Thursday, July 31, 2014

Justice for Bolton!



by New Worker correspondent
CAMPAIGNERS from justice4bolton last Tuesday  held a picket outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand in support of a judicial appeal to demand that the Independent Police Complaints Authority publish the results of its investigation into police arrests of anti-fascists in Bolton four years ago.
The anti-fascists had mobilised through Unite Against Fascism (UAF) to stop the racist English Defence League (EDL) in Bolton on 20th March 2010.
The anti-fascists were gathered peacefully in their allotted spot when the police Tactical Aid Unit attacked them, charging into them and making 55 arrests, including a 63-year0old pensioner who was thrown to the ground and injured.
The campaigners say that now, after many months, and a fantastic response from so many people who were in Bolton that day, police investigations into conspiracy charges against the anti-fascist organisers have been stopped. Of the five anti fascists who were being prosecuted, one was found Not Guilty, two cases were dropped because of anti-fascist video evidence and two cases remain outstanding, one of which is an appeal against a guilty verdict.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission made an inquiry into the policing that day but has refused to release its final report, or video footage of the events that day taken by the police.


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