EFAU 68 - May 2000Back to list of articles in this issue

Worthing Against Terror Bill

A successful protest was held on 11th March, while the same day saw the opening of the ‘Terrorist Tearooms’, a squat infoshop/cafe in the High Street. This offered free tea coffee and information to the public for nine days non-stop, and had displays, a reading room, videos etc. As a finale, a couple of spectacular stunts were staged, involving some daredevil climbing.

The police response to one protester in the rafters plus a few supporters handing out leaflets was to send in the ‘riot’ cavalry once again. Brave cops, brandishing their barons, chased and arrested a 12-year-old boy (for reasons unknown), along with 2 adults who tried to intervene on his behalf. The climber was also arrested ate his amazing 5-hour stint.

If you haven’t heard by now, the Prevention of Terrorism Act will attempt to stamp out protests by labelling political activists as terrorists. The Terrorist Tearooms have now been boarded up by landlords West Sussex County Council. We wait to see if the authorities put this publicly owned building to as good use as the activists they want to see in jail.

Worthing Against the Terror Bill, PO Box 4144, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7NZ.