No plans to protest at the Royal Wedding
Posted on Wed 27th Apr 2011, 9:09amA couple of bizarre stories have surfaced recently claiming UK Uncut is planning to disrupt the Royal Wedding. This is not the case.
UK Uncut has nothing to do with any plans to protest at the wedding. All actions are announced publicly on our website.
UK Uncut has nothing to do with any plans to protest at the wedding. All actions are announced publicly on our website.
Press release: UK Uncut welcomes support against political policing
Posted on Fri 1st Apr 2011, 9:54am31/03/2011
ukuncut@gmail.com
www.ukuncut.org.uk
07415063231
Photos available on request. For Immediate Release
UK UNCUT WELCOMES SUPPORT AGAINST POLITICAL POLICING
Unions and campaign groups join in support of UK Uncut and criticism of political policing
A statement of support for UK Uncut and a condemnation of political policing and wrongful arrests of 138 peaceful protesters on March 26 has been signed by unions Unite, GMB, NUJ and PCS as well as several campaign organisations.
The statement shows continued unity in the anti-cuts movement, as ordinary people continue to actively oppose the cuts, from the trade union/labour movement marching in solidarity, to people engaging in civil disobedience on the high street.
The statement comes after new video evidence has exposed inaccuracies in press accounts of Saturday’s protests, and has shown police lying directly to protesters.
Video evidence of Saturday’s UK Uncut protest at Fortnum & Mason’s shows a senior police officer assuring protesters that they would not be detained upon leaving the store, and describing the sit-in inside the store as “non-violent and sensible”. Other footage from inside further documents the peaceful nature of the protest.
Daniel Garvin, 26, a protester who had been in the occupation from the very beginning said:
“There was a fittingly picnic atmosphere inside the store. Things were so calm that customers continued to finish their dinner and drink tea in the restaurant”.
The officer can be heard telling people that they had been delayed in leaving the shop due to pockets of disorder outside on Piccadilly. Later she informs protesters that they can leave, and should turn left and make their way away from Piccadilly Circus; she assures them that no one will be stopped once outside.
However, on leaving the store, all 145 remaining protesters were not only stopped, but arrested and taken to police stations across London. 138 of the protesters have been charged with Aggravated Trespass. All criminal damage charges were immediately dropped.
The joint statement echoes UK Uncut's concerns that the charges made of 138 protesters for staging a sit-in represent an approach to the policing of demonstrations which is inconsistent with the police's stated aims and which may be politically motivated.
Katharine Johnson, 32, who was inside the store said :
“It is outrageous that 145 people were arrested for sitting on the floor of a shop, doing little else than singing and eating snacks. The police seem to be trying to deter legitimate protest, which can only be described as political policing”.
UK Uncut is also concerned by the treatment of those in custody, some of whom were detained until late Sunday evening. Possessions were confiscated and many were released from police stations without their clothes, telephones, and in some cases with no money. Those detained included a 15 year-old who has since written about her traumatic experience.
Since October, UK Uncut has staged creative, theatrical occupations of tax dodging companies and banks to highlight alternatives to brutal public sector cuts. Inside Fortnum and Mason’s protesters sang songs, read books and played cards, while customers continued to browse the shelves and drink tea in the cafe. Like previous UK Uncut actions, it was entirely non-violent.
The action was in protest against the tax dodge of Fortnum and Masons’ owner, Wittington Investments. Wittington Investments have dodged £10 million in taxes annually through their ownership of Associated British Foods; enough to pay for 500 NHS nurses every year. Such behaviour from large companies highlights perfectly the dishonesty of politicians who claim ‘we’re all in this together’.
