International human rights campaigner and writer Peter Tatchell will be in Norwich on Wednesday and Thursday, July 15th and 16th, in support of the Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election, Rupert Read.
Peter Tatchell is a former Labour activist who ran as a Labour Party parliamentary candidate in London. He is now a member of the Green Party. In 2007, he was selected as the prospective Green Parliamentary candidate in Oxford East for the next general election.
Tatchell won widespread respect for his two attempts to carry out a citizen's arrest on Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, on charges of torture and other human rights abuses. He was co-founder of OutRage!, the gay rights campaign group, and drew more international headlines when he was beaten up in Moscow on a gay rights march. He was named Campaigner of the Year 2009 by The Observer.
Peter Tatchell said:
"As the MP for Norwich North, Rupert Read would be an intelligent, passionate, unshakeable defender of liberty, justice, peace and the environment. He knows a better world is possible and he will work with real commitment to achieve it. In these troubled times we need more politicians like Rupert. That's why I am supporting his campaign to be elected as Green MP for Norwich North."
Members of the media are welcome to attend any of the following events:
1900 Wednesday July 15th: The Norman Centre, Bignold Road, Norwich: Peter Tatchell will address a public meeting on why now is the time for disaffected Labour voters to join the Greens.
0700 Thursday July 16th: Junction of Plumstead Road and Knox Road, Norwich: Peter, Rupert and supporters will be outside Norwich Prison to demonstrate opposition to moves to privatise prisons. The Prison Service has embarked on market testing exercises aimed at placing more prisons under the control of private companies and imposing new working conditions on staff. Norwich Prison is not expected to be included in the current round but it is feared by opponents of the scheme that its turn may not be far behind. The Greens will demonstrate their opposition to privatisation and their support for staff as they arrive for work. Rupert Read is already concerned about reports that the contracting out of prison education services and the regular re-tendering for them has weakened and disrupted an already poorly resourced service. Re-offending rates are higher among prisoners who do not complete an education course.
1000 Thursday July 16th: The Forum, Norwich: Peter will meet members of the LGBT community preparing for Norwich Pride, the city's first ever weekend of gay themed talks, music and film events, which begins on July 25th just after the election. It aims to make Norwich a city where everyone feels safe, without bullying. Community film-maker Michelle Savage will be filming Peter as part of the event, and will show him work in progress on a presentation to be shown on the Forum's giant screen.
1230 Thursday July 16th: Green Campaign Shop, 68 St Augustine's Street, Norwich: Peter will launch the latest Green Party posters for the final phase of the campaign. Later he will join Rupert Read canvassing among shoppers in Magdalen Street.
The posters set out major campaign themes:
Notes
Norwich Green Party has:
13 Norwich City Councillors (Labour 15, Lib-Dems 6 Tories 5)
7 Norfolk County Councillors serving 7 of the 13 Norwich county wards.
In the 2009 European election, the Green Party secured more votes than any other party in the Norwich City Council area, gaining 25%.