g _ _ _ as 1 ~,f_jT‘-* rt? fir l=v'_- TRAFALGAR SOUARE DEFENDANTS' CAMPAIGN AFFILIATES ANTI-POLL TAX Pollokshields ATPT V.O. 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Bedminster APTU Stamford Hill APTG Hackney CDA Agappa Borstal APTU Stockbridge-Newtown APTG Hackney Solidarity Group THE ocroesn 20th Autonome Bibliothek Bridgwater APTU Stockport APT Federation Hammersmith SWP Brand lmagazinel Broughton APTG Strood APTU Harringay Senior Citizens CC PRDTESTS Blitz Bookshop Broughton/lnverleith APTU Sunderland Central APTG International Socialist League Burnley APTU Sutton ATPT Lancaster Anarchists Coffee-shop Bollocks Cambridge APT Campaign Swindon APT Fed Anonymous Ermittlungsausschuss October 20th was a great show of Camden Stop The Poll Tax TME Cmte. of the Belper APTU Leeds ABC La Procedure anti-poll tax strength, 25 - 30,000 Canton APT Group Taunton Deane APTU Leeds Anarchists Nabate attending the London APT March Chorlton APTU Tower Hamlets ATPT Lewisham Women & Empl. Network (called by the TSDC and organised by Cinderford APTU Town Fields & Wheatley APT Pro]. Uitkeringsgerechtigden Clapton APTU Undercliffe APTU Liverpool Anarchists the London APT Federation), and with Odessa Helsinki Group Clifton I Hotwells APTU Victoria APTU London ABC 2,000 and 3,500 taking part in the 2 Ravage (Newspaper) Colchester ATPT W10fW11 APT Campaign London Anarchist Communist Viva TSDC solidarity feeder marches and Craylands APTU Waltham Forest No Poll Tax Fed Warzone pickets before and after. The movement Crookesmoor ATPT Wandsworth ATPT London Greenpeace Wolnitza Doncaster APT Campaign Warrington APTU London Institute Student was back on the streets and clearly East Herts APTU Watford APTU Union supporting the March 31st defendants Plus many, many East Oxford APT West Hampstead APTU London Labour Briefing and prisoners. booklet within a week. We organised GRANTHAM SOLIOARITY individuals. Easton APTU Winchester ATPT London RCG pickets of the court hearings for the next Elswick & Benwell ATPT Wirral APTF Manchester Class War Our Legal Back-up and Monitoring Gravesend APTU York Against the Poll Tax Manchester Socialist Outlook Apolgies if your fortnight. The first jailing of a non-payer (for system (including video crews) for the Greenwich ATPT organisation has been left 21 days) in December led to frenetic Mutual Aid Centre day's events was put to the test by the This was enormous progress all Hackney ATPT Fed NUS London out. Of course if you haven't activity and co-operation by the TSDC, TRADE UNIONS Hammersmith 8: Fulham APT affiliated ............ .. police attack at Brixton Jail, and worked round from the aftemath of March 31st, Newham Green Party the ABAPTF and above all the local Haringey APTU Barnsley TUC Northern Counter-Information magnificently. We were able to log and and to a great extent succeeded in APTU (Grantham) who called a national HaymarketlTolIcross APTC Barrow Trade Union Council '!2t*i'1ah.a."2.°.e.fsnas E9'19- - - support all 120 arrested and organise an embarrassing and discrediting the media Headingly APT Campaign Bath TUC demonstration for 15th December in the immediate and successful press and authorities, and their attempts to Heeley ATPT Bloomsbury Nalgo lHealthl I/We wish to affiliate to the Trafalgar town. With 4 days notice, TSDC Hertfordshire APT Fed Brighton, Hove&District TUC conference (supporting the smear and criminalise the movement. provided full, effective, legal back-up Square Defendants‘ Campaign: Highfields APTU CPSA, DHSS Central Branch demonstrators and attacking police and monitoring for the 800 marchers and Hornsey APT A Camden Teachers’ Assoc DEFENCE WORK Zame of Organisation/Individual: violence), and publish a detailed Report Hunters Bar APT Camden Trades Council the later 100-strong prison picket. We lbrox-Cessnock ATPT East London Teachers Ass Following the above events, dozens also mobilised for the event, produced a "'55}'é';;§'11III1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII..I.IIIIIIIIIII ......... Isle of Dogs APTU lNUTl ]> of new defendants began to attend special TSDC Grantham Bulletin, and lslington ATPT GMBA TU 200 meetings and visit our office (now provided speakers at rallies before and Kettering APTU Hackney Nalgo -- Kingsdown APTU Hammersmith 8: Fulham TC staffed full time by volunteers) to help after. .................................. .. Phone: _LadyweIl APTU Haringey TUC or get support. Our Oct 20th video ontact Person: 1991 SERIOUS TRIALS Leeds Fed of APT Groups Haringey Nalgo lLocal Gov.l O evidence was made available for Leicestershire APT Fed Hyndburn TUC viewing and for use in trials. We needed Leith APTU Knowsley Nalgo Crown Court cases and March 31st £5 — Local, Lewisham APTU Lambeth TUC to monitor 15 - 20 hearings weekly up to ‘riot’ trials at the Old Bailey have now Lincoln APT Campaign Leeds Area Teachers‘ Ass. NU E —I e enclose .. £10 — District, ' 1 the end of the year, including of course l started, and involve a great deal of Llandrindod APTU Leicester & District TUC 0 March 31st trials. There were some = 1 London APT Fed Llanelli Trades Council £25 -— Regional & preparation and support. 1 I successes, but crown court appearances ii. » Long Eaton APTC MSF 245 Branch TUs - 1 ii I Longsight ATPT MSF St. Pancras Branch meant some heavy sentences also. Donations desperately needed, more than ever ti ~ March 23rd - National Merchiston/Moningside APTU Newcastle U.T. TUC Meanwhile the Prisoners Group was Middlesborough ATPT Newton Aycliffe & District TUO with people facing possible life sentences in the it I . Anti-Poll Tax 3: 1| Middlesex Students ATPT North Staffs. Trades Council mi set up and has ensured maximum, Crown Courts. Muirhouse CRAPT Rank and File Teachers Demonstration.Central systematic support for all those inside Newtown APTU Swindon TUC it and regular updated details of those Nightingale APTU Southwark Trades Council . London Trafalgar Square Defendants‘ Campaign Norwich APTU T&GWU Region No. 1 inside distributed. A special tribute must Nottingham APT Fed TGWU 1/250 London Taxi be made to support campaigns in c/0 Haldane Society of Lawyers, 205 Panther We are already planning and Pembury ATPT Drivers Holland and Italy for dutch and Italian preparing an effective Legal Back- up Peterborough APTU TGWU 6/538 House, 38 Mount Pleasant, London WC1X OAP prisoners, arrested at Brixton and held System for the day, and also of course to Pitstop Tameside Nalgo Tel: 071-833-8958 Plymouth APT Fed Tameside TUC on remand - within a month, 15 benefits ensure there willbe full publicity and were organised, £10,000 raised as surety, solidarity for all the APT defendants and ‘-\ and protests held. prisoners. . j‘__ 2 STAND FIRM NEWS ss; £232 . . . . . i """"" CAMPAIGN on three sides, riot police could be seen lies,propaganda