[Imc-uk-features] feature proposal - Hands of John Bowden

[freethepeeps at aktivix.org]

<p>On Saturday May 25th, activists held a <a
href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/371639.html">demonstration</a>
outside the Scottish Parliament, as part of the growing <a
href="http://www.325collective.com/prisons_handsoffjohn.html">Hands off John
Bowden</a> Campaign. The demo was called by a group of<a
href="www.myspace.com/friendsofjohnbowden">Friends of John Bowden</a> <a
href="http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/">Brighton Anarchist Black Cross</a> have
called for another demo outside the London Parole Board HQ on <a
href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/371688.html">Friday 8th June</a>
at noon</p>

<p>John Bowden spent much of his childhood in the care system, and as a young
man was one of three men involved in a murder. His co-accused have both been
released, and in 2006 John was moved to an open prison, and began a series of
weekend leave in what appeared to be a programme of preparation for his
release. He also began working with mentally and physically vunerable people in
the local community.</p> 

<p>According to <a
href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2007/05//371845.mp3">Joe Black</a> of
Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, the prison service decided that John had
"formed an inappropriate attachment" to his  social worker, and  a decision was
made to allocate an independent social worker to write a report for the parole
hearing. The social worker chosen was an American called Matt Stillman, a right
winger who wrote a report alleging that John  was "linked to terrorism"</p>

<p>Whilst John's original crime was not politically motivated, he became
politicised after entering the prison system, and has been a a long-term
prisoner resister and an articulate opponent of injustice, who has built links
with Brighton and Leeds ABC. It was these links that Social Worker Matt
Stillman focussed on in his <a
href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368208.html">official report</a>
dated 12th March 2007, where he wrote:</p>

<p>"Bowden has written for a self-proclaimed anarchist website called ABC
Brighton, and says he supports many of their ideals and actions. A review of
this website brings into question the nature of this group. The members of this
group appear to be primarily eco-terrorists or para-military members involved
in what they see as battles against political systems and principles....."In a
previous report from HMP Edinburgh it was reported that Bowden had received
visits from people involved in terrorism."</p>

<p>As a result of Matt Stillman's report, John has now been <a
href="https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368353.html">ghosted</a> to
closed conditions at HMP Glenochil. </a>

<p> Brighton and Leeds ABC strongly deny any links to terrorism, and the
intervention is yet another example of attempts to brand the anarchist movement
as terrorist so that a clampdown can be orchestrated under cover of the
so-called 'War on Terror'. Any prisoner who builds links with the ABC which
provides material and legal support, as well as political literature to
prisoners, is likely to face similar pressures.</p>

links can be found at https://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkFeatureJohnBowden