[The following statement was issued on March 27 by the Sydney Books Not Bombs anti-war group.]
The Books Not Bombs student activists, who faced severe police violence in Sydney and Perth yesterday, need your help. They have appealed for support for the next (April 2) student strike because the NSW police commissioner is saying no permit will be given. In fact, he is threatening to take out a Supreme Court injunction to arrest anyone who turns up for the protest!
On March 5, Books Not Bombs organised a peaceful protest in which some 7000 high school students took part. The police were under-prepared for the rather chaotic but nevertheless peaceful rally.
However, on March 26 some thousands of police were deployed (including Operational Response Group units and sniffer dogs) and proceeded to act in a very intimidatory and provocative way.
Students were trampled, beaten, some had their hijab headscarves torn off, and were arrested for minor infringements — largely incited by the heavy handedness of the police.
Students are calling for support from peace groups, parents, teachers, unionists. Some parents are initiating a group to monitor police violence against their children.
Legal support is being initiated, and the students have called on the state government to initiative an independent inquiry into the police actions on March 26.
What you can do:
1. Send a message of support to: <booksnotbombs@booksnotbombs.org.au>, Simon Butler 0405 733 768, Kylie Moon 0411 104 813
2. Offer any practical help (legal, financial, publicity, etc) to contacts above.
From Green Left Weekly, April 2, 2003.
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