and media crap which demonstrators themselves, and that TSDC: OPEN MEETINGS massing in side streets and some we sa_w after March 3lst,and put the stewards were not there to control WEEKLY, WEDNESDAYS, 7pm protesters left. At 4.57 pm about 50 riot Met. Police on the defensive. Obviously protesters (as we have seen ,the police’s Conway Hall, Red Lion Sq, London National Solidarity police charged into the now sturounded this approach won’t prevent the media idea of ‘public order’enforces that WC]. All welcome. Conference After Oct 20th support for the crowd, batoning people indiscriminately. deliberately putting over police and ‘control’), but rather to give coordinated Campaign has grown a lot with scores of Megaphones were taken from TSDC govemment versions of events; however support, legal liason and to facilitate We are now working with other new affiliations - obviously from defence campaigns, black and Irish stewards. it is important that we not only effective communication on actions APTUs, but also notably from labour organisations, civil liberties groups and s demonstrate against the poll tax but also such as marches and pickets. movement bodies, and organisations NO to 5:” Pnsss From this point onwards,riot and labour movement bodies to publicise against the attempts to deny us our right INTERNATIONAL abroad. We’ve raised about £15,000 of and organise the February 9th uniformed police, supported by vans our £50,000 target so far. to demonstrate free of police attacks. Conference. We’ll also be producing and SDLIDARITY J moved in making violent arrests, forced Saturday 12th e The police may have backed down on THE ANTI-POLL TAX circulating a Report of this event. Janu marchers into Brixton centre where marched 1 30/ - ave their threat to ban future marches but MOVEMENT marchers were again hemmed-in and The TSDC also iniated 2 days of they hope toruse ‘public order’ east over evastation in th . S attacked. The tube station was closed. international action (19/20th October) in Naturally we rely on the regional and We hope we are achieving some of Anger and¢0ntrol of the gun O” f_ 9 middle legislation as a ineans of controlling national federations, the ‘3D’ This continued and people were support of poll tax defendants.The what is needed - we recognise that none govern °PPOsitionsis 3, l9ldS. popular dissent. independant APT network, and affiliated harassed, assaulted and force-marched of us can be complacent about the tasks response was heartening, with actions in bed mam Palns t -so 9'°Wl"9 to H APTs to spread TS DC information. It on the way to victory in the APT 5.l)an _ 0 SQIZ . for a mile down Brixton road to Oval Much can be learnt from October many countries including Scotland, was a major issue at the November p9Qp'e |.nSt%mt?1gll'll(8S and dsnggsfgital struggle, and also to defend the right to . " a d r tube station. 20th,not least our renewed resistance to France, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, ABAPTF national conference where demonstrate. Please contact us with your continu¢;s;‘8‘:sg- We have {:0 ‘fund up Federation officials agreed to distribute oppressive legislation and policing. The Netherlands, Greece, Norway and thoughts and ideas - we don't pretend to H asic sir P efdge to A PRE-PLANNED ATTACK! the special TSDC Conference Packs legal support system and a coordinated have all the answers! p° ‘ax and all “99'°$ against Australia. The intemational support the we'd prepared for delegates, but 8"“ “nil-Istl °““"" °PPressi ‘h-9 approach to the media gave us the defendants received shows how widely We call on all supporters to affiliate, aw _ VG Why did the police decide to unfortunately and inexplicably opposed S and pl’aCllc93 Unlalr chance to defend our right to ABAPTF affiliation to the Campaign publicise and most importantly l violently attack a demonstration one known the anti-poll tax movement has participate in local and national defence demonstrate. However, to give effective and other constructive proposals for become. hour before it was due to end? Why was l working together. work, and the TSDC. legal support for the coming no attempt made to enable people to As part of the struggle to demonstration in central London on peacefully disperse? Clearly the police March 23rd 1991, we need to work with get rid of the hated tax, had planned and prepared to provoke ' g THE OCTOBER 20th all anti-poll tax groups,unions and and attack,selecting the Brixton demonstrations are vital. federations so that every group of PROTESTS picket.The decision to disperse the They show us the confidence marchers is aware of collectively picket took place almost immediately October 20th saw the first big anti—poll tax demonstration in defending each other and providing and strength of our after people had arrived. Police London since the huge demonstration and ‘Battle of Trafalgar‘ on coordinated legal support on the scale withdrew liason officers, the march was movement and show how on March 31st Last year. On August 4th at a TSDC National that. will be iiecdcd. prevented from dispersing peacefully Defendants‘ Meeting, it was decided to initiate a London APT determined we are to make and (as we dicovered later) Horseferry From the outset it was agreed that march on Oct 20th, and to organise events to support all those court had been block-booked in advance stewarding denionstrations must be itself our voices heard. arrested and imprisoned after March 31st.This was to be for October 22nd. Deployments of at a democratic process, especially by accompanied by two International Days Of Action,19/20 October.. least 3,000 police, the use of riot squads and vans, indicate military-style PRISON ERS LETTERS preparations for war or, in the jargon, ‘a It was agreed that it was necessary to A TSDC feeder march from the court this the volunteers used still and video serious public order situation’. Whose Dear TSDC, demonstrate clearly that we cannot let met up with the large demonstration in cameras,extensive note-taking, witness order?! 120 people were arrested mostly How can I express my gratitude to the new cabinet for the early gift of a New Years our demonstrations be provoked and Kennington park organised by the statements and a network of on ‘public order’ charges. Honour (49 days in jail, Assault. Ed) in recognition of the very occassional objections brutally attacked by the police,a London Federations, and marched on to communication via cell-phones, raised by myself Re; The Community Charge? - blatantly political attempt by the state to a rally of over 20,000 people in inegaphones, a 48 hour coordination OUR RESPONSE It was plain from the start of the trial that the State had gone to great lengths in drive us off the streets,and frighten Brockwell park,Brixton.From the rally office, solicitors and doctors. fabricating an extraordinary tapestry of intrigue out of an every day Oxford Street scene. I Following October 20th two press others away from demonstrating freely. 