September is the month when Cardiff is at its most colourfully radiant. The leaves turning red, yellow and brown, and the arrival of thousands of new students from all corners of the globe turning the city into its vibrant best. This autumn there is also the small matter of the Rugby World Cup where Wales hopes to impress. Several matches would be held in the Welsh capital. Yet, rugby mad Wales is also looking to finally make its mark with the round ball. One of the most important football matches for the national team would be held in Cardiff when Wales takes on Israel on 6th September 2015. For Wales, a victory in this match almost guarantees qualification to next summer's European Championship. Not since 1958 has the country managed to qualify for a major international tournament despite producing some of the best top flight footballers to play in the English league throughout the barren years. As the world's most expensive player Gareth Bale drapes himself in the famous red and prepares to run havoc along the Israeli defence, darting runs (or perhaps a sedate walk) of a different nature is planned by a vociferous group of activists.
Adam Johannes is the Secretary of the Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, who is planning to be present at a peaceful protest in Cardiff against Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories. This September, the sporting significance is just as remarkable as the planned protest organised by Johannes. The following letter was written to a local newspaper by Adam Johannes and others reflecting on an incident at the previous solidarity march in Cardiff when several individuals (including one person who had previously been convicted for a football hooliganism related offence) decided to hurl glasses, chairs, beer and racist insults at the peaceful protesters as the procession made its way across Mill Lane.
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Prison sentence not in spirit of justice
The
Wales March for Gaza; called by Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, Cardiff
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, CND Cymru and several trade unions last
summer was extraordinary. Up to 5000 people from all faiths and walks of
life peacefully filed through Cardiff City Centre.
With
cross-party support from MPs and MEPs, many AM’s and councillors joined
us on the day. This was not only the biggest acts of mass solidarity
with Palestine in Welsh history, but one of the largest marches in the city in twenty years.
However,
in unprecedented scenes, a peaceful demonstration joined by faith
leaders, families and children was twice attacked by racist thugs,
including a convicted football hooligan. What followed must stand as one
of the ugliest public displays of racism seen in our city in recent
times.
On St Mary Street, glasses were thrown from a bar by thugs chanting racist abuse. Children carried on their parents shoulders and others pushed in prams only narrowly missed being hit.
On Mill Lane, a chair was hurled at the march, beer was thrown on Muslim marchers and, once again, the most vile racist abuse chanted including 'Kill all the P***s' and 'Burn the P***'s kids means one less P***'.
How would anyone respond if glasses, chairs, beer and racist abuse were hurled at a group including families and young children? The police certainly did not intervene to halt the attacks and contain the danger; both to children and families.
Whereas some would say that scuffles should not occur on our streets, how many of those would fail to sympathise with a man who, having seen friends, as well as families and children racially abused and humiliated, sought to fend off their immediate attackers?
The partial defence of provocation exists to ensure that justice is tempered with fairness. It serves to safeguard against a false equivalence whereby the aggressor and victim are said to be equally culpable thus deserving of equal punishment.
It is shocking, therefore to hear that a demonstrator who responded to the racist attack has received a longer sentence, two and a half years, than those who attacked the march.
We believe that it is neither in the public interest nor the spirit of justice and proportionality for Yussef Asad to serve a prison sentence.
Adam Johannes, Cardiff Stop the War Coalition
Betty Hunter, Honourary President, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Bethan Jenkins AM
Cllr Ali Ahmed, Chair, Unite Against Fascism Wales
Marianne Owens, PCS Union, National Executive Committee
Shavanah Taj, Wales Secretary, PCS Union
Shahien Taj & Shereen Williams, Henna Foundation
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An edited version of the above letter was published in S.Wales Echo on 24th March.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/south-wales-echo-letters-monday-9915977
© TTR
On St Mary Street, glasses were thrown from a bar by thugs chanting racist abuse. Children carried on their parents shoulders and others pushed in prams only narrowly missed being hit.
On Mill Lane, a chair was hurled at the march, beer was thrown on Muslim marchers and, once again, the most vile racist abuse chanted including 'Kill all the P***s' and 'Burn the P***'s kids means one less P***'.
How would anyone respond if glasses, chairs, beer and racist abuse were hurled at a group including families and young children? The police certainly did not intervene to halt the attacks and contain the danger; both to children and families.
Whereas some would say that scuffles should not occur on our streets, how many of those would fail to sympathise with a man who, having seen friends, as well as families and children racially abused and humiliated, sought to fend off their immediate attackers?
The partial defence of provocation exists to ensure that justice is tempered with fairness. It serves to safeguard against a false equivalence whereby the aggressor and victim are said to be equally culpable thus deserving of equal punishment.
It is shocking, therefore to hear that a demonstrator who responded to the racist attack has received a longer sentence, two and a half years, than those who attacked the march.
We believe that it is neither in the public interest nor the spirit of justice and proportionality for Yussef Asad to serve a prison sentence.
Adam Johannes, Cardiff Stop the War Coalition
Betty Hunter, Honourary President, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Bethan Jenkins AM
Cllr Ali Ahmed, Chair, Unite Against Fascism Wales
Marianne Owens, PCS Union, National Executive Committee
Shavanah Taj, Wales Secretary, PCS Union
Shahien Taj & Shereen Williams, Henna Foundation
------------------------------------------------------------------
An edited version of the above letter was published in S.Wales Echo on 24th March.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/south-wales-echo-letters-monday-9915977
© TTR
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