Anyone who's ever set up a stall or leafletted in Liverpool city centre
for any political cause will know that this is not exactly looked upon
kindly by the authorities. Animal rights stalls frequently face
harrassment, leafleters are asked to stop and threatened with fines on a
basis of a byelaw that doesn't apply to them and constantly we're being
asked to 'move on'.
As part of this years May Day celebrations the social forum is
suggesting that we should take our streets back for political
expression. On Saturday April 29th, the Saturday before May Day, we're
encouraging every group that looks to engage with the public to come out
at the same time, in the same place to set out our stalls together. If
we all express ourselves simultaneously we can take back the streets
from the advertisers and the corporations and present our alternatives.
We invite green groups, animal rights groups, tenant's associations,
socialist groups, single issue groups like Defy-ID or Defend Council
Housing, anti-deportation campaigns, anti-demolition/regeneration
campaigns, anti-stock transfer campaigns - anyone who has something to
say and very few places to say it. If we all come out together, we can
take the streets back for free expression and assert our right to say
what we want, when we want to.
To make this happen, the social forum is organising a meeting on the
morning of the 29th which will have speakers on the legalities of all
this and which will arrange the practicalities. Details to follow.
The more people come, the more we'll be able to do - please spread the
word about this.