3,500 demonstrators continued onto a Throughout the main march police can only send my sympathies to the chief prosecution witness for any traumas he might conferences were held by TSDC to October 20th showed that the second picket at. Brixton prison where were observed making provocative have suffered during the case and hope that his conscience is not too trampled to stand up present a coherent and truthful account government and their police lackeys four anti-poll tax protesters were being comments,adopting a high profile to my appeal. It was great to have many friends and supporters at court throughout - of the day's events, in the light of the have failed to deter us - their move has imprisoned -- the biggest prison demo Only sorry that it ended up with a guilty verdict and a half-dozen probationary cops prescence,and following protestegs hundreds of witness statements,video backfired and has simply created more in 20 years. muscling in on the gallery. within the march itself. Approximately film and legal volunteer reports. The resistance. The events which followed clearly 3500 people marched to Brixton prison. I was on my way to the Scrubs but it was full house there so I find that I'm here at first was held the next day, with a large The TSDC organised two specific showed once again the lengths to which Despite march organisers having met Latchrnere. It seems to have dodged the suicide statistics that have plagued Brixton and press attendance. TSDC gave a detailed events on the day highlighting the plight the state and police will go to attempt to with police three times to confirm the elsewhere this year md it's actually possible to live 2 to a cell plus a fair bit of association. chronology of what happened,the Friends visited on Friday and TSDC organised a radio and newspapers. With help like of those arrested and imprisoned after criminalise and attack the ant.i- poll tax routes, times and preparations,and tactics used by the police, eye-witness this I can fight the isolation thatl am supposed to accept in place of the right to protest March 31st, and to give the Anti-Poll movement. The TSDC organised a legal having given us assurances there would accounts by participants incuding those at the brutal arrest of a man on the 31st! Tax movement the opportunity to show Back-up and monitoring systein t.o be no ‘rematch’ for Trafalgar Square,this injured. The second press conference solidarity with the defendants. Activists coordinate and support the marches and in fact seemed to be exactly what Greetings, yuletide or not, to all other Poll Tax hostages - Stick together on the wrong presented a preliminary report and began early with a 1500-strong lively pickets. lts purpose was to provide legal happened. side of the wire - share what limited comforts come your way - send reports to the TSDC showed a video-film of the prison office (like, what kind of facilities do they have for helicopters?). And help each other in and noisy picket of Horseferry information before the march, legal picket,which was subsequently shown At 4.15pm the march arrived at the struggle against the systematic criminalisation of the poor. There are 10's of thousands magisuates at 10.00am, scene of many support in case of arrests (and on television news. . 1 Brixton prison. By 4.30 pm, the police of people outside continuing the fight. P.S. How are they going to make room for "all the a show trial and poll tax summons subsequent back-up),and most began making violent and random deserters that are bound to be charter-shipped back from the Gulf? This new approach to the media and z(largest court picket for 40 years). importantly, 60 volunteers to carry this arrests; the crowd was now hemmed-in L Alistair Mitchell press did much to counter the obvious out and monitor police tiirties. To do ‘I 7* 4 STAND FIRM STAND FIRM 5 D EFEN DING Every movement for justice must expect to come up against State COURT NATIONAL harrassment and repression. To remain effective it must then be able to assure (;||q(;U|_A|; DEMONSTRATION all those who participate in its protests OURSELVES that, if arrested, they will properly AGAINST THE POLL TAX defended - legally, politically and financially. In our struggle against the Government’s Poll Tax we need to Since the last newsletter courts have stand by anyone nicked on our street withm0rwhat(;;ver_ " M Other APT Defence Campaigns been continuing to persecute defendants demonstrations, sit-ins, confrontations from the Battle of Trafalgar,and of course the victims of the police attack March 23rd, locality/region. Whilst every Campaign collective defence - other fines paid upon our picket of Brixton Prison are The recent growth of APT Defence by HAPTU fundraising. is different in specifics, there are now being treated to a dose of judicial Campaigns (see below) around the l L . _-_L_-._._- general points we’d like to make (not I nastiness. Occasionally the truth about Central London country is an inevitable, encouraging ‘ I hard and fast rules): the police violence, lying and and exciting development and one that incompetence has been exposed in the Campaigns are effective if open to should be emulated wherever necessary courtroom. all, run collectively,are autonomous whether following a specific event, or with their own funds, and where the for general defence in a locality/region. In one case a cop claimed to have basic policies, demands and decisions The APT movement is calling a demonstration but to protect it) The following are some of the seen a protester throw a brick through a are madeby DEFENDANTS (who have massive national protest march Campaigns we have had some contacts window of the South Africa Airways b) contain at least one First Alder I‘ individual and collective veto where against the Poll Tax to celebrate a year with and support: building. The cop admitted that he was of non-payment in England and Wales, c) choose 2 Legal Liason Volunteers appropriate). 80 yards away in near darkness! He also 2 yrs in Scotland - and to show total (LLVs) to co-ordinate with the admitted that he identified the wrong They should provide unconditional solidarity with those arrested and Legal Back-Up system (distribute building! legal, moral, political, practical, imprisoned following the mammoth bust cards,get names of anyone I‘ financial support to every defendant and This was too much even for Mrs 200,000 strong demonstration on March arrested and witnesses, monitor prisoner, and should receive Stipendary Pamela Long, who had to 31st 1990. police movements /aggression, write unconditional support from local aquit the protestor and his friend who a report to send in etc). APTU/Fs. Obviously much needs to be Preparations are underway to had tried to stop his unjust arrest. said about legal casework and other organise and publicise this, and both We will establish a full Legal Co- Random arrest and the brutality of PC practicalities (court monitoring, Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square have ordination Office and a bank of Tony Egan of the Territorial Support instructing solicitors, maintaining been booked and various routes are available solicitors etc, as well as J -.._.