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Report from Jock Palfreeman solidarity demo outside Bulgarian embassy

Posted: March 22, 2012 in Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

Poster displayed at the demo

A Bulgarian flag being burnt outside the Embassy

One of several leaflets that were given out (front)

One of several leaflets that were given out (back)

Over 30 people gathered outside the Bulgarian Embassy in London yesterday to show solidarity with Jock Palfreeman as part of an International Day of Action to highlight his situation. Jock is a young Australian lad who went to the aid of two Roma boys who were being attacked by a racist gang and who is now serving 20 years in a Bulgarian prison. More details about the case at

http://www.freejock.com/

At yesterday’s London demo, banners were hung on the railings of the Bulgarian Embassy and pictures of Jock put on display. Hundreds of leaflets were given out during the 3 hour demo and a Bulgarian flag was also burned outside the Embassy.

Leeds Anarchist Black Cross
e-mail: leedsabc@riseup.net
Homepage: www.leedsabc.org

Solidarity actions needed for Jock Palfreeman

Posted: January 29, 2012 in Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

Jock Palfreeman is a 24 year old Australian who, on the 27th of December 2007,
had the courage to stand up against 16 fascist hooligans on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria.
He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to
the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the fascists at bay by waving a knife at
them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice
but to defend himself. Andrey Monov, one of the racist gang, was stabbed and killed
and another, Anton Zahariev was injured. The Roma boys ran away.
Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has
been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been fined 375,000 Australian
dollars. Jock has spent much of the time he has already served in isolation due
to a legal loop hole used by the prison authorities.
Andrey Monovs father is well known in Bulgaria and at the funeral there were a
mixture of judges, police and politicians. Jocks trial was (not surprisingly) a
complete sham – yet another example of corruption and secret handshakes in the
judicial system. The prosecutions case was built on the witness statements made
by the other Nazis that were there that night, all claiming that Jock randomly
attacked the group and chased them with the intent of killing somebody. Key
people and possible witnesses for Jocks defence were never interviewed by police
and the CCTV footage from the scene miraculously went missing. Many of the
statements made at the time were not the same as the statements submitted to the
court by the prosecution.
Jocks statement has remained consistent from the night in question.

You can read Jocks official statement at www.freejock.com You can also watch a
documentary about his case that contains interviews with Jock at the following
links:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rLrOW1g1k&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdhA9UzRGqo&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8NRJF5x-D0&feature=related

Jock now lost all the appeals and only one left to him is to appeal to European Union Court in Strasbourg. He is also trying to secure his transfer to Australia which proves difficult as Bulgarian prosecution service seems to be determined to keep him imprisoned in Bulgaria.

It is now more important than ever that we collectively put as much pressure on
the Bulgarian authorities as possible to accept Jocks transfer. We are in it for the long run- we need to let Jock now that he is not alone in his struggle and any solidarity actions can go long way to assure that. There will be Week of Actions organised at some point in March but we need to build up for that with protest messages being sent continuously as well and awareness being raised about the Jock’s case.
The more creative the actions the better. Don’t let Bulgarian state bury this courageous man alive in prison! Don’t let them think that they can get away with it!

Another important aspect is, especially for people in Australia , to keep pressure on their authorities to do something in Jocks case and officially demand his transfer as well.

If you are short of ideas why not try one of the following;

Organize solidarity actions outside Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates etc.
(for a list of the Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates please see,
http://www.buldir.com/bulgarian_embassies_abroad.html).
Phone the Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates with your protests.

Help us to bombard the Bulgarian Authorities with letters of protest and
requests for Jocks appeal to be accepted. It is also vital that we we send as many protest messages to prosecutors directly responsible for blocking his transfer.
(please see below for a list of addresses).

If you want us to help promote your events send us the details at
anarchosolidarity@yahoo.co.uk
Ideally protest letters are best written in your own words BUT we have provided
a sample letter (attached) that can be sent if you do not want to write your
own. Just print it out, sign it and post it, it’s as simple as that. Feel free to
reprint it and distribute it to anyone you think may send a copy.

We need to get the pressure up and
keep it up.

Addresses to post, fax and email your letters of protest to:

Krassimira Vocheva

Head Prosecutor-Sofia

No.2 Vitosha blvd

Sofia

Bulgaria

phone no: +359 28051500

email: infocenter@prb.bg

Borish Velchev

Head Prosecutor-Sofia

No.2 Vitosha blvd

Sofia

Bulgaria

phone no: +359 28051500

email: infocenter@prb.bg

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 2 Aleksander Zhendov Str
Sofia 1040
BULGARIA
Tel: +359 2 948 2999

http://www.mfa.bg/en/contact/ (ready form for sending messages from their website, very helpful)

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria LONDON
186-188 Queen’s Gate
London SW7 5HL
Tel.: (0044) (0) 207 584 9400, (0) 207 584 9433
Fax: (0044) (0) 207 584 4948
E-mail: information@bulgarianembassy.org.uk

Information, Public Relations and European Communication Directorate
Director: Sofia Vladimirova
Tel: +359 2 971 1408. OR +359 2 971 3778. OR +359 2 948 2218.
Fax: +359 2 870 3041
E-mail: iprd@mfa.government.bg

Ministry’s Reception Desk
Tel: +359 2 948 2018 OR +359 2 971 1054
(opening hrs 09.30 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 16.00)

Ministry of Justice
E-mail: pr@justice.government.bg

Finally, please write to Jock, even if it’s only a ‘good luck’ postcard. Any
letters and postcards help to keep Jock feeling positive and high spirited and
all are gratefully received. You can write to Jock at the following address:
Jock Palfreeman,
Sofia Central Prison,
21 General Stoletov Boulevard,
Sofia 1309,
BULGARIA

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you in regards to Australian National Jock Palfreeman.

