The number of people now held in English prisons or being processed through the courts on overtly political charges continues to rise:
- On 15 September, 51 Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters were remanded in custody, following court hearings in London and Birmingham at which those arrested at the Kingsbury Oil Terminal the previous day refused to recognise the court or comply with the proceedings. Since 1 April when supporters of JSO first began blocking oil terminals there have been over 1,350 arrests. To support these
prisoners go to https://juststopoil.org/ - In July, Charly Pitman was the 19th person to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment following the March 2021 Bristol Kill the Bill protest. A further 23 are awaiting trial or sentence. More details: https://twitter.com/BristolDefenda1
- 49 activists from Palestine Action – which has been targeting Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit systems with repeated direct action – go on trial across the country in the next six months. https://www.palestineaction.org/elbit-on-trial/
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! No 290, October/November 2022
