witness request REPETITIVE BEATS
July 21st, Cumberland Basin, Bristol.
A free party organised by the Mutant Dance collective began just after midnight. As people arrived from all directions, many from the Ashton court festival, there was no sign of trouble. The site has been used for free parties for years without any problems. Half a dozen cops stood by, talking into their radios and watching the partygoers arrive. The crowd quickly grew and the atmosphere was friendly. People were up for a laugh and a night of dancing.
At around 1 am over 10 riot vans appeared and hoardes of cops began putting on their riot gear as the police helicopter circled overhead. Attempts were made by several partygoers to communicate with the police and to prevent any aggro. One organiser offered to move the party elsewhere if there was a problem with this site. He was arrested for “Conspiracy to cause a public nuisance” (charges later dropped). The only responses given to partygoers asking about police intentions were “Go away, I have nothing to say to you”, and “If you’re down there you’re going to get hurt”.
There was no attempt by officers to address the crowd and at no point did they make it clear that the party was illegal. Instead, at 2am, around 30 officers in full riot gear came to attack the party. By this time word had gone around, and many people formed a human chain around the DJs and sound systems to protect them. Many officers wore masks and no I.D. numbers – no comeback for cracking heads. They drew batons and assaulted a few people but did not break through the lines of people standing their ground. The strength and unity of the crowd was impressive in the face of unprovoked police aggression. But one person was dragged away, under a rain of baton blows as people shouted at the police to leave.
After a stand off the order was given to withdraw, and the crowd cheered. People were shaken up but the party continued until sunrise. Then the police came back, en masse and with dogs. This is when the worst attack began. Cops came from both sides of the party and began trashing the sound system and indiscriminately beating people. One eyewitness recounts :
“The police charged at everyone hitting them with their truncheons and trampling anyone in the way. I saw at least 15 people being hit with truncheons, some were young females doing absolutely nothing. I saw one young female around 18 years old being hit while on the floor by at least 5 police officers with truncheons…”
Injuries ranged from bruises and bleeding noses to neck injuries, fractured wrists and broken arms. Most of those on the receiving end of this “public order” policing were young women. Many were traumatised by sickening police violence. Some are now taking legal action against Avon and Somerset constabulary. Several women have been approached by an Inspector Voisey of Portishead Police H.Q. He is part of the Police Complaints Authority and appears eager to arrange interviews. When one woman who received a bad beating on the night refused to meet him, he suggested maybe he could send round some plain clothes officers for a chat. He told another woman who declined to give him her files on the incident, “ We do have the power of seizure”. Hardly the language you would expect from the supposedly objective PCA. Could it be that the PCA are more interested in finding any words or ways to justify the actions of the riot police on 21st July? Perhaps Voisey and friends could consider a name change to Police Cover-up Authority.
A big benefit night in October raised enough money to replace the damaged sound kit. Clearly, people refuse to be intimidated and will carry on partying. The party crews will continue to regularly organise unlicensed, free gatherings. Bristol has a strong network of sound systems up for organising entertainment on our own terms, without profit and controls. It is widely believed that this police attack was planned as revenge for failing to stop a massive free festival which took place in the summer at Steart, near Bridgewater. Police were powerless to stop thousands of up-for-it people and around thirty sound systems converging for a huge all-weekend party. Plenty more where that came from!!
URGENT WITNESS REQUEST
There is an urgent need for witness statements about the police attack on the free party. Police are attempting to deny charges of brutality, claiming that they were attacked by ravers. 3 people are still facing public order charges and could face prison sentences. We can’t let the authorities make an example of these people to the rest of us. For legal action to be effective, we need as many detailed statements as possible. If you or anyone you know were assaulted or arrested, or witnessed police attacking or arresting anyone else, we need to hear from you.
Writing a statement might take just 20 minutes of your time. It could be crucial for anyone facing charges or with a case against the police. By sticking together and looking after each other, we can expose the truth of the police violence, prevent police fit-ups of partygoers, and make Avon and Somerset Constabulary pay compensation. So we need as many statements as possible from people at the party.
We encourage people to go through the police complaints procedure. This will make stronger cases for those suing the police. We are in touch with solicitors who specialise in suing the police. You or someone you know may have a good case against the police and you’re not alone, as others are determined to take legal action.
