Solidarity Messages

I want to support Leo Zeilig and the other demonstrators and protest for his imprisonment and prosecution following his indeniable right to demonstrate against war

Alejandro Andreassi Cieri
History Department
Autonomous University of Barcelona
Spain

I have just seen your appeal for witnesses for those arrested after the
Halloween demo. Unfortunately I was not there, but would like to send my
best wishes.

Chris Bluemel (Hereford)

Please convey my sympathy and support for Leo Zelig. Arrests of this kind smack of intolerance, heavyhandedness and a crude need to delegitimise wholly reasonable forms of protest. Public order legislation has been used in the past to keep people off the streets. This case should be followed with interest and concern by anyone who cares for the preservation of hard-won civil liberties. It sounds like an ugly and opportunistic prosecution.

Best wishes,

Chris Simpson

Dakar

as a close friend of leo zeilig and supporter of anti-war demos I would like to send my support to the right to protest, leo and others who are victimised for supporting a legitimate and just cause. all democratic rights and right to protest should be free. this sort of victimisation makes this country a lesser democracy
all the best
david simpson
filmmaker

We, the publishers of Leo's book on resistance in Africa, wish to record our support for Leo Zeilig and all other protestors falsely arrested and wrongly accused after the demonstration in London last year.

'Man was born free and everywhere he is in chains.' (Rousseau)

Chris Bessant for New Clarion Press, Cheltenham

My dear Leo,

Solidarity to you and the remaining dedicated and committed human rights fighters all over the world.

Perhaps those fight do not know that we are in three worlds - The world of the poor and weak, the world of hijackers who hijacked a system, a state property just because they are in power and use such to oppress those that veto such power on them, then the world of the corporate managers and the extremely rich.

There is a war going on, war before war and that is a war declared on the poor by the rich. Their voice should not be heard, we should be in control of their life this is the music emanating from their trumpet.

My fear in life is that , humanity has developed to a point that the rich can choose to wipe out the poor. Yet, they are so naive to the point that, their wealth is accumulated through the sweat, pain, sorrow and blood of the poor. They are so naive that they do not consume 1/100 of what they produce but the poor do. So in order to sustain their financial base they need the poor anyway. In order to remain terrorist they need the poor anyway. Then, here comes the common sense which is not common - If the above scenario is true, why can't the rich use their wisdom if they have any to make life better for both poor and rich, by that we would have done a lot of things and one that easily comes to mind is reduce the number of those angry with the system.

But in all these that is happening, I see dangers ahead. I see the danger of citizens being arrested, persecuted unjustly, denied, tortured conniving with terrorists outside their domain. I foresee a danger where such people could be as deadly as those paraded as terrorists.

Too bad I am not too close to Blair or Bush, I would have asked them to name those pushing them to loose their sanity.

Contrary to general belief that the war in Iraq is because of oil - No. The war on Iraq is to complete an agenda - the agenda of making Israel the most powerful nation in the middle east. You hear about the systematic killing being carried out by Sharon. We know it is history repeating itself.

America wiped away the land owners they met there, Britain do not have a good history all over the world...so what are we talking about?

But 21st century should call for all human beings to sit down and look back and take a giant step towards peaceful co-existence, nation helping nation to grow, promotion of better understanding of culture, language and heritage, but know....

The arrival of Bush on the scene, his approach, his arrogance, his perspective of the world is not going to help anyone. The world now goes to sleep every night with one eye closed. No confidence, no trust. All it took years to build, Bush has put asunder and continue to destroy the world. His main objective I do not know, his intention unclear. May be someone should let those in charge know that VANITY UPON VANITY ALL IS VANITY.....

Remain steadfast....

Dele

Dear Sirs,

My name is Viktor Doby and write to you from Budapest Hungary as I have just been informed that the writer and personal friend Leo Zeilig is facing charges after his arrest in Whitehall on 31 October during an otherwise peaceful anti-war demonstration.

I am unaware of the exact charges however I would like the following points to be considered and taken into account when Mr Zeilig’s fate is decided.

Leo Zeilig is a 30 year old intellectual, who has up until now always led those around him by example with his hard work and care for others.

Amongst his numerous contributions to society he has worked for housing for the poor in Oxford and has thought poor children in Africa. He has also just completed his book on African politics last year.

His demonstration last October was again an example of a man who continuously craves to bring attention to the inequalities and unfairness of life, such as an upcoming war, which will do nothing more than to bring misery and suffering to more people in the world, without solving any of the problems we are told that it will.

To put someone like Mr Zeilig behind bars for banging on fences or shouting obscenities would be harsh over reaction to minor offence and would also mean the destruction of someone’s life who has done and could do so much more for those unfortunate ones who otherwise have no or limited support from society’s decision makers.

Just ask those he has helped during his work in Oxford and Africa.

In hope that sanity shall prevail! Best Regards

Viktor Doby