ABOUT PEOPLE, representing a wide range of black groups, women's groups, gay organisations, •ranches. LaDOUl parties, NCCL and other progressive groups mel formally last week to activate and consolidate the National Campaign Against The impressive feature of the meeting, apart from its size and the determination of delegates to oppose ine Dy any means necessary, was its Waited pre-emptive move before the Bill brought ment. Although the size of Ine especially, with the prohangers determined to get their pound of flesh after losing on capital punishment, will obviously be a formidable obstacle to the Bill actually being defeated.
What was recognised was that it is the political, social economic framework of the bill that • Be challenged well as the ideology behind A wide-ranging list of activities meetings have already been arranged to get the Campaign off on a positive and offensive Local groups are to be set up, a national speaking tour is to be organised, national and local sponsored walks based on the theme of "The Struggle for Liberty' are to be held as well as wide range regional national rallies.
A national march, probably timed to coincide with the introduction the Bill, will also be held through Central London. Two decisions in particular. should help the Campaign to build a genuine mass base.
Bearing in mind that if the Campaign is to link and relate to the increasing number of young people wno race tne alrect brunt of police harassment and the need for more popular styles of campaigning, manora cur or concerts on the lines of 'Rock Against the Bill' is to be arranged. wildl the To Bill means SLICSS that practice is cases like the Newham 8, Colin Roach, May 3rd Defence paign the other numerous cases which the black other communities have suffered for years now, the Campaigr took the decision to build for and support the NaMarch Racism and Racist Attacks called bv the Newham Defence Campaign for 24 September 1983.
With the wide support • alreadv given to the march and speakers already Invited local black struggles round the country with a view to having a united mass demonstration, the scene is set for the campaign to make its first national impact before the Bill • comes up before Parliament.
Campaign What socialists and trade union activists now need to start doing is to build local campaigns against the Bill. The importance of genutne mass local commitment and involvement the necessity to develop these local cam. paigns into centres of resistance, if the Bill were to become law, cannot b e overestimated. groups should not only have the WeSLOOSSOC alliance of forces opposed to the Bill but should actively base themselves local campaigns against police harassment.
If the Campaign is to have any chance of success, however, opposition to the Bill will need to be based upon an understan ding of the key, almost central role it plays in Tory ideology to police the increasingly rebellious unemployed never employed and the politicoHaunework which it is being introduced. Parents The Criminal Justice Act 1983, which among other things makes parents responsible for the fines of their children under 17, brings in through the family.
watch schemes and the increasingly complicated forms of community policing. now being developed throughout the country bring in policing through A license for gorillas — that's why we need a Police Bill.
ane neignbours. Ine rouc Bill, apart from giving unpreccacnica powers to une coercive agencies of the state, legitimises all the present police malpractices and brutality.
This process of legitimisation should be in the light of the criminalisation of a black community which has • with always nac 'police bill'. The Bill represents attembt bi British capitalism to cope with the social quences of restructuring its economic base. ticular, to cope with the effects of mass unemploy ment. The importance of this Bill to Tory policies Irish referendum ON September referendum on the 'right to life' of the unborn will take plaçe in Counties.
Unfortunately, the view in Ireland is that despite wide.
spread support for a no vote • to the extent of provoking a major cirisis in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party -bac pro-it mail Poo the just manage win.
The die-hards in the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child see themselves making a clear break with the 'rolling liberalism thai ha affected the 26 Countie over the last decade If they continue with guerrilla actions against every County women have over their fertility. makes it imperative that a national campaign is built.
Moral The first step towards this starts with the national march against racism and racial attacks September.
tion, Monitoring Project, London E7 9HJ.
of the Newham 8 Case.
National March Against Raicism and Racist Attacks called by the Newham 8 Defence Campaign and supported by National Campaign Against the Police Bill Saturday, September Assemble 1pm, Plashet Park, East Ham, London Е6.
Conference: Racism, the Police and Educa1 October. Credentials from Newham 285. Romford Road, National Mass Picket of Snaresbrook Crown Court, 24 October to coincide with the start A SUPPORT group for the Newham Eight Defence Campaign has been set up in Birmingham. The Newham Eight defended black youth when they were attacked by white racists on their way home They are being charged with conspiracy to assault persons un known.
Following on from the campaign against police in the Wes Midlands to defend Pino Khan, , the Singh brother and the Smethwick Three the climate here for mobilising in defence of the black and Asian com munities is excellent.
With the Tory govern ment pressing ahead with Ine ronce bill next year defence campaigns of this much bie they are to succestil, successfully fight back against state racism.
A national perspective HUTC more vital. itiative of the new Birmingham group will be public meeting on Sunday 4 September at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham at 2pm. Speakers include Unmesh Desai, Newham 8, Tariq M. Ali, Bradford Gutsimore, secretary of thi defendant Cecil National Campaign Against the Police Bill.
The second event wil be the national demonstra tion taking place Newham on Saturday September. Three coaches have been booked to bring Birmingham con tingent to London.
----- pull-quotes -----
Newham 8 support grows in Brum