Traveller Solidarity Network

Hi all, a busy autumn ahead! For up to date details check the website travellersolidarity.org or contact travellersolidarity@riseup.net. In this
issue:

1) FIGHT FOR SITES:
a) Thursday 20th September – FFS Public Meeting, London
b) Friday 19th October Dale Farm Anniversary Mass Action – Evict DCLG!
c) Action Pack now available online

2) DALE FARM FURTHER EVICTION THREAT
a) Update – be ready
b) Legal Observer Training
3) 9TH OCTOBER – COURT SOLIDARITY WITH ROMA ACTIVIST
4) Next TSN national organising meeting 10th-11th November, London

1) FIGHT FOR SITES:
If you hadn’t heard yet, this autumn sees TSN focusing on the underprovision of legal sites for Gypsies and Travellers that underpins
the evictions and harrassment that these communities face.

a) Thursday 20th September – FFS Public Meeting, 7.30pm Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 6LS
A panel of experts lead discussion about racism against Travellers and Gypsies, how the government are making it worse, and how we can resist. Speakers include residents from Dale Farm, TSN activists, Matthew Brindley of the Irish Traveller Movement in Britain, lawyer Raj Chada, and Weyman Bennett of Unite Against Fascism.
Facebook Event

b) Friday 19th October, 1pm at Victoria Station:
Mass Action – Dale Farm Anniversary – Evict DCLG!
One Year Ago, at dawn on 19 October 2011, hundreds of riot police and bailiffs stormed the Dale Farm Traveller community to carry out one of the largest and most brutal evictions in the UK.
Eric Pickles’  Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) funded the Dale Farm eviction to the tune of £1.2 million. They are also leading the wholesale attack on Gypsy and Traveller rights, abolishing local government targets for the provision of sites and strengthening powers to evict through the Localism Act.
It’s time to fight back! Join this mass action to evict DCLG – the eviction to end all evictions!
Facebook Event

c) Action Pack now available online
Need to read up on the issues? Persuade your friends/family/colleagues/communities that this is an important issue?
Check out our Fight for Sites Action Pack which details the problems and how we can take action in support of Gypsy and Traveller communities here.
If you would like us to come and speak or have a stall at your event, we would really like that, get in touch!

2) DALE FARM FURTHER EVICTION THREAT:
a) Update – be ready!
Basildon Borough Council is now seeking to evict the families still living on the access road to their former homes, despite a promising planning application in progress that would house 15 of the most vulnerable families. These families have been living for the last year in difficult conditions lacking running water and electricity, because they have nowhere else togo, and will be left homeless.

The Council issued enforcement notices that took effect on 29th August, to be complied with within a month (by 29th September) from which point the Council can take action to forcefully evict the families from the road. An appeal against these notices was refused, but the solicitors are considering an appeal by Judicial Review and by law have three months to respond before the planning inspectorate’s current decision can be enforced without further legal objection. There may also be other legal possibilities available to the families to pursue.
Confusing? Yes we know! We think this means that the Council cannot start an eviction on the 29th September, but that does not mean that they won’t try!

The important thing as supporters is to be ready – we will give further details as soon as we know them. The families really appreciate our support. As was the case a year ago, what kind of support we give them in resisting will likely be varied and depend on what they ask for. One form of support will definitely be having legal observers there, see:

b) Legal Observer Training
We are now looking for legal observers in advance of the anticipated further eviction action at Dale Farm, in order to prevent
over-enforcement, gather evidence of wrongdoing, and support the families.  We are offering Legal Observer training and also briefings for experienced LOs.

We are seeking individual volunteers to join the TSN Legal Observing group rather than self-contained groups so would be grateful if you could forward this request to your lists.
There will be two training weekends in central London:

Saturday 22nd September – Sunday 23rd September (11am–5pm both days*)
Saturday 3rd November – Sunday 4th November  (11-5pm both days*)

(Please note that it is possible that an eviction may occur before the second training date. In this event we will be in touch with our contingency plan)
If you are interested please contact dalefarmbackoffice@riseup.net with the following info:

- Name, contact email address and phone number
- Any training or experience you have had as a LO (including who gave the training)
* You might not need to attend the full training

We will get back to you with further details. If London is too far for you but you are keen, get  in touch and we will see what we can do. As this is a particularly sensitive situation and traumatic time for the families, we would really like it if undercover police, journalists, or students doing research projects don’t come along.

Many thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer and in any case thank you for taking the time to read this message.

3) 9TH OCTOBER – COURT SOLIDARITY WITH ROMA ACTIVIST
Bulgarian Roma activist Toma Nikolaev is still fighting a politically motivated extradition to Bulgaria. After a series of preliminary
hearings, his fight is culminating at a higher-level court case on 9th October. Please join us in supporting him outside the court from 11am at
Westminster Magistrates’ Court, 181 Marylebone Rd, London, more details to follow.
Facebook Event

4) Next TSN national organising meeting 10th-11th November, London Stick the date in your diary, book trains, we can help with transport costs if needed, details closer to the time.