McLibel Trial Closes with International Protests
By Dave Massie
On June 19, after some 314 days, the McLibel trial, often a focus of much drama and interest drew to an exciting close, the judge-Mr. Justice Bell giving his verdict. Ruling in McDonalds favor, in his opinion libel in some instances proven, McDonalds believe their bringing of an action against London Greenpeace members Helen Steel and Dave Morris, to have been vindicated. However, on several important points, Mr. Justice Bell also ruled that the factsheet "What's wrong with McDonalds", of which the libel action was the product of, to be in part true.
It was found that for the animals from which McDonalds food is produced, the conditions of rearing and slaughter were cruel.
According to the judge, McDonalds does exploit its workforce, paying them only low wages.
Boasting the important nutritional benefits of their food, McDonalds advertising was found to be misleading, evidence given proving the contrary to be true.
McDonalds was also said to have deliberately targeted children in their advertising. Their thought plan, was hoping the children would pester their parents to take them to McDonalds.
Losing on other points only on technicalities, the judge felt no casual link between a McDonalds diet and the destruction of tropical rainforest and third world hunger had been proven. However, because of the nature of the case, that Helen and Dave must prove fully the statements made in the factsheet, their failure to support these claims does not prove them to be false, only that supporting evidence could not be shown.
In statements made prior to the trial, McDonalds said Dave and Helen were liars, they in response issuing a counter claim, asking that McDonalds must prove such an allegation. Though accepting that this criticism was unjust, the judge felt it was made only in response to criticisms of McDonalds, not supporting the counter claim.
E60,000 damages was awarded to McDonalds, though they have said they shall not pursue Dave and Helen for the money.
On the 21st, two days after the verdict, and as part of an international victory day of action called by the McLibel Support Campaign, protests took place around 500 McDonalds stores around Britain, as well as in other countries.
Should you like more information, then write to the McLibel Support Campaign, 5 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX, England. Also if you have access to an internet facility, you can visit the McSpotlight website at: http://www. McSpotlight. org/
OCTOBER 22, 1997: NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST TO STOP POLICE BRUTALITY
It's a nationwide epidemic--POLICE BRUTALITY--It's a national outrage. It has to stop!
Who's being protected and served when a cop in Newark, New Jersey guns down an unarmed pregnant woman? When US marines patrolling the Mexico-US border in Texas stalk an shoot a young man tending his family's goats? When a NYC cop shoots a 16-year- old in the back and gets selected as the officer of the month by his precinct? When San Francisco cops pepper spray a Black man to death? When Chicago cops gun down a deaf mute for refusing to obey their verbal commands while his mother and grandmother watch in horror? These foul murders are just the tip of the iceberg. Cops, La Migra, and prison guards brutalize and murder people all over the country and are almost never punished for their crimes against the people.
Who would punish them when the President brags about putting more cops on the street and building more prisons? When the US Congress passes more and more restrictive laws? When the whole court system works to exonerate brutal murdering cops?
The INS treats immigrants like they're less than human. They cooperate with the police to criminalize them and brutalize and murder them at the border. The authorities treat our youth like permanent suspects who are guilty until proven innocent--if they survive to prove their innocence.
From arrest to trial to sentencing, the criminal justice system discriminates against Blacks, Latinos, and other people of color. Geronimo ji Jaga (Pratt) is out of jail, but Mumia Abu Jamal is still on death row and Leonard Peltier is still locked down, as are many other political prisoners.
It's up to us to stop this! People have been resisting from St. Petersburg, Florida, and Leland, Mississippi where people fought back against police murder, to Chicago, LA, NY, and Pittsburgh where people are mobilizing against brutalizing,
murdering cops. Last October 22nd in 45 cities across the US, thousands of people marched, rallied, and protested against police brutality in other ways. Many people wore black on that day. All this represents a good start.
But much more is needed. It's up to us to build a fighting, nationwide movement that can raise a giant stop sign against brutal, murdering cops and those who unleash and protect them. We need to make a big leap in building that movement.
On October 22nd, 1997, the 2nd National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation, we will begin making that needed leap. On that day in cities all across the country, people of different nationalities will march, rally, hold poetry readings and other cultural
events. Many, many people will wear black in solidarity with the protests and in memory of the victims of the police. Many will come from the experience of living our lives under the guns and billy clubs of brutal, murdering cops. Many others will come from different backgrounds, but we will all be standing together and saying police brutality must stop, NOW! And we will call on everybody who opposes this injustice and brutality to join with us in this important fight.
-National Coordinating Committee of the Oct. 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality
Source: The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation -- Chicago Chapter. Tel: (773) 794-8114
Write us at 1022Chicago@Unstoppable.com or visit http://www.unstoppable.com/22
Information received via Antifa Infobulletin
COVE / MALLARD COLAITION
NEWS FROM THE BIG WILD
A Cove/Mallard '97 Update
The summer of 1997 has seen several significant developments in the campaign to end the Cove/Mallard timber sales, and has proven once again that the ability of the legal system to rule justly is far inferior to the power of people committed to finding justice.
After sitting on the powerful Cove II lawsuit until the brink of the legal logging season, Idaho District Judge Boyle ruled against the Idaho Sporting Congress and environmental sanity by rejecting the lawsuit. The ISC then filed for an injunction pending appeal so that the destruction of the Cove/Mallard area might be delayed until the environmentalist have had their full day in court, but that appeal was also denied. The last legal remedy at this stage is a full hearing in front of the 9th circuit which is scheduled for January of 1998. In the interim, the courts have done nothing to protect this vital piece of the lower 48's last Big Wild.
While the lopsided wheels of justice have been stuck in the same old rut, committed citizens have gotten busy, putting themselves between the chainsaws of the U.S. Forest Service and the forest.
On June 15th as the protection of elk calving season expired, two brave souls perched in tripods, blocking the logging road to one of the sales. The protesters remained for three days before being finally plucked with a cherry picker, and sent off to jail.
WILD ROCKIES FREE STATE
Others declared the 4th day of July a "Forest Independence Day" and set up a blockade on the road to the Jack Creek timber sale. The blockade-which at this writing is into its 33rd day-is and impressive sight. Several activists stay in structures 35 feet off the ground which are designed to make law enforcement to risk the activists' lives if they wish to extract them. Others are locked to cement barrels buried in the road. They say they will be safe as long as the Forest Service leaves them-and Cove/Mallard-alone. Timber workers have said their bosses want them to start work on the area "soon," but so far no move has been made to oust the activists, a process which, once begun, promises to drag on for several days.
The blockaders, many of whom have been on the road for more than a month, are fatigued of their self-imposed confines, but commited to staying there until the U.S. Forest Service agrees to their demands. They fill their days with the logistics of camp life, collecting firewood, cooking, repairing torn clothes, and fortifying their blockade. "There are much prettier places to camp in this forest than on the Forest Service's stupid roads, " said Robert Carter, 27 of Boise. "But that's the point. Putting roads into this place is insane. When the Forest Service starts seeing this place as more that just a bunch of money trees, maybe we'll go on a real vacation."
WHAT YOU CAN DO: