Muslim Graves Desecrated by Nazis for Third Time in 2 Months. P1

Manchester, England. 29th November 2009. Over 100 people joined a UAF rally outside Southern Cemetery in Manchester last Sunday to protest against the desecration, for a third time, of Muslim graves stones. All of the twenty headstones toppled last week were in the Muslim section.

This attack is not act of mindless violence. Those who did it knew exactly what they were doing. And we all know that they are a tiny, tiny minority in this City, said Cllr Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council speaking at the rally. Police are treating the desecration as a race hate crime.

Many at the vigil were asking why is this is happening again? And why now?

Since the first attack on the Muslim graves last month, we have seen the BBC put the Nazi BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question time, and we saw hundreds of racist thugs in the EDL march in Manchester city centre making Nazis salutes and carrying placards saying No More Mosques, explained UAF spokesperson Mike Killion. This has created a climate of hatred against Muslims which we must stop.

Widespread support at the vigil, included local MP John Leech, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as from the Afro Caribbean community and trades unionists.

The support and solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters that was shown at the vigil demonstrated the very unity and solidarity that those who desecrated the graves most fear. A stronger and broader Manchester UAF was established at a meeting following this protest.

Muslim Graves Desecrated by Nazis for Third Time in 2 Months. P1

Manchester, England. 29th November 2009. Over 100 people joined a UAF rally outside Southern Cemetery in Manchester last Sunday to protest against the desecration, for a third time, of Muslim graves stones. All of the twenty headstones toppled last week were in the Muslim section.

This attack is not act of mindless violence. Those who did it knew exactly what they were doing. And we all know that they are a tiny, tiny minority in this City, said Cllr Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council speaking at the rally. Police are treating the desecration as a race hate crime.

Many at the vigil were asking why is this is happening again? And why now?

Since the first attack on the Muslim graves last month, we have seen the BBC put the Nazi BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question time, and we saw hundreds of racist thugs in the EDL march in Manchester city centre making Nazis salutes and carrying placards saying No More Mosques, explained UAF spokesperson Mike Killion. This has created a climate of hatred against Muslims which we must stop.

Widespread support at the vigil, included local MP John Leech, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as from the Afro Caribbean community and trades unionists.

The support and solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters that was shown at the vigil demonstrated the very unity and solidarity that those who desecrated the graves most fear. A stronger and broader Manchester UAF was established at a meeting following this protest.

Muslim Graves Desecrated by Nazis for Third Time in 2 Months. P2

Manchester, England. 19th November 2009. Over 100 people joined a UAF rally outside Southern Cemetery in Manchester last Sunday to protest against the desecration, for a third time, of Muslim graves stones. All of the twenty headstones toppled last week were in the Muslim section.

This attack is not act of mindless violence. Those who did it knew exactly what they were doing. And we all know that they are a tiny, tiny minority in this City, said Cllr Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council speaking at the rally. Police are treating the desecration as a race hate crime.

Many at the vigil were asking why is this is happening again? And why now?

Since the first attack on the Muslim graves last month, we have seen the BBC put the Nazi BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question time, and we saw hundreds of racist thugs in the EDL march in Manchester city centre making Nazis salutes and carrying placards saying No More Mosques, explained UAF spokesperson Mike Killion. This has created a climate of hatred against Muslims which we must stop.

Widespread support at the vigil, included local MP John Leech, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as from the Afro-Caribbean community and trades unionists.

The support and solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters that was shown at the vigil demonstrated the very unity and solidarity that those who desecrated the graves most fear. A stronger and broader Manchester UAF was established at a meeting following this protest.

Sue Glenton, Mother of Joe Glenton, Speaks in Manchester

Manchester Town Hall, England. 28 November 2009. Sue Glenton, mother of Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, speaks at a public meeting called to demand his release from Colchester military detention centre.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with five further offences for speaking out in opposition to the presence of troops in Afghanistan.

‘My son is now a prisoner because he spoke against the Afghan war. He is in Colchester Glass House, the military prison. Well, they have gagged Joe, but they can’t gag me! They can’t gag his wife! ‘We will keep talking until Joe comes out and can talk for himself.

While General speak out every day in favour of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it appears that these elementary civil liberties don’t apply to “other ranks”.

