Nine anti-fascist defendants were acquitted today, but six more remain in prison in need of support.
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The remaining nine defendants in the Welling anti fascist trial were today acquitted, with cheers and loud applause from the gallery. The defendants had been charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder, after trying to attend a picket of a gig by neo-Nazi band Blood and Honour at the Duchess of Edinburgh pub1 on 28th March 2009.
A total of 22 anti-fascists were arrested following an incident at Welling train station where two known neo-Nazis who had arrived for the Blood and Honour gig were apprehended by activists, with one of the neo-Nazis injured. Police were called to the scene, and as neither of the neo-Nazis were around to press charges of assault, the entire group, and anyone intending to picket the gig, were all charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Today's trial followed the conviction of seven other anti-fascists on 28th June 2011. Their trial lasted for 17 days, and sentences of 21 months were received. A further four anti-fascists were acquitted in June. Leeds Anarchist Black Cross have set up a support fund for the prisoners, and the addresses of those in prison are as follows:
Andy Baker
A5768CE
HMP Highpoint
Stradishall
Newmarket
Suffolk
CR8 9YG
Thomas Blak
A5728CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Thomas is Danish and would appreciate European/International stamps to keep in touch with his family and with comrades abroad.
Sean Cregan
A5769CE
HMP Coldingley
Shaftesbury Road
Bisley
Surrey
GU24 9EX
Sean can receive books (they must be new or in very good condition).
Phil De Souza
A5766CE
HMP Elmley
Eastchurch
Sheerness
Kent
ME12 4AY
Ravinder Gill
A5770CE
HMP Wayland
Griston
Thetford
Norfolk
IP25 6RL
Ravi can receive posters, so if you hold a support event consider sending him one in.
Austen Jackson
A5729CE
HMP Stocken
Stocken Hall Road
Stretton
Nr. Oakham
Rutland
LE15 7RD
Brighton ABC have a guide to writing to prisoners, and over the coming months it is likely that many more people will face convictions relating to anti-austerity actions, our support from the outside will be crucial.
edited to include updated prisoner details and remove comment about the length of the trial, see post below
- 1 The Duchess of Edinburgh regularly hosts Blood and Honour, and are well aware of their neo-Nazi ties
Comments
Anyone wanting to make an
Anyone wanting to make an online donation to these prisoners' support campaign can do so at the support group site
Also just wanted to correct a couple of small factual errors. Austen Jackson is no longer being held at Wormwood Scrubs. He has been moved to HMP Stocken in Rutland. You can now write to him at
Austen Jackson
A5729CE
HMP Stocken
Stocken Hall Road
Stretton
Nr. Oakham
Rutland
LE15 7RD
Up to date locations for these prisoners can also be found at the support group blog (see prisoner addresses page).
In addition, it's not the case that the trial lasted only 60 minutes. In fact it was a gruelling affair lasting over three weeks during which the CPS/police threw everything they had to try and make these tenuous charges stick, and this was doubtless an exhausting ordeal for all those on trial as well as families, partners etc. It was the jury's verdict on this "evidence" that took less than an hour.
Thanks for posting the article though. These guys deserve all the support we can give them.
Crows, thanks for that, I've
Crows, thanks for that, I've edited the article and Austen's address now.
Ravi Gill has now been
Ravi Gill has now been released.