Category Archives: Protests

14 local residents defend historic role of juries outside Sheffield Crown Court

This morning, 16.04.2024 at 8:45am a group of Sheffield residents sat outside Sheffield Crown Court holding signs with the words “The right of juries to give their verdict according to their convictions” 

Joining hundreds of others around England and Wales as part of the Defend Our Juries National Week of Action, April 13th – 21st, where every crown court in England & Wales will be visited by people to remind jurors that they have the right to acquit a defendant based on their conscience, irrespective of the directions of the judge.

Their signs display the centuries-old principle of ‘jury equity’, i.e. the right of all jurors in British courtrooms to acquit a defendant according to their conscience and irrespective of the directions of the judge. Famously, in 1984, a jury acquitted the civil servant, Clive Ponting, on this principle after he exposed government misinformation to the public and Parliament concerning the ‘Falklands War’

Safe Streets Now! Join us in Walkley and Park Hill this Saturday.

Every week in the Sheffield Telegraph it’s a sure bet that there will be various stories about car crashes. Each crash means misery for the people involved, more expense for the NHS, delays for other travellers and at its worst life-changing injuries or death. Across the UK, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads every 16 minutes.

Palestinian Prisoners must be released

We hear a great deal about the Israelis taken captive on October 7th, the need to release them and bring them home safely, the distress of their families – all of which are legitimate concerns, and we want them to be released.

However, we hear next to nothing about the 8100+ Palestinians taken as captives by Israel in the West Bank since 7th October. Nor do we hear about the hundreds recently taken captive from Gaza.

Long before October 7th, thousands of Palestinians were captured by Israel and imprisoned, many without trial or charge, for years on end.

Boycott Barclays Action in Sheffield

Thursday 21st March was the national day of action against Barclays and Sheffield made sure it didn’t go unnoticed.

Members of the Sheffield Coalition against Israeli Apartheid went to Barclays and protested inside the bank, calling for an end to the financing of companies involved in arms exports to Israel.

Stop Genocide banner drop and rally 15th March

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0XwsJ-Vz58&ab_channel=GrahamWroe Banner drop at the bridge over Sheaf Street between Park Hill and Ponds Forge. Very encouraging to hear the constant support from passing motorists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOudl4KdQcM&t=3s&ab_channel=GrahamWroe Later there was a rally outside the station. Here is Stephanie Hewett reading her poem, What about October 7th “What about October the 7th?”  By Stephanie Hewitt  History didContinueContinue reading “Stop Genocide banner drop and rally 15th March”

Climate Choir Flash Mob in Parliament

A guest blog by Steph Howlett and June Cattell MP’s stood amazed as a Climate Choir flash “mob” serenaded them in Parliament. Five women from the Sheffield Climate Choir travelled to London on 7th March to join 12 other choirs in the Climate Choir Movement. Outraged by the UK government’s decision to give the greenContinueContinue reading “Climate Choir Flash Mob in Parliament”

Sheffield Council debate Palestine but defer decision to Resources Committee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxcgHN7fvzU&ab_channel=GrahamWroe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOrBAan0ZXY&ab_channel=GrahamWroe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3bxbnhDPEc&t=3s&ab_channel=GrahamWroe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM6LwueTdzk&ab_channel=GrahamWroe https://youtu.be/A25VDyicb1w Annie and Jonny with the petition You can see full details of the Council Meeting and the Webcast here. The petition, which attracted over 7500 signatures in just two weeks is here. To cut a long story short, after many moving speeches the Lord Mayor declared that they couldn’t voteContinueContinue reading “Sheffield Council debate Palestine but defer decision to Resources Committee.”

Sheffielders take part in Citizens’ Juries at the Royal Courts of Justice

On 21 February, over 100 people, including 4 from Sheffield, gathered within the central hall at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), London, to hold a series of peaceful People’s Assemblies or ‘Citizens Juries’, in what is being described as ‘a makeover’ of British Justice. The Assembly was prompted by the Attorney General’s application, beingContinueContinue reading “Sheffielders take part in Citizens’ Juries at the Royal Courts of Justice”

Sheffield Council pass motion for more action on the Climate Emergency.

The Green Party motion voted on Wednesday 7th February, was amended, but mainly agreed. The final text is below. It is great news that the Council will now consider a Work Place Parking Levy, Green Bonds and the ideas of Adfree Cities. It is appropriate that the South Yorkshire Regional Mayor, Oliver Coppard, is criticisedContinueContinue reading “Sheffield Council pass motion for more action on the Climate Emergency.”