This new legislation would have meant local residents, including myself, would have been liable to 6 months in prison or a £5,000 fine for protesting against racist attacks on Roma families last June. This legislation is an absolute disgrace. The politicians who condemned the attacks last June are now attempting to criminalise people for protesting against such attacks.Racist thugs didn’t give 37 days notice so why should we?
The real intent behind this legislation is to undermine democratic rights, in particular the ability of communities to protest against the cuts to public services the Executive are implementing. Trade unionists, community activists and young people who will face severe restrictions on their rights must come together to oppose this bill and subsequent legislation.
Should the politicians succeed in passing this draconian piece of legislation then a campaign needs to be built that links campaigners against water charges, library closures and community campaigns with the trade union movement which defies this legislation.
Tommy Black is a long-standing trade unionist and socialist who has been a consistent opponent of cuts in East Belfast. Tommy works as a building supervisor at Ashfield Girls High school, where he also represents staff as a NIPSA shop steward. He is the vice-chair of NIPSA education Branch 516 and is an elected member of the Public Officers Group Executive of NIPSA.
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Through its opposition to the removal of accident and emergency services from the Mid-Ulster Hospital, the “Save the Mid” Campaign has exposed the cynical disregard of the Assembly politicians and Northern Health Trust management towards the lives of ordinary people. With the High Dependency Unit now closed and radiography under threat, it’s clear the Trust management aim to run the Mid-Ulster into the ground.