Apologies for cross postings - please distribute widely
Dear all,
please find below an appeal from Books Not Bombs. The NSW police and
the Carr government are attempting to curtail the right of students to
peacefully protest and are threatening to invoke sections of the newly
passed NSW anti-terror laws in order to ban student anti-war rallies.
If they succeed in doing so, this sets a very worrying precendence,
setting the ground for the state and police to ban any rallies or
marches they may not approve of.
While the Sydney March 5 Books Not Bombs rally was peaceful, an
increased police prescence coupled with intimidatory by the police
resulted in violence at March 26.
Many students and parents reported police deliberately provoking and
targeting Middle Eastern students. A number of young Muslim women had
their hijabs (headscarfs) deliberately torn of by police (this was what
provoke the main confrontation between the police and students).
Defend the right to protest peacefully without police intimidation.
Join the April 2 rally, Sydney 1pm Town Hall
Other ways you can help:
1. Send a message of support to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Simon Butler 0405 733 768
Kylie Moon 0411 104 813
Lauren Carrol - Harris 9690 1977
Mollie Boland 0439 410 278
2. Offer any practical help -- legal, financial, publicity, political
support etc.
3. Spread this information to any lists you are on.
**********
URGENT APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST
The Books Not Bombs student activists who faced severe police violence
in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth yesterday [March 26] need your help. Thy
have appealed for support for the next April 2 student strike because
the NSW Police Commissioner is saying no permit will be given. In fact
he is threatening to take out a Supreme Court injunction to arrest
anyone who turns up to the protest!
On March 5, Books not bombs organised a peaceful protest in which some
7000 high school students took part. The police were under-prepared for
the rather chaotic but nevertheless peaceful rally.
However, on March 26 some hundreds of police were deployed (including
mounted police, tactical repsonse group units and sniffer dogs) and
proceeded to act in a very intimadatory and provactive way. Students of
Middle Eastern appearance were singled out for harassment. Students
were trampled, beaten, some Muslim women students had their hijabs torn
off, and arrested for minor infringements - largely incited by the heavy
handedness of police.
Students are calling for support from peace groups, parents, teachers
and unionists. Some parents are initiating a group to monitor police
violence against their children. Legal support and observe teams are
being organised for the April 2 protests and students have called on the
state government to initiate an independent inquiry intot he police
actions on March 26.
Books not Bombs activists have sought to negotiate arrangements to kep
the protest peaceful with the police.
What you can do:
What you can do:
1. Send a message of support to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Simon Butler 0405 733 768
Kylie Moon 0411 104 813
Lauren Carrol - Harris 9690 1977
Mollie Boland 0439 410 278
2. Offer any practical help -- legal, financial, publicity, political
support etc.
3. Spread this information to any lists you are on.
********
Books Not Bombs
Media Releases, 27th March
www.booksnotbombs.org.au>
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
25,000 students march against war March 26
Call next student walkout for April 2
Anti-war youth in Sydney have rejected NSW Police Commissioner Dick
Adams' attempts to stop their peace rally, set for Wednesday April 2nd,
by denying Books Not Bombs (BNB) a permit to march.
After the successful student strike yesterday attended by 10,000, mostly
high school students, protesters issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister
John Howard. Announced at the Sydney student strike yesterday, BNB
coordinator Kylie Moon said:
"Howard, you have 7 days: Stop Australia's involvement in this war, or
we will stop this city".
BNB is encouraging all students, teachers, and parents to participate in
this next action.
"The police carried out a very conscious and deliberate plan to provoke
an angry response from protesters. Now they're denying us the freedom to
march. This is a clear denial of our democratic rights, and we will be
forced to defy them", said Lauren Carroll Harris, a 16-year old high
school student from Bradfield College.
"A young Muslim student had her hijab violently torn form her head by a
TRG officer. This is the action that provoked the chair-throwing at Town
Hall", said Moon. "Later in the day, protesters were trapped between two
lines of TRG officers in Phillips street for over two hours, denied
access to toilets, water, and most importantly, the freedom to go home".
She added, "Despite the police racism and provocation, we will not be
intimidated into silence, and will hold a peaceful anti-war action next
week".
Students will be rallying on Wednesday April 2nd, 1pm at Sydney Town
Hall, and have called on the broader community to join them in the next
demonstration.
'WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST THIS WAR', SAY STUDENTS
In a follow up press release, Books Not Bombs rejected Police
Commissioner Dick Adams' attempts to deny them a permit to march against
war on Wednesday April 2. Adams has threatened to get a Supreme Court
injunction to declare the protest illegal.
"Police Commissioner Dick Adams has stated that unless we can guarantee
that students will not misbehave, the protest will not be granted a permit.
"We're demanding that Adams guarantee that the police, particularly the
Tactical Response Group units do not act in such a provocative way -
such as the tearing off of Muslim women students' hijabs and arresting
10-year olds for swearing", said Books not Bombs coordinator Kylie Moon.
"What's interesting is that on March 5, with a small police presence, we
had a peaceful rally of 7000 students. On March 26 with a heavy police
presence, there were a number of violent incidents.
"We're demanding an independent inquiry into the actions of the NSW
police force on March 26, and we're calling on parents and teachers to
attend the next rally on April 2 to support the students and to monitor
police behaviour.
"We are acting on our conscience. We know this war is wrong and we
refuse to be intimidated into silence by the police while innocent
people are being killed in Iraq", said Kylie Moon.
Adams agreed to meet with Books Not Bombs to discuss next week's protest.
For more information and further comment call:
Kylie Moon - 0411 104 813 (National)
Simon Butler - 0405 733 768 (Tertiary)
Molly Boland - 0439 410 278 - (High school)
Contact Books Not Bombs in your city: <www.booksnotbombs.org.au>
March 26 student walkout around Australia
25,000 students march on March 26.
Adelaide 8000,
Brisbane 1000,
Canberra 300 (March 24),
Hobart 300,
Launceston 150,
Mullumbimby 300,
Newcastle 350
Melbourne 2000,
Burnie 30,
Lismore 700,
Geelong 300,
Perth 2000,
Sydney 10,000,
Wollongong 100.
Your Help and support needed
Students are calling for support from peace groups, parents,
teachers,unionists. Some parents are initiating a group to monitor
police violence against their children. Legal support is being
initiated, and free legal aid has been offered.
What you can do:
1. Send a message of support to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2. Offer any practical help -- legal, financial, publicity, political
support etc.
3. Spread this information to any lists you are on.
_________________________________________________________________
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