and eating.