ENDS
Notes to editor
For more information or for interview requests, please call 07415063231 or email ukuncut@gmail.com
The full statement of support can be found at:
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/unions-and-campaign-groups-voice-support-for-uk-uncut
The video of the senior police officer’s comments can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/28/cuts-protest-uk-uncut-fortnum?INTCMP=SRCH
The video of the protest from inside the store can be found here: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/03/27/watch-ukuncut-occupation-of-fortnum-mason-was-peaceful/
The full story on Wittington Investment’s tax dodge can be found here: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/blog-why-we-sat-in-fortnum--mason
A statement by one of the detainees regarding treatment upon arrest can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/mar/29/police-uk-uncut?INTCMP=SRCH
ukuncut@gmail.com
www.ukuncut.org.uk
07415063231
Photos available on request. For Immediate Release
UK UNCUT WELCOMES SUPPORT AGAINST POLITICAL POLICING
Unions and campaign groups join in support of UK Uncut and criticism of political policing
A statement of support for UK Uncut and a condemnation of political policing and wrongful arrests of 138 peaceful protesters on March 26 has been signed by unions Unite, GMB, NUJ and PCS as well as several campaign organisations.
The statement shows continued unity in the anti-cuts movement, as ordinary people continue to actively oppose the cuts, from the trade union/labour movement marching in solidarity, to people engaging in civil disobedience on the high street.
The statement comes after new video evidence has exposed inaccuracies in press accounts of Saturday’s protests, and has shown police lying directly to protesters.
Video evidence of Saturday’s UK Uncut protest at Fortnum & Mason’s shows a senior police officer assuring protesters that they would not be detained upon leaving the store, and describing the sit-in inside the store as “non-violent and sensible”. Other footage from inside further documents the peaceful nature of the protest.
Daniel Garvin, 26, a protester who had been in the occupation from the very beginning said:
“There was a fittingly picnic atmosphere inside the store. Things were so calm that customers continued to finish their dinner and drink tea in the restaurant”.
The officer can be heard telling people that they had been delayed in leaving the shop due to pockets of disorder outside on Piccadilly. Later she informs protesters that they can leave, and should turn left and make their way away from Piccadilly Circus; she assures them that no one will be stopped once outside.
However, on leaving the store, all 145 remaining protesters were not only stopped, but arrested and taken to police stations across London. 138 of the protesters have been charged with Aggravated Trespass. All criminal damage charges were immediately dropped.
The joint statement echoes UK Uncut's concerns that the charges made of 138 protesters for staging a sit-in represent an approach to the policing of demonstrations which is inconsistent with the police's stated aims and which may be politically motivated.
Katharine Johnson, 32, who was inside the store said :
“It is outrageous that 145 people were arrested for sitting on the floor of a shop, doing little else than singing and eating snacks. The police seem to be trying to deter legitimate protest, which can only be described as political policing”.
UK Uncut is also concerned by the treatment of those in custody, some of whom were detained until late Sunday evening. Possessions were confiscated and many were released from police stations without their clothes, telephones, and in some cases with no money. Those detained included a 15 year-old who has since written about her traumatic experience.
Since October, UK Uncut has staged creative, theatrical occupations of tax dodging companies and banks to highlight alternatives to brutal public sector cuts. Inside Fortnum and Mason’s protesters sang songs, read books and played cards, while customers continued to browse the shelves and drink tea in the cafe. Like previous UK Uncut actions, it was entirely non-violent.
The action was in protest against the tax dodge of Fortnum and Masons’ owner, Wittington Investments. Wittington Investments have dodged £10 million in taxes annually through their ownership of Associated British Foods; enough to pay for 500 NHS nurses every year. Such behaviour from large companies highlights perfectly the dishonesty of politicians who claim ‘we’re all in this together’.
ENDS
Notes to editor
For more information or for interview requests, please call 07415063231 or email ukuncut@gmail.com
The full statement of support can be found at:
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/unions-and-campaign-groups-voice-support-for-uk-uncut
The video of the senior police officer’s comments can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/28/cuts-protest-uk-uncut-fortnum?INTCMP=SRCH
The video of the protest from inside the store can be found here: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/03/27/watch-ukuncut-occupation-of-fortnum-mason-was-peaceful/
The full story on Wittington Investment’s tax dodge can be found here: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/blog-why-we-sat-in-fortnum--mason
A statement by one of the detainees regarding treatment upon arrest can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/mar/29/police-uk-uncut?INTCMP=SRCH
Unions and campaign groups voice support for UK Uncut
Posted on Thu 31st Mar 2011, 1:18pmThis is a letter from a number of NGOs and unions in support of UK Uncut.
Protest has been a means for progressive change throughout human history - and it continues to play that role across the world today.
