BY TONY HUNT

LONDON - Metropolitan Police carried out a serious attack on democratic rights October 12, when they closed down a socialist campaign table here. The table featured a placard protesting the cold-blooded execution of Diarmuid O'Neill, an unarmed young Irish man, on September 23. The campaign table by members and supporters of the Communist League had been set up in Hammersmith - the area of west London where O'Neill was killed by police. The placard carried a picture of O'Neill with the caption "Innocent until proven Irish."

The socialist campaigners were promoting the demand for an independent public inquiry into the shooting, as well as distributing the Militant and Pathfinder books. The socialists have taken steps along with others to protest the cops' action.

"The actions of the police were an attack not just on our right to free speech, but on the rights of everyone to hear whatever views and opinions they want to," said Paul Davies, an engineering worker and one of those staffing the book table. As soon as the table was set up, Davies said, two uniformed and three plainclothes cops moved in along with an official from the local council, and demanded that it be removed. They claimed the table needed a trading license and was causing an obstruction.

The campaigners responded by arguing strongly for their democratic right to remain. When Davies pointed out that the real reason for the police actions was their disagreement with the views being promoted, he and the others were told to take down the table in "two seconds" or face arrest. The campaigners moved to another area of west London and sold two Militant subscriptions to young Irish workers.

"This blatant act of political censorship by the police should not go unanswered" said Caroline Bellamy another of those staffing the stall. "What's at stake here is the elementary right to get the facts, hear all points of view, and engage in discussion. This is especially important for workers and young people in Britain when the discussion is about Ireland."

Davies and Bellamy have sent a press release about the incident to several national newspapers and have written to the editor of the Irish Post, a weekly newspaper widely read by Irish immigrants. They are also planning to contact Members of Parliament. Supporters of Fuascailt, the Irish political prisoners campaign, have decided to hold a public protest action to defend free speech on Ireland and to press the demand for a public inquiry into O'Neill's killing.  
 
 
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