Free Jock Palfreeman action, 12pm Sat 16th October, Tarpeian Lawn, Botanical Gardens.
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Jock Palfreeman is a 23 year old Australian who had the courage to stand up against 16 Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He saved others and defended himself, but his reward was a 20 year prison sentence. In December 2007, Jock witnessed a gang of fascists attacking two men of Roma ethnicity in Sofia. Jock went to the aid of the Roma men, putting himself in the middle of the attack. The Roma men were able to escape, but the gang continued their attack on Jock. Following the fight, one member of the gang was killed (Andrey Monov) and another injured (Antoan Zahariev). Jock maintains that he tried to escape the violent gang, and was forced to act in self-defense. Jock was refused bail, and has spent two years in Sofia Central Prison. In December 2009, Jock was found guilty of both premeditated murder and attempted murder with antisocial intent. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with civil fines equating to $375,000 AUD. The gang members have consistently lied to avoid their responsibility for starting the violence that led to the death of Andrey Monov. The prosecution's case was built on the witness statements made by the other Nazis that were there that night, all claiming that Jock randomly attacked the group and chased them with the intent of killing somebody.The prosecutor has blocked evidence which exposes the lies of both gang members and police. The investigation and court proceedings were also flawed, and biased against Jock’s defense. The nature of the trial against Jock has violated his human rights and revealed the corruption and injustice of the judicial system. Join us in standing up against fascism and in favour of freedom for Jock.

This is a very important time for solidarity actions with Jock, as his appeal trial will start on the 21st October. There will be actions around the world - in Europe, the UK, America. In Sydney supporters will gather at the Tarpeian Lawn, Botanical Gardens (near Government House and The Opera House) from 12 noon till 5pm. (Please be there by 1pm for speeches by friends and family). http://www.freejock.net

Screening of "One Night in Sofia", documentary about Jock Palfreeman, anti-fascist from Australia imprisoned in Bulgaria.

Wednesday 8pm 16/6/2010 at Black Rose 22 Enmore rd Newtown.

- Anarchists and Anti-authoritarians in Solidarity

SOLIDARITY WITH JOCK PALFREEMAN

Jock Palfreeman is a 23 year old antifascist from Australian currently in prison in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is accused of murder and attempted murder, following an encounter with a group of 16 far-right football hooligans. After 2 years of trial he was sentenced in December 2009 to 20 years imprisonment.

In December 2007, Jock witnessed a gang of fascist football hooligans attacking two Roma men in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. Jock went to the aid of the men, putting himself in the middle of the attack. The Roma were able to escape, but the gang then turned on Jock. The fascists kicked and punched Jock, and then started collecting pieces of broken concrete and throwing them at his head. Jock was alone, and forced to defend himself against the gang of 16 drunken, violent fascists. As a result, one fascist (Andrei Monov) was killed and another (Anton Zahariev) injured. Monov’s father, Dr Hristo Monov, is a prominent Bulgarian doctor, with ties to the government and contacts in the legal system.

Jock has been in prison for two years. Police have beaten and threatened to kill him, and have openly lied about his case in court. Much of the evidence that supports Jock’s version of events has been destroyed or has gone missing. For example, a CCTV video tape which showed the brutal attack on Jock has been “lost” by police and then been retrieved, only to mysteriously explode — again while in police custody. The Bulgarian media has labeled Jock a murderer and a hooligan, and has consistently and systematically published lies and distortions about Jock and his case. The court has been repeatedly delayed due to witnesses and court officials failing to turn up.

Attacks against Roma in Bulgaria have spiked in recent years, and the far right has declared that the eradication of Roma from their territories is of utmost political importance. Their anti-Roma campaigns include both propaganda and violence. In February 2009, local fascists organised a rally in Sofia, demanding that Jock be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
We denounce the despicable conditions Jock has been forced to endure, and without hesitation raise our voices in a firm declaration of solidarity. Jock has dedicated his life to fighting against fascism, and is now facing 20 years in a Bulgarian jail because he chose to try to stop a fascist attack.

Of course we expect nothing else from the so called “Justice System”; the laws, the judiciary, the police, the prosecutors and all the various mechanisms and institutions which serve the interests of capital and the state. We are not interested in the construction of “innocent” and “guilty” by civic legality and all its lackeys; those who continually attempt to marginalise and criminalise comrades who with dignity fight for freedom and defend the persecuted.

Like every captive of the state, Jock is not alone. Our acts of solidarity for each other turn out to be acts for all. They affect all the exploited, inside and outside the prisons of capital in our common need to throw down the walls of oppression and misery everywhere, we know true “justice” will not exist until the destruction of all prisons and the culture that creates them.

For further information about Jock's case see www.freejock.net

NO ONE HOSTAGE IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE, FIRE TO THE PRISONS

NO COMPLACENCY AGAINST FASCISM

IMMEDIATE FREEDOM TO ANTIFASCIST JOCK PALFREEMAN

-anarchists and antiauthoritarians

Construction worker from South Australia facing six months in jail. He has been charged with not attending an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Ark was working on the Flinders University site in Adelaide. Conditions were so bad that workers drew up a petition calling for safety improvements, on a handtowel. One by one workers from the site were called before the ABCC.

The penalties for those who don’t cooperate with ABCC investigations are frightening - fines of up to $22,000 for things like stopping work to make sure workers are safe and jail for up to 6 months if you don’t answer their questions.

His next court dates are 15, 16, and 18 June. Nationwide demonstrations planned.

Initiative of anarchists and antiauthoritarians for information, discussion, and coordination of actions in solidarity.

NEW TIME - 6pm TUES 8th June

Michael Matteson discusses the Spanish anarcho-syndicalist trade union, the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, or National Confederation of Labor) in myth and reality: Class Fracturing and Political Struggle 1931 to 1936.
Part of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Discussion Series.
Entry is free.