Free Jailed Youths

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A Defence Committee has recently been set up in Islington, North London, in support of 18 black youths now facing High Court trial for "conspiracy to rob' Their trial follows a series of major police attacks on blacks in recent years: the Brockwell Park, Hornsey, Carib Club, Chapeltown (Leeds) and Harlesden trials all followed group arrests and one of the main charges used was "causing an affray'.

The fraudulence of campaigns against "mugging' is exposed by the police case against the Işlington 18.

Rees "One Year on from SDA - a Rally for Women's Rights" Saturday February 26th at 11 am. at Alexandra Palace.

This rally, initiated by the Working Women's Charter and now "sponsored" by an endless list of "left" MPs and bureaucrats, correctly concludes that only militant action will achieve equal pay and points to the example of last year's victorious Trico strikers who steadfastly refused to entertain any illusions in tribunals.

However the manoeuvrings of the IMG and their conception The 13 charges ridiculously vague.

Allegedly, for example, six of the youths, on a day unknown in the month of October 1976 (outside the Nightingale Youth Club, Wood Green, N22) did rob a woman unknown of a handbag and contents.' UNKNOWN One main charge is that the youths "between 21st August and 21st October 1976 in the Greater London area conspired together and with persons unknown to commit robberies.' The arrests were made over a two week period at the end of October and the • charges were concocted out of statements made by the youths about their own and their friends' activities.

At least one youth has. stated that he was made to sign a statement he did not make.

The fact that parents were not allowed to see their children for several days after their arrests adds strength to the allegations that they were put under extreme pressure.

INVESTIGATION

The Defence Committee demands an investigation into the behaviour of the police including the violent way in which the arrests were made and the houses of the accused were invaded.

They want to know why bail was not granted, even when the youths' employers, (most of them are either employed or still at school) were prepared to testify and stand bail..

In Islington, the Defence Committee against the police attacks already has, of course, the strong support of relatives of the 18 youths.

But it must reach out to the mass of youth in the area and take its campaign into the local labour movement and call for delegates from youth and workers' organisations.

Thus it can add strength to the fight to root out the local bureaucrats who refuse to lead a struggle against the right-wing policies of the Labour government. It should also take up the following demands:

*Home Secretary Rees must end police brutality and harassment -for a local labour movement enquiry into the actions of the *No cuts - expansion of youth provision and housing and improvement of schools to meet youth's needs!

*More jobs - for an increase in the Direct Labour Force and a programme of public works to create jobs at proper union rates for youth!