How to support Lance Corporal Joe Glenton:

Write to Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth
Email: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworth@parliament.uk. Fax: 020 7218 6538
Postal Address: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB

Write a letter of support to Joe Glenton
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp, Colchester, Essex CO2 9NU
Email a message of support to Joe Glenton. defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

The charges against Joe allege that he led the anti-war demonstration in London on 24 October and that he has spoken to the press in defiance of orders. The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could get if the desertion charge is upheld.

The army commanders are clearly worried by Joes determination to explain his stance against the war in Afghanistan. Following his presence on the anti-war demonstration many of his fellow soldiers told him they agreed with what he was doing.

Meanwhile Lance Corporal Glenton remains determined in his stance against the war in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the attempts to silence him. Joe considers he was obliged to demonstrate in order to maintain the values and standards that he has been taught as a soldier.

The Stop the War Coalition will be campaigning for Joe’s immediate release and an end to attempts to curtail his freedom of speech. Stop the War Convenor Lindsey German said:

“This is not about breach of military regulations. In the last few days a range of military personnel have been speaking in the media in defence of this appalling war. I doubt any of them have been arrested. This is about the persecution of a soldier who believes in telling the truth in accordance with his conscience. He is saying what the majority of the population believe; this war is unwinnable and immoral. The anti-war movement will be doing everything possible to get Joe released.”

Vietnam War Vet Support Afghan War Refusenik Joe Glenton

Manchester Town Hall, England. 28 November 2009. Sue Glenton, mother of Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, speaks at a public meeting called to demand his release from Colchester military detention centre. This clip shows Vietnam War veteran Ron Senchak summing up at the end of the meeting.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with five further offences for speaking out in opposition to the presence of troops in Afghanistan.

‘My son is now a prisoner because he spoke against the Afghan war. He is in Colchester Glass House, the military prison. Well, they have gagged Joe, but they can’t gag me! They can’t gag his wife! ‘We will keep talking until Joe comes out and can talk for himself.

While General speak out every day in favour of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it appears that these elementary civil liberties don’t apply to “other ranks”.

How to support Lance Corporal Joe Glenton:

Write to Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth
Email: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworth@parliament.uk. Fax: 020 7218 6538
Postal Address: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB

Write a letter of support to Joe Glenton
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp, Colchester, Essex CO2 9NU
Email a message of support to Joe Glenton. defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

The charges against Joe allege that he led the anti-war demonstration in London on 24 October and that he has spoken to the press in defiance of orders. The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could get if the desertion charge is upheld.

The army commanders are clearly worried by Joes determination to explain his stance against the war in Afghanistan. Following his presence on the anti-war demonstration many of his fellow soldiers told him they agreed with what he was doing.

Meanwhile Lance Corporal Glenton remains determined in his stance against the war in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the attempts to silence him. Joe considers he was obliged to demonstrate in order to maintain the values and standards that he has been taught as a soldier.

The Stop the War Coalition will be campaigning for Joe’s immediate release and an end to attempts to curtail his freedom of speech. Stop the War Convenor Lindsey German said:

“This is not about breach of military regulations. In the last few days a range of military personnel have been speaking in the media in defence of this appalling war. I doubt any of them have been arrested. This is about the persecution of a soldier who believes in telling the truth in accordance with his conscience. He is saying what the majority of the population believe; this war is unwinnable and immoral. The anti-war movement will be doing everything possible to get Joe released.”

Nahella Ashraf Speaks About Arrest of Muslims at Joe Glenton Support Event

Manchester Town Hall, England. 28 November 2009. Sue Glenton, mother of Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, speaks at a public meeting called to demand his release from Colchester military detention centre.

This clip shows Nahella Ashraf chair of Manchester Stop the War speaking about some other victims–Muslims–of the wars launched by Bush and Blair. Outrage and disbelief has swept the Muslim community after a religious leader was arrested in ‘dawn’ police raids in Bolton, Greater Manchester, last Monday. Police claim that they are ‘looking for evidence of links to training camps in Afghanistan’. Four others have also been detained.