-__.. , Group [the SPG with a new namel] were contacts with all defendants and keeping being considered. mobile LLVs. Your group’s liason uncovered during the trial of Roy them involved, witnesses, press, with this is essential for the welfare of Hanney. Thejury were so convinced of We in the TSDC will be working to organising protests, line of defence, all marchers. Other details will Roy’s innocence that they retumed a not enable the movement to express its full welfare needs, allocating funds etc), follow........ guilty verdict before listening to all the solidarity with all the defendants, and much of which we are leaming as we go speeches and the summing up. also its determination to defend the Lets also pledge to look out for, and along. right to demonstrate. As agreed care for, all the people who join our Elsewhere the courts have been unanimously at the November All protest but are not part of any contingent For this reason there will be a displaying a huge amount of Britain APTF national conference, this and may therefore feel isolated. specific Workshop at our NATIONAL inconsistency in sentencing, in contrast SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE on Feb event will go ahead WHATEVER the to their consistency in always believing 9th : ‘Organising Defence Campaigns - response of the authorities. the police! Some people have been short and long term objectives’. We treated “leniently” with probation and Legal Back-Up welcome everyone to attend, especially community service orders and the like. those in existing DCs. Other magistrates,such as Campbell in The TSDC will be co-ordinating a Marlborough Street and Romner in comprehensive Legal Back-Up and CONCLUSIONS Clerkenwell have been following in the Monitoring system. This will ensure I The greatest insurance we have vindictive footsteps of Roger Davies the that every participant gets the against repression is our solidarity. nastiest beak in the Horseferry Road maximum possible practical support and Along with practical support there Magistrates court, and have sent people that the whole police operation is We are committed to sharing (two- should be public and angry protests and to prison for several weekson the [not subject to public scrutiny. way) our experience and knowledge of course a public determination to very convincing] words of the police. What Local APTUs and with all Campaigns and those wishing to continue the struggle and to The message from us should set them up. Please contact us. Federations should do demonstrate, whatever violence and continue to be that all charges intimidation the authorities and police SETTING UP CAMPAIGNS Organisation and solidarity are our should be dropped and that the employ. _ strength, and needs to be discussed Its our experience that, apart from defence of our demonstrations SOLIDARITY AGAINST straight away. Every contingent should : the TSDC, there are two main types of POLICE ATTACKS against police attack is no DCs - to support those arrested a) in a) choose your own stewards to help on SELF-DEFENCE IS NO OFFENCE offence! specific protests b) over a period in a the day (not to police the DROP ALL THE CHARGES -I-iooei LI-\tIIllI ‘ft fr STAND FIRM 7 6 STAND FIRM , LIFE AFTER DEBT The Poll Tax campaign has l —-- sharing our experiences shown the links with opposition to other disgusting aspects of this society - the class divide, the arrogance and subserviance of the mi‘ police, courts and media, the lack of In recent years we’ve witnessed protests, it become clear that the right to Irish organisations, students unions, any local community control over increasing police attacks and controls on demonstrate was under threat again and trades unions and trades councils, local decisions, etc.It has greatly The non-payment campaign is discouraging non-payers from actively protests, pickets and sections of our even moreseriously. students unions, the NCCL (Liberty), strengthened the struggle for the right causing a govemment Crisis. The Poll joining APT groups/events. For whilst community, backed up by new laws and of course APT federations all to basic needs and services for all. Tax is extortionate, unfair and there are thousands of local groups, A SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE (Public Order Act, Employment Act publicising the event. It is helping regenerate community unworkable. The movement against it after 2 years (3 in Scotland) the etc). self-organisation, solidarity, and the As this was now an essential issue has drawn hundreds of thousands of movement (the local APTs, the We sincerely hope for the maximum confidence to stand up to those people into political activity for the federations, events, strategy, etc.) is The authorities are trying to beyond just the APT movement, and participation of delegates and activists bodies which think they are so first time in their lives, and millions tending to get set in in its ways, relying criminalise any effective opposition. spurred on by a need to involve TSDC present, and that as well as informed powerful but which we are now affiliated bodies especially, we decided into conflict with enforcement measures. on a layer of now-experienced activists. debate there will be some practical At the same time inner city working- realising are helpless in the face of to call a conference to bring together conclusions and initiatives to help us The non-payment campaign is now GET ACTIVE class communities, above all black determined mass working-class those people, groups and movements defend ourselves from future State one of the largest movements of civil people, have been subjected to violent opposition and non-cooperation. who’ve experienced modern police aggression. Hence at this time a key task for all disobedience in British history.In and paramilitary policing. This is aimed These struggles are ongoing, and methods and who’ve had to fight for December, Scots local authority reps of us is the involvement of people in at trying to impress upon those who bear The conference will end with a by defeating the Poll Tax we will their rights. held a crsis meeting with the Minister all activities and at every level, and to the brunt of economic and social Solidarity