Socialist historian Leo Zeilig, editor of Class Struggle and Resistance in Africa (Bristol: New Clarion Press, 2002), was among seven anti-war protesters arrested in Whitehall, London on 31st October during a peaceful demonstration organised by the Stop the War Coalition. Protesters were tracked by police, filmed and arrested in Trafalgar Square. They are now being charged with crimes including violent disorder, an offence with a maximum sentence of five years in jail. They strongly deny the charges.

Leo appeared in court on December 31st for his committal proceeding, but this was postponed for a month until January 28th at police request. Police say that they intend to charge ten others and it seems that they are planning a mass trial of anti-war activists.

The defence campaign has a web page at http://www.voiceoftheturtle.org/leo, from which you can also download a petition calling for the charges to be dropped. Details of the campaign can also be obtained from righttoprotest@hotmail.com. Messages of support should be sent to the same email address.

The petition was circulated amongst those present at a London Socialist Historians Group seminar just before Christmas, and £26 was collected for the campaign.