THE STALLS, WORKSHOPS, AND AFTER-PARTY GIG MADE FOR AN EVENT TO BE REMEMBERED ~ Don B ~ On Saturday (June 7th) the fourth annual Newcastle Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair was held at the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle Upon-Tyne. A strong fixture in the UK anarchist bookfairs calendar, expectations as always were high for the event, and this year once again built upon the successes of the previous years. It was a day of solidarity, enjoyment, and dedicated planning and organising for future actions and initiatives. All of this was done not just for the cause of anarchism, but also in loving memory of Ewan Brown, a local anarchist who we sadly lost and deeply miss. The stalls once again had a strong showing, with a good mix of local groups and more national outfits. From the local area we had North East Anarchist Group (NEAG) and the Northumbria branch of the IWW, as well as Food and Solidarity (a local mutual aid organisation), Tyneside Anarchist Archive, and the Battle of Stockton Campaign. Local Palestine solidarity groups also had a presence, with both Newcastle PSC and People Against Rafael (a group dedicated to shutting down a local Israeli-owned weapons factory) sharing a stall. The national and international groups included both AK and PM Press, and Freedom Press. All stalls received strong engagement throughout the day, and it was oftentimes very difficult to get around either of the two rooms they were in! The theme of this year’s workshops was: “’Creative Flow’ writing, speaking, using your mind and your hands to change the world around you”. Five workshops were hosted on the day. A talk on prisoner writing started the day with details on how to successfully write to prisoners, followed by a talk by a member of the IWW regarding radical writing, and discussing the new IWW publication The Wobbly Times. Food and Solidarity discussed community organising and strategy, and Palestine Action discussed direct action strategy and how to help shut down the Israeli war machine in the UK. The workshops ended with a trans and non-binary discussion space. All workshops were well attended, especially the Palestine Action talk, which packed the room to the point where no one could move, showing how strong the appetite is for radical direct action in the face of genocide. The day then ended with a gig in the afternoon, Gaydar, Ketwig Salon, and Driven Serious all played – it was also well attended, helped raise a lot of money for next year’s bookfair, and allowed for a well-deserved rest and wind-down. The day had an excellent turnout throughout, and the venue was packed with people in the stall’s rooms, workshops, and the Star and Shadow café. With so many local causes to get involved in, from Palestine solidarity to mutual aid, having an anarchist presence in these spaces is more important than ever, and anarchism is definitely on the rise in the North-East, and bookfairs such as this one provide a vital date in the calendar to consolidate ourselves for another year of action. The post Report from Newcastle Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair appeared first on Freedom News.

“IT IS THE DUTY OF ORDINARY CITIZENS TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION AGAINST THE INSTITUTIONS PERPETRATING THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA”, SAYS GROUP ~ Scott Harris ~ Palestine Action says its activists early this morning targeted the Newcastle offices of the BBC and the London headquarters of weapons manufacturer Leonardo. The BBC offices were covered in symbolic blood-red paint, with the words ‘Liars’ and ‘Free Gaza’ sprayed on the front of the building. The glass of numerous windows was smashed, along with the front doors of the building. This action follows on from previous operations targeting the BBC’s London headquarters in October 2023 and February 2025. In a press release the group said the publicly-funded broadcaster has a “consistent pro-Israel bias”, and “sanitises the war-crimes being committed in Gaza”. The Italian-owned company Leonardo is one of the world’s biggest arms manufacturers, with extensive ties to the Israeli state. The firm makes parts for Apache attack helicopters in Britain, as well as manufacturing laser targeting systems for F-35 fighter jets. These aircraft have been central to the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, and the slaughter of the population. While the British government supposedly suspended export licenses for British-made F-35 components, going directly to Israel, in September 2024, parts made at the Leonardo plant are still being shipped to Israel via the USA. BBC Newcastle offices Leonardo’s premises have consistently been targeted by Palestine Action, most recently in March, when the electricity to their Edinburgh arms factory was cut off, stopping the production of weapons at the site. Today’s actions take place at a time when the Palestinian population of Gaza is in a desperate situation, and being pushed to the point of extinction by a combination of enforced starvation, and indiscriminate daily targeting by Israeli forces. The British government have consistently assisted Israel in carrying out this Genocide, and like the BBC, remained silent even in the face of the very worst atrocities. “In the face of Starmer’s silence, it has been left to ordinary people to do what they can to try and stop the daily killing in Gaza”, said the group in a press release, “It is the duty of ordinary citizens to take direct action against the institutions perpetrating the genocide in Gaza”. Currently 19 Palestine Action members are behind bars, including the Filton 18, who have been locked-up on remand for as long as 10 months, with anti-terrorism legislation being abused to detain them, despite the fact they have never been charged with any terrorist offences. Over 20 international legal organisations have condemned their treatment, as well as the United Nations, and Amnesty International. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Top photo by Novapix The post Palestine activists target Newcastle BBC, London Leonardo offices appeared first on Freedom News.