Jan 302012
Friday 3rd February 1-2pm Triton Square.
Benefit claimants, disabled people and supporters will be gathering outside Atos’ head office in Triton Square this Friday in solidarity with the Nottingham 2 who were charged with ‘aggravated trespass’ at a previous protest in Nottingham.
A wheelchair user and a pensioner were charged with Aggravated Trespass after peacefully entering one of Atos’ assessment centres on one of the National Days of Action Against Atos and the Benefit Cuts held last year. Whilst the charges have now been dropped campaigners have said this case has highlighted a new approach from Nottinghamshire Police towards peaceful protesters as discussed onNottingham indymedia:
“The arrests of Notts Uncut activists just before Christmas and the confiscation of a photography student’s tapes after he filmed an arrest demonstrate that the local force is changing their attitude towards peaceful protest.
This seems to have been confirmed by a police officers’ remark who commented on the arrest of the ‘Atos Two’ by stating that there ‘had been too much of this sort of thing and we were told to crack down on it’.”
A demonstration is also due to be held in Nottingham this Friday meeting at the junction of Carlton Street and Heathcote Street, Hockley at 12.30pm.
In London protesters will gather outside Atos’ gleaming corporate headquarters in Triton Square in both solidarity and in protest at the companies continuing involvement in the Work Capability Assessment.
Join us from 1pm – bring banners, leaflets, placards, noise!
https://www.lifeinthemix.info/2011/11/atos-work-programme-mandatory-work-activity-supply-chains/
My God I can’t believe that a moredn government is even considering reducing financial assistance to those most in need and their unpaid carers. Luckily for all of us the House of Lords tend to see the reality of any situation without the worry of following the party line. Common sense has to prevail. Prosecute the tiny minority abusing the system, help those that don’t. Is this the real Britain we are living in, or are we to draw assumptions certain members of government are looking backwards into past practices in other European countries?Lord Low, common sense and decency must prevail, and rather than reduce any allowance, more should be given as a right especially to carers, who by their actions save the country and NHS untold costs.Britain, like any old colonial power, has as much to be ashamed of as proud. Being British used to mean we had a real sense of decency, of fairplay, and of helping those less fortunate wherever in the world they may be.Maybe if the politicians tried a whole day walking with broken glass in their shoes, pins in their shirts, ear muffs, vision distorters, not being able to use one limb, being incontinent, and sat watching a television out of focus and in a foreign unrecognisable tounge, WITH LITTLE OR NO HELP, they may see things differently. Even if they lasted a day, would they choose it for the rest of their lives, or for a member of their family? Exactly. Would they hell.