Pledge and a full Report will have shifted the balance of power of State: “It’s about time the encourage the new ideas, energy, hardship and oppression that any After discussion with many groups be compiled for widespread distribution and questioned whether we need Govemment realised the system has initiative and diversity this inevitably fightback will be isolated and stifled. we decided to extend the purpose of the afterwards. “Them” at all. means. Another task is for the conference to encompass the whole idea broken down”...”the picture is going FIG HTBACK WE URGE YOU OR YOUR movement to maintain and increase OUR HISTORY of policing and our response, of self- from bad to worse”...”the worry is that ORGANISATION TO ATTEND ON our presence in the streets, our organisation and self- defence. (See public resistance to the tax will get However, throughout the ‘80s, FEB 9th (£5 per delegate, £2 individual, Like the 1381 Peasants Revolt, neighborhoods and workplaces. Defence AGENDA below). stronger - the higher the bills the greater industrial and community struggles of free to defendants..in advance if the 1640's english revolution, the Campaigns like the TSDC have been the probelms and more tax dodgers. all kinds have continued - inner city We’ve had a great response - with possible, or at the door - PLEASE Luddites and the Chartists and late And this is the easiest tax to crucial in overcoming people’s fear, street revolts, miners’ and printworkers’ other defence campaigns, Black and BOOK CRECHE IN ADVANCE). 19th Century strikes..like the defending the right to demonstrate, and dodge”...”those billed seem to think strikes, anti-fascist and anti-racist syndicalist industrial revolt 1910- in maintaining the unity of the they might benefit from a non-payment NATIONAL SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE protests, and demonstrations by a wide 1914, the suffragettes, unemployed movement. In fact, possibly the single amnesty”...etc. etc. A week later range of movements and groups. Those struggles in the 30’s..like the post- AGAINST POLICE ATTACKS most important political event of last Thatcher had been forced to resign, and involved have had to face systemmatic war housing occupations and mass year - the “Battle of Trafalgar”, was Saturday February 9th, ll am — 5 pm Poll Tax “reform” was promised. police harrassment, reinforced by media strikes, 60’s youth revolts and turned by the demonstrators, the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WCI indifference or hostility. Meanwhile, the authorities, having cultural upheaval, the women’s movement and the TSDC, against the AGENDA lost all the arguments, have only fear movement, resistance in the North of Government and helped to break their But with the rise of mass civil ll.00 Registration. Videos, Refreshment and lies to resort to. Fear - attacks on our Ireland and the 70’s prison sit- 11.30 Open Platform > disobediance against the Poll Tax, an unity, not ours in the end. protests (and threats of future bans), 12.00 Introduction and speeches ins...and like the 78/9 winter of atmosphere of greater confidence and 1.00 Fighting Rack -— Our experiences There’s a long way to go yet in this threats of and use of courts, bailiffs discontent, the ‘S1/’85 inner-city solidarity has begun to spread Workshops: Black struggles- self-organisation 8: self-defence titanic struggle and we all need to gear and even jail against determined non- uprisings of black people and youth throughout the country and across Labour movement — defendin strikes & 'cketin 8 P1 8 ourselves up for more future threats, payers. Lies - nasty propaganda to in general, the miner’s strike ‘84/5 Irish solidarity movement -- across the water & here sections of the community. smear non-payers for “causing high Poll lies, bogus “reforms” and promises and Anti-Poll Tax campaign —mass civil disobedience (and 1926) and so on...like all bribery before the elections. We in the TSDC, which was formed Lesbian & Gay Community & police harassment Tax levels and cuts in services”...the these, the anti-poll tax struggle is our 2.00 Break out of one of the biggest demonstrations very things people are rightly history and will be remembered and WE ARE WINNING — and 2.30 Fighting Back — Organising to defend ourselves I and angriest street conflicts ever seen in responding to and fighting against! referred to time and time again. Let’s Work shops: Organising Defence Campaigns - Short and long term objectives our guarantee of victory is to this country, have tried to analyse These threats and lies show the build on it, let’s create solidarity Legal Back-up & monitoring protests and the police Government policy and police tactics. Organising protests — tactics stand firm on all fronts and I0 authorities’ weakness, not strength, but networks and community self- Supporting prisoners When our 3,500-strong Brixton Jail will still have some effect though until continue to demand the complete defence, and let's not forget that the 4.00 Plenary session demonstration on October 20th was we show that they are empty and abolition of the Tax, a total struggle will continue until a decent Report-backs from workshops and conclusions broken up by a pre-planned police attack Preparing for the March 23rd national anti-poll tax demonstration baseless. society is created, run by and for debts amnesty f or non-payers, and followed by calls from police chiefs Pledge of solidarity and determination to fight on despite police ordinary people, the whole world But just as important, we shouln’t and the release of all Poll Tax harassment and attcks and politicians for bans on future APT over underestimate the effect of this in prisoners. it a STAND FIRM , STAND FIRM 9 | TER ATIO LSO LIDARITY The following is a translation of a ten persons on a flat’ll pay ten times same effects. To drive back people in press release put out by a group of more than the Prince Charles in his a smaller and smaller places, to give french activists who organised the manor. Funny, isn’t it? them the choice ‘between work and The Trafalgar Square Defendants civil authority". This ushered in a short time advancing paratroopers. The Paras then took Campaign has vowed to fight any attempt of relative peace as people exhausted by the up firing positions and began to shoot. the occupation of the British Embassy in boredom, to let them as a future, to The lower classes (seeing evil by the powers that be to ban street protests traumatic struggles, tried to recuperate and I4 people who were killed were either Lyon on Thursday 18th October in become cops or gangsters, to make to everywhere) don’t give up to snuggle. against the poll tax. In our fight for the right waited to see what changes direct British fleeing or trying to surrender. solidarity with