On 10/10/22, we organised a solidarity coffee afternoon for the Kenmure 3 at the Pink Peacock. The text below was read at the beginning of the event to give the discussion some direction in engaging with certain questions we have for the ‘movement’.
In May 2021 an immigration raid attempting to kidnap two residents was stopped by locals after an eight-hour stand-off with the Home Office goons and their protectors in Police Scotland. It was a huge victory, one of the most significant moments within all anti-border struggles on these isles in decades. For one short day, in one small part of Glasgow, we actually made reality the promise of “No borders, No Nations, Stop Deportations”. However, during the course of the day, three people were arrested and are now potentially facing time in prison, isolated from their community for the crime of defending it against the violence of the state.
This is just one case in a long, bloody list of people paying hard consequences for standing up to state and police power, in Scotland and all over the world. As anarchists, we understand and expect that the state will defend its own power over us, and that in the final analysis, they will use their attack dogs in the police and prison system to that end, as the main defense of the system which is crushing us. Despite this,we can also see that solidarity with arestees is often not prioritised by our movement. That people often – too often – face court, and prison, alone.
Why is supporting those who are facing the most direct violence of the state so important for anarchists?
Why hasn’t the case of the Kenmure 3 attracted more attention and support?
What can we do to support them more? And then, to support those others who will face the same thing in the future?
What can we do for those who are already behind bars?