We cannot let them get away with this violence. If we do nothing and resign ourselves to it all, the police will have carte blanche to attack more free parties. Also, when they have to pay out thousands of pounds, it is likely to make them a bit more sensible and open to negotiation next time. Please contact us with any information. Send witness statements complete with contact details to disruptive@dangerous-minds.com.
PARTY ON. STAY SOLID.
My first PARTY .. is gonna be this saturday ...
After a break of 14 years staying in with my children - which I've loved dont get me wrong, my hubby and I are now .. OUT and ABOUT ...
Smokescreen party on Saturday ... Can't wait !
Tell me your experiences of your first one!
mr pitts went to the mr pitts party between fakenham and norwich on 17/08/02.pukka nite found out about it by chance only complaint was the pills werent all that. does any one know where the next party in norfolk is let me know by email and I will give u a lift. respect to mr pitts for a top nite and by the way mr pitts if u read this nice chattin 2 u, (the bald black guy u gave a guided tour 2 from london)- u got my mobile no, keep in touch
Big shout to all partypeople and soundsystems (10/08/02) We would like to thank all the soundsystems and party people who made it to the Craigie Quarry party (10/08/02),for making it the most totally amazing buzz Scotland has had since the Dunnichen Hill festival 6 years ago.
Much respect 2 :
Find-us Soundsystem
Ketdem(Beast)
Diverse Frequencies
The Drum Clinic
The Unit
Global Soundsystem
Acid69 (Genny Meisters Extrordinaire)
Peace ,
Systems Anon...
need u’re scene report Heyza! I am working on a new issue of Iron Feather Journal to be released in June at the Underground Press Conference in bowling green ohio (us). Printing 1000 issues with global contacts, reviews, interviews, art, comix, etc.
We need your scene report! Can you email us with a report on what is going in your life, the scene around you, what radio you hear, what DJs you like, etc.
If you are to lazy to type this up for me, then graba mic and record it all to MP3 and email me that.
If we print your report we will send you copies of the zine as well as a shirt for your tyme.
Thanks & have phun!
stevyn prothero,
iron feather journal,
POB 21157, Lansing, Michigan, 48909, US http://ironfeather.com
smeatharpe!!! guys cheers for a buzzin weekend!! shame i didn't arrive till the saturday, just wish more could've made it!!! just gotta recover for the weekend now.
feeling of life CANT WAIT FOR THIS WHOPPER!!
DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANYONE WHO IS TAKING A TV TO WATCH THE GAME, ME AND A FEW MATES ARE TRYING TO HIRE A SCREEN
ANY IDEAS???????? :D
Police fail to stop rave BBC News - Thursday, 3 January, 2002, 19:15 GMT
A Lincolnshire farmer has accused police of failing to stop illegal ravers from taking over his sheds on New Year's Eve.
David Benton, of Moorby, said about 70 revellers smashed down his farm gate, drove a lorry-load of disco equipment onto this property and set fire to pallets.
He called Lincolnshire Police, who sent two officers, but said ravers could not be evicted because there were fewer than 100 trouble-makers involved.
Mr Benton, 44, said: "I will defend my property, and I will use violence if I have to if this happens again. The police have already said they will arrest me if I do."
'Totally irresponsible'
"Anybody must be able to defend their own property."
"It was like being a farmer in Zimbabwe - the police stood outside the gate while inside people were smashing up my property and they were doing nothing about it."
Lincolnshire Police said officers could only intervene to break up rave parties if certain criteria were met.
Inspector John Ginty stressed: "The law states that there must be more than 100 people in the open air, causing a public disruption - those conditions were not met in this case.
"These people are totally irresponsible and totally reckless and have no regard for other people's property, but this was a practical, proportionate response to what was taking place."
Fire worry
Chief Superintendent Kevin Morris, of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "You have to use your common sense and ask what could a group of officers realistically do?"
"You'd need 200 officers to deal with 100 revellers if they didn't want to leave."
Mr Benton said he was very concerned about the danger of nitrogen fertiliser stored on the farm catching fire.
His wife Sarah said: "I don't agree with vigilantism and I don't agree with what Tony Martin did at all."
"But you can understand someone getting to that state," she said.
A police spokesman warned: "While we have every sympathy with Mr Benton he will obviously be on a very sticky wicket if he does take any direct action in the future."
