Defend Simon McConville and his Peaceful Protesting - Protest Outside Court Hearing

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Thursday December 16, 2010 22:34 by Róisín

Protester Simon McConville is up in courth on the 5th of January, alongside another activist, for his participation in the anti-fee hike and anti-EMA scrappage protests in Belfast on the 9th of December, 2010. Simon is being charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing the road and starting a riotous protest (initiating the peaceful sit-down protest on the road).

Simon McConville addressing the crowd at the protest against increased tuition fees and scrappage of EMA in Belfast

Protester Simon McConville is up in courth on the 5th of January, alongside another activist, for his participation in the anti-fee hike and anti-EMA scrappage protests in Belfast on the 9th of December, 2010. Simon is being charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing the road and starting a riotous protest (initiating the peaceful sit-down protest on the road).

Simon faces charges for starting the successful and peaceful sit-down aspect of the protest in Belfast on the 9th of December, where he sat in the middle of the main road outside of the City Hall, which prompted hundreds of other students to block the road for a number of hours. Simon's actions allowed for a very clear message to be sent in regards to cuts in education, as well as a rise in tuition fees, and that is that students are angry, they won't stand for this and they won't be ignored.

Simon is also facing disorderly conduct charges however the truth is if anyone was acting provocatively it was the police. Their heavy-handed tactics against protestors, many of whom were quite young was a disgrace. They charged the crowd a number of times, kettled people into small areas and attacked a number of individuals.

Disgracefully, stringent bail restrictions have been put on Simon. Until he attends court, he is not allowed to enter Belfast city centre at all. All of this because he wished to express his right to protest against the cuts that this government are introducing.

This attack on Simon is an attack on the right to protest. We should all stand by him. We are calling on everyone who supports to the right to protest to come to Belfast Magistrates Court, on the 5th of January 9.30 am. Show your support and call for these ludicrous charges to be dropped.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=183782241639021