In the Face of Intimidation, Kebele Pushes Ahead with Screening
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Wednesday March 26, 2008 17:53
by imcvol
'On the Verge' to be screened despite attempted censorship in Bath, Bristol and other UK venues.
'On the Verge' to be screened despite attempted censorship in Bath, Bristol and other UK venues.
Screenings of the protest information film in Southampton, Oxford and Chichester and Brighton have all been met with threats by the authorities. Then a local screening in Bath was also under pressure as Bath Activist Network reported; Alan Bartlett, head of licensing at B&NES pressured the owner of the Bell public house on Walcot Street to not show the film due to licensing and certification small print, acting on instruction from an undisclosed source... But not put off by the attempted censorship, an alternative arrangement was soon made.
Now the Bristol screening has also come under attack as Kebele Social Centre reports; The screening of 'On the Verge', as part of the information tour of the group Smash EDO, will go ahead on Thursday 27th March, despite attempts by Sussex Police and others to prevent it. We feel that the intimidation and threats that we and other venues have received is a direct attack on the values of free speech and the freedom to protest, and should be resisted. We fully support the Smash EDO campaign and are proud to be able to give them this platform to allow their dissenting voices to be heard. Full article. (Image: Kebele Social Centre, Bristol - venue for the 'banned' screening on 27th March)
| Kebele to show 'the film they tried to ban' | Brighton's Schnews on how ban on SmashEDO film subverted in Brighton! |Smash EDO 'On The Verge' tour comes to Bath | How can we confront the weapons manufacturers in our local communities? | SmashEDO! Anti-arms campaign visits Bristol | 'On the Verge' Tailer | www.smashedo.org.uk |
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Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7article is centre spread of G2 (guardian) if that interests you
good job, thanks for that !
I am not surprised, but this bit of big-brother is making the police look very bad indeed.
This film shows State intimidation of a group of ordinary people, like you or me, who could no longer tolerate death being manufactured in their hometown of Brighton. It is not possible for them to live with the knowledge that weapons systems manufacturer, EDO, is there in their midst, making components which have been, and will continue to be, used in the killing of civilians in oil rich lands. They can no longer just stand by and do nothing.
Modern US –UK imperial invasions are being conducted at a highly technical level where the invaders possess the best technology to wipe out “insurgent (insert defender) strongholds”. And as the military enthusiastically play at war games with their new high tech toys, civilian devastation counts for little.
The people of Brighton who stood up against state sponsored terrorism simply did what they had to do. They have reached the point where they can no longer turn a blind eye to what is being manufactured a few streets away, and have to demonstrate their absolute disapproval.
The film leaves one in no illusions as to the role of the police, who appear to positively delight in the man-handling of these morally upright people - people who until then had spent their lives diligently observing the law.
If we had a government that had any regard for truth or justice, then there would be some safeguard against the excesses of these manufacturers of death. But take another look at the list of our own MP’s in the West of England who were in favour of illegal “Crimes of Aggression”, and ask yourself, what safeguard is there?
Thanks to Kebele for showing this film, the sitting was filled to capacity, you did an excellent job which is greatly appreciated.
Maybe it would be possible for BIMC to arrange a showing at the Cube, to reach a larger audience.
As the BBC tries to afford us the luxury of ignorance, we should be made aware of, and denounce the blatant immorality of wholesale high tech death and devastation of our fellow human beings in the US-UK illegal invasion.
EDO Bath - How it Went
To follow up on the EDO stories, the top people over at The Bath Bomb have given us a speak preivew of the next issue with a tale to tell of the EDO screening;
"Thats rights folks, last week saw Bath Activist Network illicitly screening a copy of the film the cops tried to ban in that shady den of crime and subversion otherwise known as the Quakers freinds meeting house. The film was 'on the verge', telling the story of a dedicated crew of Brightonians who have nearly succeeded in shutting down a bomb building factory after 4 years campaigning. they have suffered continual police harrasment, with over 40 arrests so far, and the bother didn't stop when they took their new film on tour. Obviously not happy with exposing us to the idea that we have the power to change society, the police have been scurring round the country bullying small venues to make them drop the film (teling one woman they would take away her film screening licence if she disobeyed). The same happened in Bath - the Bell, our original venue got a call from a sweaty palmed worm of a human being named Alan Bartlett. Alan, acting under the orders of his police overlords had threatened the Bell out of showing the film. We managed to find the Quaker meeting house as a backup venue, as places of worship are exempt from film laws. Alan tried the same trick, tactfully stating that being a Quaker wasn't a 'proper' religion (well, Alan should know about things not being proper - his job for example). Never the less, the film went ahead to a packed theatre, numbers doubled due to the contraversy caused by police and council bullying. The film was inspirational and the night was a great sucess. And as for our inept, toady friend Alan, and the wanna be film critics that consitute the thin blue line... i'm guessing they havn'y heard the last of this just yet!"
Good on 'em for fighting the censorship of the cops! Good on Kebele too! It shows that when people who care are faced with repression, they can push forward and overcome. The cops attempted censorship has totally backfired and give the film more publicity that it would have had before.
Links;
Story Summary - http://anarchist606.blogspot.com/2008/03/police-try-to-....html
Bath Bomb - http://www.myspace.com/bathbomb (and check out issue 8! http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688075 )
Smash EDO - http://www.smashedo.org.uk
Bristol Screening - http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/article/688105
PS. The Smash EDO people will be hosting a big Carnival Against the Arms Trade in Brighton, meet at 12 noon at The Level, Brighton on Wednesday 4th June - Wear red, bring whistles and drums!
Thank the soldiers for your ability to speak freely and protest freely. Without them you would all be doing manual labour knitting sweaters or sewing bead necklaces for the Nazi's.
PS I hate hippys you all stink and your dogs have fleas
wouldn't expect less of kebele. i'm moving to britsol hopefully to work/study next year. I found out about this place and i really want to get involved when i arrive. And i wouldn't expect less of such a great place than to show the film. brilliant.