Kent Activity…..? Does anybody know what is happening in Kent @ the moment with the party scene, what with an alleged summer on its way?
ALSO!!!
Are there any fire performers around S.E. kent who fancy meeting up to get some sort of show together at parties and clubs. If so, drop us a line, as I am really looking to sort somethimg out!!!
peace and love to all,
Mike12
Police stop illegal rave Norwich Evening News - 9th July 2001
Police stop illegal rave
Two people were arrested as police raided an illegal rave held in an empty
building near Norwich city centre
A police spokeswoman said today that a security patrol alerted officers to
the rave in the ealry hours of Sunday morning.
She added that more than 150 people had gathered at the old brewery building
in Mountergate.
"It became evident that a rave was in progress" said Det Con Jackie
Manwaring. "Generators and sound systems were found inside".
Officers added that a number of safety concerns led to the descision to take
direct action.
At about 3.00am, police moved in to break up the party and one reveller was
taken to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital with a foot injury.
"Occassionally, the King Street area does suffer unlawful events like this,"
said Chf Supt Peter Fraser, cammander of Norwich police, "They present a
significant risk to the people attending them, not to mention the burden
they place on the police, who are already very busy policing a normal
saturday night in the city center"
An investigation has been launched to establish who organised the rave.
Mr Fraser also appealed to members of the public to alert police as soon as
they were aware of an iillegal rave being held.
One person was arrested for a drugs offence and a second for assaulting a
police officer.
sorry….party cancelled sorry guys, the postponed THC & Junktion party moved from 26th may to 2nd june has unfortunately been cancelled.
the mobile number used is now offline and please DO NOT call as we had some nasty unexpected 'party people' getting hold of the number.
dont worry more, parties will be coming soon! :mad: :mad: :mad:
TEKNO TROUBLE Last weekend, the hottest of the year, saw the party posse out in full
effect with the Hardcore Conspiracy Teknival. Late last summer there was a
massive Teknival involving 6000 people in Kingston, Surrey, leaving the
cops none too chuffed, so they didn't want to get caught with their pants
down again.
Panik, United Systems, Underground Sound, Skirmish, Random Sound, Headfuk,
Negusa Negast and other assorted rigs were out entertaining the kids all
over the South East. Unfortunately our old sparring partners, the cops,
were also out, trying as ever, to spoil the fun. The wacky races started
on the Friday night near the Hampshire/Surrey border with an attempted
party on old M.O.D. land. This was evicted under the Criminal Justice Act
on Saturday morning but the sound system was allowed to leave and the free
party people moved onto Guildford, where they tried to set up but again
the forces of darkness put a stop to it. The next place people went to was
a few miles up the road, near Cobham where about 500 danced until about
midnight. This time about 150 tooled up riot cops complete with
helicopters and dog units gatecrashed, with one woman beaten unconscious
and needing hospital treatment. On the way out all of the systems were
confiscated and so people headed towards the coast. But as ever the sound
crews are still up for it telling SchNEWS "The struggle continues. They
will never kill the music. Expect us back soon."
Meanwhile down in sunny Brighton two big parties were also taking place
put on by local sound systems. One was on a legal traveller site and
because of the numbers living there already, ie. the travellers, the
cops left it alone and the party continued for two nights. The other was
at Woodingdean, where up to 1000 people were enjoying a pleasant night on
the South Downs. The cops, who didn't even hear about the party till about
4am left two cars on the track leading up to the site. However, they
hadn't been paying attention to their own adverts telling people to lock
up their valuables and left their car doors unlocked. Unfortunately one of
the hand brakes mysteriously released itself and the car slid down into a
ditch, while theother flipped itself over and ended up on its roof in the
same ditch. The cops weren't best pleased with this and came on to site at
about 10am when most people had left and nicked the sound system, the
owner, his van and his records.
* Were you at Cobham when the cops steamed on? Witnesses are
needed to bring a prosecution against the police for their violent
behaviour. Contact Emma on 07774 405368
Originally printed on SchNEWS: http://www.schnews.org.uk/
PLUR – Drome closing? Had a message yesterday about the Drome closing. Fuck!
Does this mean no PLUR? I had heard 31st March. Anyone tell me the score?
Cheers,
FB.
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