URGENT ACTION NEEDED - stop the “Extreme Protest Group” designation

Listed as 311 in the Lords Amendments to the bill, the amendment targets activists who use direct action tactics, such as damaging the infrastructure of weapons companies. Although the amendment will not proscribe “EPGs” as terrorist organisations, it will make being a member of an “EPG”, organising with an “EPG”, promoting the actions of an “EPG”, and fundraising for an “EPG” a criminal offence. Convictions could result in up to three years in prison.

There is still time to stop this deeply repressive amendment. The Crime and Policing Bill will return to the House of Commons tomorrow, Tuesday 14 April. Please take a moment to email your MP to oppose the “Extreme Protest Group” designation.

We have previously written to you about the cumulative protest restrictions in the Crime and Policing Bill. Following pressure from their constituents, MPs have put forward a motion opposing these restrictions, which will also be debated in the House of Commons tomorrow. Palestine Solidarity Campaign are also organising a protest tomorrow as part of the movement fighting the cumulative protest restrictions, taking place at 6:00pm at Old Palace Yard, Parliament, London.

Thank you, as always, for your support of CAAT. CAAT could not continue to campaign against the arms trade and protest repression without you. CAAT is all of you who share CAAT reports and posts, organise events with CAAT, protest against weapons companies and lobby your MP and council.

If you are in a financial position to consider this, please support CAAT by making a donation to keep CAAT campaigning.

While any donation is truly invaluable, making a regular monthly donation by Direct Debit helps CAAT to plan for the future. You can set up a direct debit using the button above, and it can be stopped, with ease, at any time.

Direct debit donations allow CAAT to plan for future campaigns, which we are always very happy to hear from you about as well. If you have any thoughts about what you would like CAAT to focus our campaigns on in coming months, please do let us know.

Thank you for your support in resisting protest repression,

Zoe and everyone at Campaign Against Arms Trade