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Arrested As Football Pitch Is Invaded In Sports Boycott
( PSC, et el.)
1 August 2002
Photo courtesy BIG Campaign
Three people were arrested at last night's football match featuring
Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv at Leyton Orient in east London. In
a scene reminiscent of demonstrations against South African apartheid,
activists invaded the pitch, carrying Palestinian flags and a huge
banner demanding an end to Israel's brutal illegal military occupation
of Palestinian land.
Camapigners picketing outside the stadium handed out leaflets to
would be match-goers which explained the sporting boycott of israel.
Match attendence was down from an expected 2,500 to a disappointing
1,415.
The three were charged and will be appearing at a hearing at 9.30am
next Tuesday, 6 August, at Waltham Forest Magistrates Court, 1 Farnan
Avenue, Walthamstow, London E17.
IF YOU ARE IN LONDON, PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU CAN TO SUPPORT THEM
AT THE HEARING!!
(Walthamstow Central tube, Victoria Line; overground from Liverpool
St; 275 bus stops outside the court.)
Photo courtesy BIG Campaign
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Personal
Account
I have just returned from a football match in Leyton, East
London. The match was Leyton Orient vs Tel Aviv Maccabi.
My purpose of being there along with a group of others sympathetic
to the Palestinian cause was to stage a pitch invasion to
protest the fact that a British football club was playing
an Israeli team when the Israeli military are killing men
women and children in the illegally Occupied Territories.
Palestinian children under curfew are shot while playing football.
Before we were able to stage any kind of action six of us
were 'ejected' from the stadium (for having a Palestinian
flag in our possesion) however three remained and managed
to get onto the pitch with a banner and Palestinian flag.
Unfortunately the three were arrested and charged this evening.
They are due to appear in court on Tuesday 6th August and
therefore need free legal advice and representation.
The charge details are as follows:
Going on to a playing area
On 31 July 2002 at Leyton Orient Football Club Brisbane
Road E10 at a designated football match held at Leyton Orient
football club without lawful authority or lawful excuse
went onto the playing area. Contrary to section 4 &
5 of the football (offences) act.
It is important that the three individuals (Mortaza, Camilla
& Lina) are supported as they took a brave step, risking
arrest to show the Tel Aviv side that they can't just freely
tour the world while the sporting talent of Palestine is wasted
under illegal occupation, curfew, attack, imprisonment, in
refugee camps and in exile.
The three people who invaded the pitch were arrested and
spent most of the evening in custody where they were even
asked to give DNA samples, while the crowd who shouted abuse
at them and even death threats were allowed to continue watching
the game.
Please contact IHRC ( Tel: 02089 020888, e-mail: info@ihrc.org
) if you can offer any assistance to these brave people. Also
please show your support by attending their court hearing
(details above).
Thanks, Siama .
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Scene outside Waltham Forest Magistrates Court.
6 August 2002. Photo courtesy BIG Campaign
Visit
BIG Campaign for more photos
Links
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Sports Boycott of
Israel - Includes information on upcoming sports fixtures
featuring israeli participation - target details with sample
letters, etc.
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