Solidarity with the Stansted 15 – End deportation flights
On 10 December the Stansted 15 were found guilty of a terror-related offence after they peacefully prevented a secretive deportation flight from leaving last March.
These activists are an incredible inspiration to millions of people who are enraged and horrified at the injustice of how refugees are forced to suffer at the hands of Fortress Europe and the British government’s ‘hostile environment’.
Under these regimes, parents are regularly separated from their children, lives are put in danger, and people are incarcerated for months in horrifying conditions in detention centres. A petition in support of the 15 now has over 50,000 signatures. Sign now to demand justice and an end to the hostile environment.
The Stansted 15 face an uncertain future, and the implications of the use of anti-terror legislation in this case poses a threat to the civil liberties and right to protest of us all. These convictions are intended to weaken the anti-racist movement’s resistance to this government’s racist policies.
The Stansted 15 need the full solidarity of our mass, broad movement – we all must get behind them to send the message loud and clear that refugees are welcome here, and that the charges against the Stansted 15 heroes must be dropped.
1) Sign the petition: http://tinyurl.com/Stansted15x
2) Write a letter in support to CPS, for the attention of Judith Reed (deputy chief crown prosecutor for East of England).
Email to: eastofengland.inbox@cps.gov.uk
Or post to:
East Of England Complex Case Unit,
CPS,
County House,
100 New London Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex,
CM2 0RG.
Suggested points that are useful to include:
i) This was a politically motivated prosecution.
ii) The charge was inexplicably changed from aggravated trespass to endangering safety four months after the action.
iii) The defendants must receive lenient sentences pending their appeal of the conviction. Emma, one of the activists, who is about to give birth must receive an absolute discharge. There must be no jail sentences for any of the defendants.
iv) There should be a public inquiry into how peaceful activists came to be charged with a terror- related offence. We must receive confirmation that non-violent direct action is not, and could not ever be, a terror related offence.
3) Support the solidarity protest at the court on Monday 4 February, when the sentencing takes place: 8.30-11.30am, Chelmsford Crown Court, 3-5 New Street, CM1 1EL.
4) Take a ‘solidarity selfie’ with a message of support and share on social media with #Stansted15. You can do this yourself, with work colleagues, in your union branch, college, community, with friends, family etc.
You can email any messages of solidarity or ‘solidarity selfies’ to info@standuptoracism.org.uk and we can pass on to the Stansted 15 or share for you.
5) Can your local trade union, campaign group or community organisation invite a speaker from the Stansted 15 to your next meeting, rally or protest?
Leicester Stand Up to Racism 