anti-poll tax have the money to pay the last bill to The “Jacquerie”, that began more than a to demonstrate we have to remember that intervention would bring. However by the campaigners and Trafalgar Square get, as entertainment, the The 14 dead were: we are not the first movement to face early summer of 1971 a number of incidents year ago in Scotland, is spreading all defendants. About 30 people ocupied consummation in supermarket or in banning orders from the state. This article involving the army had changed people's Patrick Doherty (30); over the country: sacking of castles Gerald Donahey (17); the embassy and flew a banner night clubs (if they let you enter inside); is hopefully the first of many giving about perceptions and militancy was again on the (council houses [halls?]), attack of Jack Duddy (17); inscribed: “STOP POLL TAX. it’s exposing slowly but surely to the othgr movements that have come into rise. bailiffs and a fierce battle with the Hugh Gilmore (17); AMNESTIE POUR LES falling of a climbing tower or that a conflict with this State over the right to Queen’s Archers. In August the Stormont Government John Johnstone; demonstrate. MANIFESTANTS DE TRAFALGAR wealthy area as the West End tum to introduced internment without charge or Michael Kelly (17); SQUARE”. All the occupiers managed One of the biggest battle of this ashes. This month sees the 19th anniversary of trial in an attempt to crush dissent. Immedi- Michael McDaid (21); to escape being arrested by the police troubled times was the battle of one of the most brutal suppressions of an ately on the introduction of internment, the Kevin McElhirmy (17); Robin Hood’s friends who eventually managed to re-take the Trafalgar Square! On one side 200 000 unarmed street protest by state security Stomiont premier, Brian Faulkner, declared Bernard (41); Lyon on 18.10.90 building. The translation is the original serfs, on the other side the servicemen: forces since WWII. The name of this a 12 month ban on all demonstrations. Gerald McKimiy; one done by the French comrades. It rank and file troopers and cavalry. As a episode, although rarely heard in the media, While the official civil rights association William McI(inny (27); still returns sporadically to haunt those who was reluctant to challenge the ban, the William Nash (19); doesn’t do justice to the original french result: one of the biggest riot that had would have us believe that this State can nationalist community responded by height- James Joseph Wray (23); and is slightly obscure in parts but we ever happened in England had wrecked critcize other governments that use their ened protest, including a rent and rates John Young (17). have left it as it is rather than risk the London inner city. armed forces to open fire on popular demon- strike which attracted the support of some changing the original meaning. The effects of this trauma are still being ANTI PO LL TAX WORK IN strations. 40,000 households. Without understanding their felt. In the South of Ireland, upon hearing stake, the villains are calling for NORWAY Bloody Sunday is a name that will be This rent and rates strike involved the the news, a spontaneous mass a new demo for the 20th vaguely familiar to many and yet it would use of window posters and street eommitees, demonstration march to the British Embassy October in London Town. And, In support of Poll Tax prisoners, not be surprising if many are unable to say much like the poll tax resistance today. The in Dublin and, despite the futile efforts of 1 exactly what actually happened on 30 hear about it, gay newsmongers, some people in Oslo have made the aftermath of the strike involved the bringing the Gardai to restrain the crowd, bumt it to during these events there’s been Norwegian Anti Poll Tax Union January 1972 in Derry, given the veil of in of laws allowing direct deductions from the ground. World opinion was outraged, and 1t silence which has covered this event for so benefits to cover debts, the very same laws the British government was sufficiently '-a savage repression! Beyond the (NAPU). l9 Oktober, on the long. The chain of events which led to that are now being used against non-payers embarrassed to launch a special enquiry bludgeonning, more than 500 international action day against Poll Bloody Sunday started in 1968 with the in Britain. into the “affair”, headed by Colin Wallace. “yokeIs” were jailed. Tax, NAPU organised a Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights demonstration against the Poll Tax If internment was supposed to suppress That the enquiry was nothing more than Movement was formed to fight the But, now, let’s stop protest it was a drastic failure. As a white wash can be seen from what Fred outside the British embassy. sectarian discrimination enshrined in laughing! The denouncement October came, the rent and rates strike Holroyd (ex-British Army intelligence Northem Ireland law. was instaured as a civic duty, the About 150 persons participated in snowballed into a non-payment of TV, radio officer) has to say: “...This ties up with what press pub- the demo and a representant for NAPU The demands of the Civil Rights and car licences, road tax, ground rent, Colin Wallace has said, Wallace said when lished the demonstrators photos delivered a protest letter against the Movement included the introduction of electricity, gas and hire purchase with the he was involved with the tribtmal they would with a hotline to identify them British parliament and the British “One man, one vote", an end to result that local government came to a have a rehersal everyday before they discrimination in housing and employment, standstill. Any attempt to use bailiffs or to actually went into court with the soldiers and, more than six months later, Department of Environment, who is and the repeal of the Special Powers Act cut off services were opposed by organised and NCO‘s who were involved and they the police keep prosecuting the responsible for the Poll Tax. Different (of which a South African Law and Order community action. g would actually go through a duplicate of the , rioters or people supposed to groups from the left wing participated in minsiter once said that he’d exchange the day's proceedings so that all those people be... the demo and a representant of the By the end of December, groups of entire apartheid system for just one of the went in there they couldn’t be expected to people together with Peoples Democracy (a Renovation Service Workers Union Act’s 10 sections). Facing the capitalistic be caught out with any questions which left-wing, mainly student based group, talked about the Thatcherism and the PRESS RELEASE might reveal anything other than what the exchange, and the police repression . Uncontroversial as these demands may heavily