Bristol ABC’s monthly prisoner list is now back on track and today we are publishing the list for June 2011. Download your copy here:
open office version – Prisoner list_June2011
PDF version – Prisoner list_June2011
We make an effort to keep this info a correct as possible. However if you have any verifiable additions or corrections please contact us by email at bristol_abc[AT]riseup.net
With an increase in political prisoners internationally it is becoming difficult to keep up with changes and moves. We are therefore slowly moving towards a list that provides good links to further information in countries, whilst still highlighting some cases. Here are some cases worth highlighting:Read More
Bristol Defendant Solidarity
Bristol ABC has agreed to host a page for Bristol Defendant Solidarity. Here’s the intro to the page:
Bristol Defendant Solidarity
Bristol arrestee support first made an appearance in late 2010 providing support and advice by phone & email during/after the student protests. Now following the Stokes Croft resistance of April 2011 the Bristol Defendant Solidarity (BDS) has been formed, incorporating and building upon the work of arrestee support. BDS involves a number of activists with experience of arrests, police station and court processes, suing the cops, and legal, defendant & prisoner support. Read More
Whilst we were away Bristol rebelled
The Bristol ABC blog has been quiet the last 8 weeks, whilst Bristol has been very rebellious and making national headlines. We’ve not exactly been away, but lack of people to do the work has meant the blog hasn’t been maintained as we’d like it to be. In fact those of us who have been around and about and healthy have been very busy locally, including helping out with legal and prisoner support. We’ll be trying to keep the blog upto date from now on, and we have a pile of info and news to pass your way.
Stokes Croft
Whilst Stokes Croft is actually just a fairly short street to the north of the city centre, it has become known as an ‘area’ that extends north, west and east into surrounding streets and neighbourhoods. 
On April 21/22 and 28/29 it was the scene of some fairly serious resistance to a police invasion and attempts at repression, events that have been heavily reported on Bristol Indymedia, and the local corporate press, and nationally. Whilst some saw it as just opposition to Tescos locally, in fact it was much more than that. Such high profile resistance does come inevitably with a state and media crackdown afterwards, with at least 50 arrests so far, and the need for some serious defendant solidarity.Read More
Bent Bars – film and info night
Bent Bars and Bristol ABC present a film screening and information night
Thursday May 12th from 7.30pm
‘Under the Stars’ , Narrow Quay, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 4QA
(the boat – in the water opposite the Watershed)
Free entry
Kiss of the Spider Womanfilm screening followed by short readings of selected writings from prisoners involved in the Bent Bars letter writing project, plus information on LGBTQ prisoner solidarity and how to become involved with the Bent Bars prisoner penpal program.Read More
Legal support and defence fundraiser
Benefit for Canadian G20 legal defence and Bristol bust fund
Kebele Sound Collective and friends brings you a punk and ska fundraiser supporting direct action defendants, with:
Cartouche – melodic punk from the barricades of Paris
No Choice – legendary anarcho punk from South Wales
Na No and the Nachos – skanking new ska pink band from Bristol
Saturday April 9th from 8pm
The White Hart, Whitehall Road, Easton. BS5 9BJ.
£4/£3 conc
Here’s where the money goes:Read More
26 March legal & arrest update
The following info was published on the Freedom Press website today, having been sourced from the Met Police. Legal support from GBC and LDMG have been at courts and on the phone getting hold of defendants. There are likely to be more arrests and more people charged. Equally, many charges may be dropped, and even when they aren’t and the case goes to court, many people will be found not guilty.
If you are arrested, and charged, don’t panic and don’t be scared. The police want you to be frightened and afraid, they want you to stop protesting and fighting. Don’t let them win – there is plenty of support available, make use of it.
Summary of arrests from March 26th
147 people charged with offences:
138 people charged with aggravated trespass in connection with the incident at Fortnum & Mason. Due to appear on various dates at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (first being 9th May)
3 people charged with criminal damage
2 people charged with assaulting a police officer
1 person charged with S4 Public Order Act (threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour)
1 person charged with being drunk and disorderlyRead More
26 March legal & arrest update
The following info was published on the Freedom Press website today, having been sourced from the Met Police. Legal support from GBC and LDMG have been at courts and on the phone getting hold of defendants. There are likely to be more arrests and more people charged. Equally, many charges may be dropped, and even when they aren’t and the case goes to court, many people will be found not guilty.
If you are arrested, and charged, don’t panic and don’t be scared. The police want you to be frightened and afraid, they want you to stop protesting and fighting. Don’t let them win – there is plenty of support available, make use of it.
Summary of arrests from March 26th
147 people charged with offences:
138 people charged with aggravated trespass in connection with the incident at Fortnum & Mason. Due to appear on various dates at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (first being 9th May)
3 people charged with criminal damage
2 people charged with assaulting a police officer
1 person charged with S4 Public Order Act (threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour)
1 person charged with being drunk and disorderlyRead More
No Comment: The Defendants Guide to Arrest
The 4th edition of No Comment: The Defendants Guide to Arrest was updated and republished by LDMG last week.
Funded by damages paid out by the Met Police for wrongful arrest and similar illegal acts, it is very useful reading for anyone at risk of arrest, which means anyone involved in protests.
20,000 copies have been printed up, many were handed out in London on Saturday. A few hundred have made it back to Bristol. Some have already been left at the Kebele and Factory social centres. Or you can download a copy of “No Comment” here (as a pdf).
Get reading.
Solidarity needed with defendants from London anti-cuts protests
The magnificent protests that rocked London on Saturday 26 March will have at least one major downside – mass arrests, with more to follow. Those arrested deserve and need our support.
So far it seems just over 200 people have been arrested, mainly, but not all, at either the Fortnum & Mason shop occupation, or later at night in Trafalgar Square when the cops kettled a party crowd of protesters. Most, but not all, are now out on either police or court bail. A few have taken a caution, a few released without charge, a few remain in custody. No doubt as cops trawl cctv and photo footage in the next days & weeks there will be more arrests.
27 March picket of Charing X cop shop
If you or someone you know has been arrested and you haven’t had legal advice yet, then get it fast. Ring the legal & arrest support helpline on 07946 541 511, or if you got indpendent legal advice elsewhere contact them anyway so they have your details – they may be able to help you anyway.Read More
March prisoner list and letter-writing night
Our monthly list of political prisoners welcoming support has been updated and is published below. It’s packed with links for more info, please use them. If you have any corrections of additions please let us know. Solidarity.
March list (open office format): Prisoners list_March2011
March list (pdf): Prisoners list_March2011
Prisoner support letter-writing night – Wednesday 9 March
Our monthly public letter-writing night returns this month to Kebele social centre, at 14 Robertson Rd, Bristol BS5 6JY. We’ll be there from 7 to 9pm with list of prisoners, paper, pens and envelopes. Come along and help send messages of solidarity to people locked up in places near and far away. Plus lots of other info and interesting news available at Kebele.