The suggestion that the well known, and highly respected Shaykh Asif Hussain Farooqui is involved in ‘inciting acts of terrorism overseas’ is ludicrous and absurd. ‘These charges are completely untrue and unfounded, and are directly against the teachings and example of the Shaykh over the past thirty five years.’ is the belief of thousands of people, including over a hundred Shaykhs who have already signed petitions demanding the release of an innocent man.

He has now been released, but four others face charges.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with five further offences for speaking out in opposition to the presence of troops in Afghanistan.

‘My son is now a prisoner because he spoke against the Afghan war. He is in Colchester Glass House, the military prison. Well, they have gagged Joe, but they can’t gag me! They can’t gag his wife! ‘We will keep talking until Joe comes out and can talk for himself.

While General speak out every day in favour of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it appears that these elementary civil liberties don’t apply to “other ranks”.

How to support Lance Corporal Joe Glenton:

Write to Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth
Email: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworth@parliament.uk. Fax: 020 7218 6538
Postal Address: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB

Write a letter of support to Joe Glenton
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp, Colchester, Essex CO2 9NU
Email a message of support to Joe Glenton. defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

The charges against Joe allege that he led the anti-war demonstration in London on 24 October and that he has spoken to the press in defiance of orders. The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could get if the desertion charge is upheld.

The army commanders are clearly worried by Joes determination to explain his stance against the war in Afghanistan. Following his presence on the anti-war demonstration many of his fellow soldiers told him they agreed with what he was doing.

Meanwhile Lance Corporal Glenton remains determined in his stance against the war in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the attempts to silence him. Joe considers he was obliged to demonstrate in order to maintain the values and standards that he has been taught as a soldier.

The Stop the War Coalition will be campaigning for Joe’s immediate release and an end to attempts to curtail his freedom of speech. Stop the War Convenor Lindsey German said:

“This is not about breach of military regulations. In the last few days a range of military personnel have been speaking in the media in defence of this appalling war. I doubt any of them have been arrested. This is about the persecution of a soldier who believes in telling the truth in accordance with his conscience. He is saying what the majority of the population believe; this war is unwinnable and immoral. The anti-war movement will be doing everything possible to get Joe released.”

Outrage and disbelief has swept the Muslim community after a religious leader was arrested in ‘dawn’ police raids in Bolton last Monday. Police claim that they are ‘looking for evidence of links to training camps in Afghanistan’. Four others have also been detained.

The suggestion that the well known, and highly respected Shaykh Asif Hussain Farooqui is involved in ‘inciting acts of terrorism overseas’ is ludicrous and absurd. ‘These charges are completely untrue and unfounded, and are directly against the teachings and example of the Shaykh over the past thirty five years.’ is the belief of thousands of people, including over a hundred Shaykhs who have already signed petitions demanding the release of an innocent man.

He has now been released, but four others face charges.

Vietnam Vet Ron Senchak Defends Joe Glenton

Manchester Town Hall, England. 28 November 2009. Vietnam war veteran Ron Senchak speaks at a public meeting called to demand the release of Afghan War refusenik Joe Glenton from Colchester military detention centre.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with five further offences for speaking out in opposition to the presence of troops in Afghanistan.

‘My son is now a prisoner because he spoke against the Afghan war. He is in Colchester Glass House, the military prison. Well, they have gagged Joe, but they can’t gag me! They can’t gag his wife! ‘We will keep talking until Joe comes out and can talk for himself.

While General speak out every day in favour of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it appears that these elementary civil liberties don’t apply to “other ranks”.

How to support Lance Corporal Joe Glenton:

Write to Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth
Email: defencesecretary@mod.uk or ainsworth@parliament.uk. Fax: 020 7218 6538
Postal Address: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB

Write a letter of support to Joe Glenton
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)
Berechurch Hall Camp, Colchester, Essex CO2 9NU
Email a message of support to Joe Glenton. defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

The charges against Joe allege that he led the anti-war demonstration in London on 24 October and that he has spoken to the press in defiance of orders. The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could get if the desertion charge is upheld.

The army commanders are clearly worried by Joes determination to explain his stance against the war in Afghanistan. Following his presence on the anti-war demonstration many of his fellow soldiers told him they agreed with what he was doing.

Meanwhile Lance Corporal Glenton remains determined in his stance against the war in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the attempts to silence him. Joe considers he was obliged to demonstrate in order to maintain the values and standards that he has been taught as a soldier.