involved with the civil rights reactionary Thatcher-politics in the city army wanted revealed.” inside states of Europa, we oppose our seem, peaceful protests by the CRM were movement) planned to defy the ban on Thatcher, who make us familiar to council in Oslo. Many of the same universal solidarity between victims of repeatedly broken up by attacks by police, public demonstrations and organised a 19 years on people in Ireland and in several jokes: the Falklands war, the things are happening in Oslo. The the same system. That’s the reason why auxilieries and mobs of loyalist march from Belfast to Long Kesh (where Britain still march every year to remember death of Irish hunger strikers, the unemployment in Oslo is getting reactionaries influenced by the ravings of internees were kept) on Christmas day. It was those 14 people shot down by the state for we give unconditional support to the suppression of National Wealth, of larger, everything is getting privatised the “Reverand“ Ian Paisley. Eventually, in against this background that tens of protesting for civil rights. English people’s claims: miners (etc...), has just found , as a last and sold off to private companies. their desperation to crush the Civil Rights thousands of people attended a civil rights This year the Bloody Sunday bloody trick, the institution of a new tax: - Releasing of all prisoners Thatcherism is the idol of the chairman Movement, these forces resorted to directly demonstration in Derry on Sunday 30th commemoration march is on attacking nationalist communities by January. THE POLL TAX! and the city council of Oslo! After the - Dropping of all charges Saturday 26 January,assemble rampaging through their areas. demo there was a discussion meeting at The march left the Creggan and headed That notorious comic might like Hyde Park 12 noon, march to - Abolition of the Poll Tax Blitz about the Poll Tax, a video from This brought an end to the Civil Rights off towards the rally in Rossville Street. Robin Hood and was directly inspired rally in Kilburn. Contact the Poll Tax riot was to be shown but Movement as a peaceful protest movement. The marchers were prevented from entering P.S. Talking about riots; one by him with a small difference: this time Commitee for British The nationalist community reacted to these the Guildhall Square by barbed wire barriers. someone had stolen it. It was shown might be foolish, mayor or social it’s rob from the poor to give rich! Withdrawal From Ireland, Box invasions by building barricades and During the rally the British army responded before a support concert for the TSDC worker to be amazed by what happened 353, London NW5 4NH for more resisting the police, mainly with bricks and to some stones being thrown by using CS The Poll Tax’s a home [local?] Tax at Blitz some weeks later. in London or in Vaulx-en-Velin (i.e. petrol bombs. When the police were unable gas and_water cannon. By 4.15, army tactics details. based on people and not on housing from: Blitz Newsletter, the latest riot in France). Proportionally, to crush this resistance the British began to change and stragglers who arrived anymore. That means, for example: December 1990. the same causes are producing the government sent in the troops to “aid the late began to flee at the sight of the ‘fr STAND FIRM 11 10 STAND FIRM . NEITHER "SCU " NOR "PORRIDGE" PRISONERS CONVICTED PRISONERS NEIL HARDING, MVl333 HMP Brixton, Jebb Ave, London, SW2 LIST Where to start about imprisomnent? I Trafalgar Square wearing a red nose and patronising as you really leam everything SXF. Both Neil and Alan were could rant on for the length of this article with my trousers down...i.e. ridicule. you need to in the first week or so. arrested and convicted for charges and more about what a bastard Roger However, this was mainly due to the fact Maybe take a few quid with you to put relating to the demonstrations in Davies (Horseferry Road magistrate) is that I was in for an unusual reason and I into your private spends if you are Hackney against the setting of the and how he should be hung from was the first Trafalgar Square victim to unlucky enough to get sent down as it poll tax level, earlier this year. REMAND PRISONERS NeIson’s Column by his thumbs for what make it to this particular institution and it comes in really handy. I can’t emphasise Sentenced to 8 months. EDR Jan 18 he did to me and several others. But must be said that I never came in for any enough how important it is for PAUL JACOB, RA07ll HMP Brixton, DANIEL ATTWOOD, KT1303 1991, not long to go now! that’s not what I’m setting out to do. I malicious piss-taking or the like and it defendant’s friends to write and visit as Latchmere House Remand Centre, Jebb Ave, London, SW2 SXF. ALAN CLARKE, MV2254 HMP want to say something optimistic to calmed down after a couple of weeks. outside contact is worth it’s weight in Arrested 31st March in Trafalgar Church Rd., Ham Common, Pentonville, Caledonian Rd., reassure people that being banged up gold. Richmond, Surrey, TWIO SHH. Square. Charged Section 1, Section It is true that I came into contact with London, N7 8T1‘. Alan can’t read isnlt as bad as some would have us believe Arrested 20th October in Brixton. 2, GBH. Paul is a traveller and his a lot more machismo behaviour than I’m Hopefully, I might’ve made one or so it would be best to send cards but at the same time I don’t want anyone home and all his worldly possesions used to. Obviously this only applies to two of you less wary of what’s in store Charged Section 2 and Section 4 rather than letters. GBH, 2 years. to think I’m justifying my imprisonment were in two vans which have since male nicks as for that matter does the which is no reason to be complacent and POA and Criminal Damage. ROBERT ROBINSON aka SIMON on the passing whim of the C.P.S., the whole article as I’ve no idea what the stop fighting but if you do get sent down, been towed away and destroyed. MARCUS B. ROSKILLY, KTl294 O’REILLY, RAO74l HMP Camp aforementioned Davies and certain cops. There is now a fund being set up by female equivalents are like. But it did try and keep your head high and your HMP Brixton, Jebb Ave, London, Hill, Clissold Rd.,Newport, Isle of Firstly, let me tell you a little affect me for at least a week after my heart strong, hopefully time’ll fly by and a supporter in Aylesbury to collect SW2 SXF. Arrested 20th October in Wight, PO30 SPB. Arrested on 31st background info. I was sentenced to 3 release but again nothing to worry about, everyone gets out sometime. money for Paul to get a new Brixton. Charged Section 3 POA. At March. Charged and convicted months for threatening behaviour after which I hope is the attitude which is van/home when he gets out. The the time of writing Marcus is about Craig Section 2 POA. Sentenced 