Three Demos Coming Up - Demonstrate against Racism, for Zimbabwe and for Peace!
Posted by Aled Dilwyn Fisher on June 19, 2008
There are three interesting and important demos coming up:
1. Saturday 21st June - National March against Fascism and Racism - 12pm in Tooley Street, London SE1 (behind the Greater London Assembly building, near Tower Bridge, nearest tube London Bridge), then marching to Trafalgar Square
March and carnival parade against fascism and racism including floats with top artists performing, marching & samba bands and trade union & student union banners. Organised by Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) and Unite against Fascism (UAF).
2. Sunday 22nd June - Support the Czech Hunger Strikers, No to US Missile Defence - CND Hungerstrike from 8am and Vigil 12-2pm Opposite Downing Street
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is holding a 24-hour fast opposite Downing Street in support of the Czechs currently holding a hunger strike against the US siting a radar base near Prague as part of its “Star Wars” missile defence plans. The fast will run from 8am on the Sunday to 8am on the Monday.
Kate Hudson and Pat Arrowsmith are both fasting for the full 24 hours.
They are asking supporters to either join Kate and Pat in the hunger strike for the whole period or any part of it, and, particularly to join a solidarity vigil to be held at the same place from noon to 2pm on the Sunday.
A number of leading political and cultural figures have joined a hunger strike in Prague. They are protesting at the Czech government’s continuing negotiations with the US to build a Missile Defence radar near the city. The hunger strike will be organised on a ‘chain’ basis, with people participating for 24 hour slots - the hunger strikers have called an international day of action on Sunday 22nd June to increase pressure on the Czech government.
3. Monday 23rd June - Demonstration for Democracy, Rights and Freedom for Zimbabwe - Outside Zimbabwean Embassy, 429 Strand, London, WC2R OJR from 12.30-2pm
Acton for Southern Africa (ACTSA) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are protesting at the actions of the Zimbabwe government towards Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe.
A demonstration will take place outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London on Monday 23 June at lunchtime to protest at attempts to silence trade union leaders and the state sponsored violence and intimidation which has intensified since the first round of elections in March.
But this demo has a twist, as Eric Lee of LabourStart explains:
This is one of the most unusual trade union campaigns I’ve ever heard of — and I’m pretty excited by it. Please take a moment and read on.
Many of you will have heard that two leaders of Zimbabwe’s embattled trade union movement were arrested a few weeks ago on charges of ’spreading falsehoods prejudicial to the state’ — in other words, telling the truth.
Next Monday, Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe, President and General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, are going back to court to face charges.
Unions around the world are organizing protests that day at Zimbabwe embassies, and if you can attend or organize such an event that’s great.
But there’s something you can do right now without getting up out of your chair.
The Trades Union Congress here in London is making a giant photo mosaic of Lovemore and Wellington, using pictures of hundreds of their supporters from around the world — and they want to use your photo as one tiny part of it.
They’ll get this printed on a large banner in time for the London demonstration on 23 June, and they’ll make the image available to other international demonstrations and to the media.
Please email a photo of your face to zim@tuc.org.uk
You can read more about this effort here.
This is a last minute campaign, so we need to get your photos in immediately.
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