The Stop the War Coalition will be campaigning for Joe’s immediate release and an end to attempts to curtail his freedom of speech. Stop the War Convenor Lindsey German said:

“This is not about breach of military regulations. In the last few days a range of military personnel have been speaking in the media in defence of this appalling war. I doubt any of them have been arrested. This is about the persecution of a soldier who believes in telling the truth in accordance with his conscience. He is saying what the majority of the population believe; this war is unwinnable and immoral. The anti-war movement will be doing everything possible to get Joe released.”

Michael Fitsimons Speaks at Manchester Meeting to Free Joe Glenton

Manchester Town Hall. 28th November 2009. Michael Fitzsimons, brother of Danny Fitzsimons, speaks at a public meeting to free Afghan war refusenik Lance Corporal Joe Glenton. As well as expressing his support for Joe, whom he had met before he was arrested, he also said how touched he had been by the support which Joe’s mother, Sue Glenton, had given to his own family’s campaign on behalf of his brother.

Danny Fitzsimons served in the army in Kosovo and Iraq and saw many horrors of war which left him mentally scarred–he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. On leaving the army, Danny worked for private security firms including ArmourGroup while still suffering from PTSD. Armourgroup did not properly screen Danny for PTSD. He ended up back in Iraq and within 36 hours was involved in an alcohol-fuelled fight in the Green Zone with two colleagues whom he shot and killed. Another ArmourGroup colleague, an Iraqi national, was also injured. Danny’s family are trying to ensure that he receives a fair trial. Michael expressed his horror at what his brother had done and offered condolences to the families of the murdered men. He said that Danny’s actions resulted from PTSD.

Chris Coverdale on Why all Unprovoked War is Illegal (2004)

Manchester, England. 12 March 2004. International war law expert Chris Coverdale speaks at the Trial of Blair. The trial was a fringe event at the Labour Party Spring Conference held in Manchester, UK –organised by the Stop the War Coalition.

Tony Blair was staying at the plush Midland Hotel in central Manchester less than a hundred yards from the hall where the trial took place. In between was a veritable army of police, armed officers from the Tactical Aid Unit (TAU), and the Special Branch (the UK’s political police). Blair had of course been invited to the meeting to defend himself, but, curiously, declined to attend.

The case for the prosecution was presented by Chris Coverdale of Legal Action Against War (LAAW), former MI5 whistleblower David Shayler and his partner Annie Machon–also a former MI5 officer. Ghada Razuki of the Stop the War Coalition also spoke. They were followed by 40 witnesses from the floor who were given 1 minute each to speak. The meeting was presided over by a “judge” in full regalia including a superb wig. Two grinning statues of Blair also adorned the platform.

The jury–the people at the event–voted Blair gulity. The verdict was unanimous.

Visit the Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition website:

http://manchesterstopwar.org

Save Danny Fitzsimons Campaign – Discussion

Bury, Greater Manchester. 14th November 2009. Over 100 soldiers, and soldiers’ families packed a meeting in Bury to launch the ‘Bring Danny Home Campaign’. Most signed the Stop the War petitions calling for troops back from Afghanistan, and to Free Joe Glenton, the soldier currently in prison for opposing the Afghan war.

Danny Fitzsimons served in the British army in Kosovo and Iraq where he experienced many horrors of war that damaged his mental health. He was kicked out the army because he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After a period of unemployment he signed up for private security contractors despite suffering from PTSD. There appeared to be little in the way of proper screening for this illness by the security contractors. He was sent to Iraq by ArmourGroup and after only 36 hours in the country, he got into an alcohol fueled fight with two of his colleagues shooting them dead–injuring also an Iraqi national who worked for AmourGroup.

Proceedings will start shortly in Iraq that could lead to the ex-soldier being hung in the very chamber that Saddam Hussein was hung. He faces a murder trial after shooting dead two co-workers in Iraq.

The main theme of the meeting was that Danny was a just as much a victim of the war as the iraqi people, that he is merely a pawn in the war. The consensus was that ArmourGroup is the real culprit and should be put on trial for failing to screen recruits like Danny for post traumatic stress disorder, for supplying alcohol to people whose mental health has been severely damaged by war.