2 years. March 31st and served six and a half coming out over the length of this piece. to face trial so his circumstances will address is: Box S, 34 Cowley Road, Ex-Defendant from March 31st 1990 A police van ran over Roberts foot in weeks in youth custody, most of which probably change. Oxford. On the practical side of things, there’s Trafalgar Square but he was tried for was as pleasant as can be expected under not a lot of advice I can give those of kicking the police van. the circumstances. It did have it’s low you looking at a stretch that wouldn’t be WAYNE CALDER, NT0082 HMYOI points and admittedly during my time, PRISONERS SUPPORT Huntercome, Huntercome Place, I experienced the full range of PRISON "RIOTERS" Nuffield, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon negative emotions and at the very worst GROUP RG9 SSB. Arrested 31st March in points, irrational fears but thankfully none Trafalgar. Tried, convicted and VI DICATED of these set in. Like, I suspect, many of sentenced to 2 years. the defendants who are awaiting the outcome of their trials, I had no experience The TSDC Prisoners Support which at present is changing on an N.B. Sentences of 12 months or of the prison system and my idea of Jury Refuse to Convict Group was set up around the end of almost weekly basis. The list gets under usually get half remission, ie. Young Offenders’ Institutes was largely October to support those imprisoned mailed out to all contacts with someone sentenced to 3 months will derived from the film “Scum” and other On October l2th last year, after a 5 down - the report was suppressed but for the poll tax demos in March and detailed info on the back on the best normally only do 6 weeks. Sentences such sources and believe me, 3 months month trial, all 20 Risley prisoners the message was already getting October. Obviously, the group could way to support the poll tax prisoners, looked a fucking long time from that over 12 months people are eligible for charged with riot and criminal damage through. have done with being established plus advice to phone the TSDC office angle. So there’s lesson No. 1. Don’t parole after the first third of their during their 3- day uprising and Despite overwhelming odds during sooner, but somehow prisoners’ needs before you do anything in order to get believe the hype. In reality it was pretty sentence and get the last third off on takeover of Risley Remand Centre the trial, especially the clear bias of got overlooked in the rush to trace the latest news. Supporting poll tax much one long stretch of intensified remission. However remission can be (May 1-3rd 1988) were vindicated the judge, the 12 jurors unanimously witnesses for the 31st, prepare cases prisoners is vital - if they weren’t boredom sporadically interrupted by lost. If in doubt phone the office. due to the refusal of the jury to backed the defendants. This success and fundraise. But now that the group inside it could be you instead! meals and wing cleaning and not socks full condemn or convict. is down to the prisoners’ is up and running it has become one of of PP9s to the head and pans of boiling We urge everyone to send letters CUSTARD The defendants explained that determination, collective defence and water in the face as some might have us the most active components of the of solidarity at the very least and some they were entitled to protest solidarity, and public disgust with believe. TSDC. PIES anti-poll tax groups are now adopting effectively (sit-ins, rooftop occupation prison conditions in general after Another belief that is important to We have a regular weekly prisoners: ie pledging to write on a etc.) against inhuman conditions, and constant jail protests. dispel is that being a “Poll Tax rioter” meeting to discuss the various regular basis, and send books, LEAD TO JAIL to defend themselves (barricades, tiles It shows what can be achieved. puts you in line for adverse treatment. In prisoners being supported and we are magazines etc. Fundraising too is vital - etc.) when attacked by the screws and my opinion, it’s fair to say that screws are slowly learning the best way to deal prisoners cost money! Donations to In Nottingham last March MUFTI squads. “With the MUFTI on the ground a lot nearer to being normal human with things. An early problem was TSDC should specify if the money is So despite all the efforts of the (1990) there were anti-Poll Tax floor corridor rushing up the stairs beings, or if you prefer, members of the caused by “advertising” all the to be used for prisoners otherwise it’ll authorities to violently retake the we had a serious head-on confrontation protests inside the council general public than cops and as such prisoners without consulting them, end up going into general funds. prison (this was repulsed, and the - we were seriously concernedfor our chamber. Two people, dressed up their opinion of the Community Charge which resulted in an irate inmate prisoner’s demands were conceeded), safety, given the squad's reputation for as Robin Hood were arrested for holds with that of the aforementioned and We guarantee that every penny demanding to be taken off the list, so throwing custard pies at as such many will respect you for the to rubbish the protesters as “drug- gross violence and brutality, we were raised for prisoners goes directly now we write to every prisoner first to crazed” and “led by psychopaths”, to councillors setting the Poll Tax stand you’ve taken and certainly won’t faced with the stark choice of either towards helping them. ll‘ you’re discover their wishes. see it as a reason to treat you especially disperse the participants and to charge waiting passively to be brutalised and interested in the work of the prisoners rate. badly. them with offences carrying up to 20 violated, or resisting and defending We organise a rota every meeting group come along to a meeting and Keith Duncombe (JH2569) and year sentences - they failed. ourselves by any means necessary. we for visiting the remand prisoners so find out how you can help, or drop us However with inmates, in my case at Guy Waddingham (JH2568) were The prisoners’ success in exposing took the latter course". that they get maximum visiting rights, a line or call the office if you are least, there was a whole different story sentenced to one month jail each the truth about the prison led to the Wadi Williams send £10 per month to every inmate outside London. and in many eases when I told them what on 8th January 1991. ...HMP Home Office official enquiry one of the Risley 54 for their “private spends”, and, of my charge was, I might have well been Lincoln, Greetwell Road, Lincoln. Louise, TSDC Prisoners Group recommending the jail be closed telling them that I had run around course, are regularly updating the list,