Through protest, people have won and defended their rights to a decent standard of living as well as control over their lives and the societies in which they live.
It should come as no surprise that in a world of vast and growing inequalities in wealth and power, protest is growing in this country as in many other parts of the world.
Protest is the legitimate right of everyone – and we believe it is right that people are protesting against some of the richest in the world failing to pay their taxes while others suffer serious and increasing levels of poverty and deprivation.
UK Uncut have played a significant part in changing the terms of debate around economic policy in the UK and have been praised by politicians and the media for doing so.
Indeed UK Uncut played a key role in ensuring that more people were at the march on Saturday than otherwise would have been. At all times they acted in a way which complemented and supported the TUC march.
However, in taking the type of peaceful action which UK Uncut routinely undertake on Saturday, targeting Fortnum and Mason on this occasion, they were treated in a political and deceptive manner by the police which sends an ominous message about the right to protest.
It would appear activists were misled by the police about not being arrested when asked to leave the Fortnum and Mason building, after which they were held for a significant length of time, their clothing was confiscated and they have been denied the right to protest in the near future.
This situation has now been seized on by the media and politicians to further threaten the right to protest. UK Uncut activists have been blamed for damage they did not cause and this story has become a substitute for discussion of the real issues raised by UK Uncut and the TUC march in general.
This does not represent a consistent approach to policing legitimate protest. Neither does it represent the sort of consistent approach to freedom of protest which the Government led us to believe they supported on entering office. We support the right to protest for a fairer and more equal world. As part of this, we condemn any politically motivated policing which provokes, intimidates or criminalises protestors. We will continue to support UK Uncut, alongside thousands of others, until tax justice is secured so the poorest do not have to pay the price of a financial crisis caused by the richest.
Neal Lawson, Compass
Mark Serwotka, PCS
Len McCluskey, Unite
Paul Kenny, GMB
Jeremy Dear, NUJ
Liz Nelson, Tax Justice Network
John, Hilary, War on Want
Nick Dearden, Jubilee Debt Campaign
Andy Egan, People and Planet
Protest has been a means for progressive change throughout human history - and it continues to play that role across the world today.
Through protest, people have won and defended their rights to a decent standard of living as well as control over their lives and the societies in which they live.
It should come as no surprise that in a world of vast and growing inequalities in wealth and power, protest is growing in this country as in many other parts of the world.
Protest is the legitimate right of everyone – and we believe it is right that people are protesting against some of the richest in the world failing to pay their taxes while others suffer serious and increasing levels of poverty and deprivation.
UK Uncut have played a significant part in changing the terms of debate around economic policy in the UK and have been praised by politicians and the media for doing so.
Indeed UK Uncut played a key role in ensuring that more people were at the march on Saturday than otherwise would have been. At all times they acted in a way which complemented and supported the TUC march.
However, in taking the type of peaceful action which UK Uncut routinely undertake on Saturday, targeting Fortnum and Mason on this occasion, they were treated in a political and deceptive manner by the police which sends an ominous message about the right to protest.
It would appear activists were misled by the police about not being arrested when asked to leave the Fortnum and Mason building, after which they were held for a significant length of time, their clothing was confiscated and they have been denied the right to protest in the near future.
This situation has now been seized on by the media and politicians to further threaten the right to protest. UK Uncut activists have been blamed for damage they did not cause and this story has become a substitute for discussion of the real issues raised by UK Uncut and the TUC march in general.
This does not represent a consistent approach to policing legitimate protest. Neither does it represent the sort of consistent approach to freedom of protest which the Government led us to believe they supported on entering office. We support the right to protest for a fairer and more equal world. As part of this, we condemn any politically motivated policing which provokes, intimidates or criminalises protestors. We will continue to support UK Uncut, alongside thousands of others, until tax justice is secured so the poorest do not have to pay the price of a financial crisis caused by the richest.
Neal Lawson, Compass
Mark Serwotka, PCS
Len McCluskey, Unite
Paul Kenny, GMB
Jeremy Dear, NUJ
Liz Nelson, Tax Justice Network
John, Hilary, War on Want
Nick Dearden, Jubilee Debt Campaign
Andy Egan, People and Planet