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Sponsorship protests – Indigenous voices at the Science Museum
Indigenous groups from India, Indonesia and Australia have plenty of complaints about land grabs, repression, food and water pollution, and destruction of ancient sacred sites at the hands of mega coal-mining operations by the Adani group.
So the Science Museum’s announcement last October that ‘Adani Green Energy’ would be sponsoring a new gallery has been met by much criticism and accusations of greenwash. But in response, the Chair of the Science Museum Group Mary Archer and the Director Ian Blatchford have both been extremely dismissive.
So campaign groups collated films from Indigenous people, hired a video AdVan, and held a protest at the doors of the museum on Wednesday 26 January, displaying the films and hearing speeches from Adivasi activists and other supporters.
Full report at https://realmedia.press/science-museum-indigenous-protest/
Support Jasmine
On Monday 31 January, people gathered in solidarity at Bristol Crown Court where the trial of Jasmine York began. Bristol Anti-Repression Campaign (BARC-KTB), which supports people who took to the streets in opposition to the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts (PCSC) Bill and are facing ongoing persecution, explained in a statement that York “was brutally beaten by police at a demonstration” on 21 March 2021. On this day, the group said, “demonstrators like Jasmine faced repeated and excessive violence from police officers”.
Despite receiving “horrific injuries”, York “has now been charged with riot and arson, and she could face a custodial sentence”. BARC-KTB stressed: “We see this as an attempt by the state to intimidate and frighten those who dare to come together to resist against a system that brutalises and impoverishes us. We stand beside Jasmine and all of the other protesters facing charges for taking a stand against police violence and repression.”
Feminist protest group Sisters Uncut also showed solidarity. Phoenix Media Co-operative recorded this speech from the group outside court:
Sisters Uncut wrote that York’s case “symbolises the very worst of police violence against women, and abuse of police powers”. It added: “We launched the Kill the Bill movement last year in response to the police violence against women protesters at Clapham Common. It was evident then, as it is now, that police are drunk on the powers they already have, and Jasmine’s case is further proof that police cannot be trusted to have more. More police powers will lead to more violence against women.”
And it stressed:
If you give a class of people legal powers, handcuffs, tasers, spray, batons and even guns to carry out their legal powers and then ensure that they are only accountable to themselves, they are going to use those powers both within the law and outside of it, to hurt and oppress those most [exploited] in our society. Because the job of the police is to side with and protect the powerful. Police will repeatedly use their powers to ensure those most exploited stay in line, whether women, black and white working-class communities, Gypsy Roma and Travellers, migrants, queer, trans or disabled people.
Palestine Action
In last week’s newsletter we mentioned that Palestine Action activists had once again targeted the Elbit Systems subsidiary UAV Engines Ltd in Shenstone, Staffordshire.
Later in the week we released this amazing footage showing the extent of the damage and dismantling the activists carried out in order to interrupt the production of drone parts and other equipment which they believe is destined to be used against Palestinian civilians in the illegally occupied territories.
This morning, Amnesty International released its latest report: “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity” – a damning catalogue of repression. Amnesty urges that the “The international response to apartheid must no longer be limited to bland condemnations and equivocating.” – an instruction which Palestine Action already embodies.
Other News
- On 1 February, a further 19 members of Insulate Britain faced judges at the High Court (rather than a jury of their peers) over their contempt of court for breach of private injunctions laid by Highways England. In November, nine were sent to prison by a judge with close family ties to the fossil-fuel industry. One of the activists facing court today is Biff Whipster, whom we interviewed back in the first week of the Insulate Britain campaign.
- The Campaign to Abolish the Fur Trade USA (CAFTUSA) declared victory as Moncler went fur-free after 123 days of campaigning.
- A coalition of anti-racist groups opposed Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) and other far-right marchers in Telford, Shropshire.
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