Cops set dogs on demo

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DURING recent months the Asian community in Batley and Dewsbury have witnessed an ever increasing number of racist attacks. The racists have rampaged through the streets in cars shouting abuse. They attack shops, homes, and places of worship.

On Sunday July 24, at approximately 3pm, four whites in a white Ford Capri rammed two Asian cars and beat up four Asian youths sitting in one of the cars.

Later that evening, twenty whites emerged from the Scarborough Hotel at approximately 8.30 and viciously assaulted five Asian youths. One youth, Umar, was admitted to a specialist hospital with a fractured skull.

During both incidents the whites were carrying iron bars. At the pub incident they were also armed with pool cues.

The police were immediately informed about the afternoon incident. They were even given the registration number of the car involved. The police took no action. Had they made arrests, Umar would not be in hospital with a fractured skull.

SO YOU thought the Brazilian economy was gloom all round? Not at all. One firm has recently reported record profits - 35% up on the previous year.

The firm in question is Citibank, one of the US banks with big loans in Brazil. While Brazil accounts for only 5% of Citibank's loans, with overthe-odds interest rates yields 20% of the profits. IN CASE you thought that civilisation might have arrived with the massive anti-hanging vote, recent newspapers provided plenty of evidence that barbarism is still with us in the guise of 'law and order':1. 28 prisoners have been charged with 'mutiny'. under YS After the incident outside the Scarborough Hotel, the police escorted the whites away in a Black Maria and cleared them. No arrests were made.

At 4am on Monday morning the police raided an Asian home. Three brothers were arrested and a door smashed. They have been charged with actual bodily harm, damage to police property, and causing an affray.

On Monday evening a spontaneous march took place in Saville Town. The march was peaceful. It headed towards the police station to form a picket, demanding the release of the three Asian youths. The march was stopped and dogs released. Two children were bitten.

A Dewsbury Defence Committee has been formed, with the following demands:

* That charges be immediately dropped against these three Asian youths, * The closure of the'Scarborough Hotel, a breeding ground for racists, * An investigation of the appalling police behaviour and attitude during these incidents.

A 700 strong demonstration supporting these demands, on July 30, drew groups from Birmingham, Sheffield, and Bradford. It came in for a fusillade of racist reportage from the press, which unashamedly took the side of the whites and echoed their antiAsian comments, seeking no statement from the Asian youth.

A fascist-inspired counter-demonstration attracted less than 100 whites.

Contact: Dewsbury Defence Committee, c/o 93 Little Horton Lane, Bradford. prison regulations for their alleged involvement in the rooftop protest and riot' at Albany prison last May. They will be tried' by the prison's Board of Visitors.

They will be denied legal representation, or even a friend at their hearing. Defence witnesses could only be called with the leave of the Board of Visitors. There will be no public airing. of the complaints about prison condi/.22A 1..9..

WORKERS at Michelin in Stoke have now been out for three weeks, and the action is toughening up. Last Tuesdy i,020 workers in the Lightweight Production Department was eventually made official and strike pay was handed out. On Thursday night a mass meeting at Stoke Town Hall voted solidly to reject new proposals from management, and to start 24 hour picketing of the plant from the next day.

Management, who have been taking workers back into other departments in dribs and drabs, offered a lifting of their lockout, and negotiations condition that the new 4 shift working, which caused the dispute in the fir it place, was implemented from August 15th. There was no way the wor-kers were being conned by that.

Works convenor Gordon Howle read out letters of support for the strikers including a telex from Michelin workers in Holland.

SO supporters who are councillors in Burslem Central ward had also successfully moved that a letter of support be sent from the branch secretary on behalf of the local councillors, and the ward also asked the press officer to write to the local newspaper expressing mno solidarity with the strikers.

Works Convenor Gordon Howle also read a statement from 130 workers in the truck PICKET.N retread department (DCP) who are already working the 4 shift system. It read:

'We the undersigned workers in DCP wish to deny any statement made by the company that implies our lives are successfully organised around four set working ' When the vote was taken on Thursday night only a handful opposed continuation of the dispute, despite no reccomendation being made, and a cheer went up when it was announced that 24 hour picketing would be imposed. When Gordon Howle then suggested imposing the picketing from Monday there were shouts from the floor which carried the day that picketing should start immediately.

JOHN HARRIS The aim of the picketing is not particularly to stop workers in other departments going in, but to stop materials going in, and tyres going out.

Strengthened The action was strengthened on Saturday July 30 when 63 lorry drivers at the plant voted to join the strike. They will join the pickets on the gates to stop contract drivers going in and out.

Now the strike is official all Michelin products should be blacked. Much of the production is exported so blacking at the docks is vital, but blacking of Michelin products throughout the motor industry could quickly win the dispute.

that he wanted

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still with us.

ořnicini STRIKE