Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/546/6357
From The Socialist newspaper, 3 September 2008
Arrested for selling The Socialist
TONY AITMAN, a long-time Socialist Party member was arrested on 30 August for selling copies of The Socialist on a stall in Liverpool city centre. The tradition of political stalls in Church Street and its continuation Bold Street in Liverpool city centre stretches back over 30 years. Now, with the 2008 Capital of Culture title, the city council is trying to 'clean up' the centre, and remove any signs of opposition from the streets.
Over the past few months, there has been growing harassment of stalls and sellers on Liverpool's streets, from both the police and the council's wardens. Following threats of arrests, a "mass stall" was held a few weeks ago. Around 12 different organisations, including the Socialist Party, the CNWP, the Stop the War Coalition, CND, Animal Rights, the SWP, Cuba Solidarity, a cycling group, Merseyside Anarchists and the Fight ID Cards campaign set up stalls in defiance of the threats to our free speech.
Last Saturday, at the pitch we have used for years, Socialist Party member Tony Aitman was arrested for "wilful obstruction" after refusing to stop selling papers and collecting petition signatures on a stall against food and fuel price rises.
Tony is well known to Socialist Party members throughout the country; an activist for over 45 years, he is prominent in the CNWP and is a Unison shop steward, a member of Liverpool Unison branch committee. Our stall and papers were also confiscated. What seemed to annoy them most was when one of our (female) members called one of the police "love"!
We will not take this attack on our rights lying down. We have called for a further mass picket this Saturday, 6 September, meeting in Church Street at 12 noon.
By Merseyside Socialist Party members.
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In The Socialist 3 September 2008:
'Them and us' economy hits the rocks
Inequality - the world's deadliest disease!
Socialist Party editorial
Russia / Georgia war exposes limits of West
Socialist Party workplace news
Trades Union Congress: Building a real leadership against the bosses
John Mc Donnell MP protests at Unison witch-hunt
London buses: Strikers pack picket lines
Fight threat to Ford Transit plant jobs
Coastguards strike over bank holiday in pay protest
Socialist Party feature
Building a new workers' party: trade unionist initiative needed
International socialist news and analysis
Poland: Biggest workers' demo since the 1990s
Socialist Party campaigns
Arrested for selling The Socialist
Winners and losers at the Beijing Olympics
Water quality threat to health
Adding colour to The Socialist
Socialist Students
School and college students fighting back!
Socialist Party review
Inside Egypt: the land of the Pharaohs on the brink of a revolution
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Swollen profits, suffering patients
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