The film the police are trying to ban is being shown in Edinburgh on the 17th of April, and Glasgow on the 18th April, as part of a UK-wide info-tour. The tour documents the four year campaign to shut down the Brighton bomb-makers EDO MBM.
Police have intervened across the country to censor ‘On the Verge’, the film about the Smash EDO campaign.
So far establishments in Southampton, Chichester, Bath and Oxford as well as Brighton have come under police pressure to cancel film showings.
In Brighton police prevented a showing at the Duke of York’s Cinema, just one hour prior to the scheduled premier, although the showing moved to a local pub.
There has been no reported attempts to suppress the film in Scotland.
The film and info-tour documents one of the longest running campaigns to emerge out of Britains anti-war movement, a campaign which aims to shut down the Brighton bomb-makers.
The film uses activist, police and CCTV footage plus interviews with activists from the campaign. Organisers say that it will give those involved the chance to discuss tactics, get feedback, and organise for the future.
The ‘Smash EDO’ campaign started in 2004 when Brighton peace activists, disgusted by the Iraq war, held a noise demonstration outside their local arms company, and they have held regular demonstrations ever since.
Methods of protest have included road blockades, roof occupations, and attempted weapons inspections. Activists from the campaign say that they have cost the company millions, and have tested our right to protest.
EDO MBM manufacture, amongst other things, the carriage and release mechanisms for bombs and missiles that are mounted on British military aircraft.
The info tour will take place in Edinburghs Forest Cafe (3 Bristo Place), on the 17th of April, and the Carnival Arts Centre (34 Albion Street) on the 18th.