Mr. Palfreeman is currently imprisoned in Sofia Central Prison in Bulgaria.
After defending two young innocent boys from a viscous attack by a group of
drunken football hooligans, and later being forced to defend himself against the
same assailants, he was sentenced to twenty years incarceration under charges of
murder and attempted murder.

He is clearly only guilty of causing accidental death while using self defence.

Mr. Palfreeman witnessed the gang (of around 16 men) attacking the two boys and
ran to their aid. While trying to keep the gang at bay he suffered a viscous
attack and was left with no choice but to defend himself. His version of events
has remained consistent since the night in question and is supported by numerous
witnesses. All of whom are prepared to testify in his defence.

It has since transpired that at his trial, to my astonishment, key people and
possible witnesses were never interviewed by police, the CCTV footage from the
scene went missing and many of the statements that were submitted to the court
by the prosecution were not the same as the statements made (by the same people)
on the night in question.
Anything working in favour of Mr. Palfreemans’ defence was completely
disregarded by the judge and the prosecutions case was built on the witness
statements made by the football hooligans that initially attacked the two boys,
all claiming that Mr. Palfreeman randomly attacked them and chased them with the
intent of killing somebody.
The trial was a farce so were all appeals

I ask that the Bulgarian Authorities allow him to be transferred to Australia where he can be closer to his family and stop their attempts to try and keep him imprisoned in Bulgaria.

We will continue showing our solidarity and highlighting his case until we are satisfied with the progress.

Mr. Palfreeman selflessly saved the lives of two young boys, risking his own
safety and costing him his own freedom. He should be deemed a hero, not a cold
blooded killer!

Signed

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

Posted: June 26, 2011 in Anarchist Solidarity, Anti Fascism, Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

The story of Jock Plafreeman

by Anarchist Solidarity

It’s been three and a half years now since Jock Palfreeman has been imprisoned after saving the lives of two young Roma boys in Bulgaria!

In short Jock ran to the aid of the two boys when he was witness to a vicious and racist attack inflicted on them by around sixteen drunken football hooligans. Jock held them at bay for long enough for the two Roma boys to run away but the group turned on him. Jock was set upon and literally had to fight to save his own life. During the fight one of the group, Andrei Monov, was accidentally killed. Jock was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment and the equivelent of a £250,000 fine! (for the full story please go to http://www.freejock.com).

Support for Jock has now reached an international level.

Anarchists and Antifascists have started campaigns aound the globe including Australia, UK, Russia, Poland, France, Austria, Greece, and more… Strangely, Bulgaria is not in that list.

Suprised? So were we!

We went to the website of FAB (Bulgarian Anarchist Federation) to see if there was any mention of Jock. To our astonishment we found that not only had the FAB decided not to support Jock, they had decided to go out of thier way to publically condemn him! They claimed that Andrei Monov was thier friend and that Jock was a killer who deserved the maximum prison sentence!

(see the google translation below)

”Federation of Anarchists in Bulgaria condemns any kind of street violence and joined grieving relatives and friends of the slain boy.
Prompt the authorities to fulfill their obligations to conduct a full investigation of the case and the guilty receive fair and appropriate punishment to his grave crime.
Andrei was also a friend and we share the grief of relatives and friends.
Rest in peace, Andrei!”

http://anarchy.bg/novini/novini-ot-bulgaria/496-1-godina-ot-ubijstvoto-na-andrej-monov.html

Not only did this make us rage to the core, it also made us question the FABs idea of Anarchy. Why on earth would people who call themselves Anarchists be in favour of a prison sentence for a man who had taken Antifascist action? And why did they so openly associate themselves with Monov when he had clearly been involved in a savage and outnumbered racist attack on two young Roma boys?

We got in touch with AF (Anarchist Federation UK), FABs sister organisation. We wanted to know if they knew what was going on in regards to the statement on FABs website and also where they stood in regards to supporting Jock.

They emailed us back to say that they would investigate. Infact that was all they said.

Months passed along with more emails from us and all they would say was that they were investigating. Eventually they just stopped replying and we realised that we were wasting our time.

However, a spokesperson for AF did contact a mutual friend and comrade who has also been campaigning for Jock. Firstly they wanted confirmation that AS were a trustworthy and genuine Anarchist group. They were given the confirmation they asked for, but then decided that the word of our comrade was not good enough (an insult to say the least) and rejected the verification.

AF then wrote again to our comrade stating that Jock was a soldier that had been involved in a drunken fight and had killed a friend of the FAB. They claimed that Monov was ”not a Nazi”. They also stated that the only people who claim that Monov was a nazi are the fascists themselves!…

So let us get this straight, (we’ll get to the soldier bit in a minute), Monov, who was out with at least fifteen other (known locally to be fascist) football fans, drunk, and invoved in such a savage racist attack on the two Roma boys, does not qualify as fascist in the opinion of AF or FAB?

The grieving friends of Monov who were at the funeral (alongside members of the Bulgarian government, cheif of police, judges and other ‘important and influental’ people) who are reffered to by the AF and FAB as Bulgarian fascists and the far right are falsely claiming that Monov was their friend?

We don’t get it!!

It beggs the question: What would FAB and AF have to say if it were one of the Roma boys who had been killed that night? Because as far as we can see that is exactly what would have happened if Jock had not run to thier aid.

Would FAB still claim that thier beloved Andrei Monov was thier friend if he had been involved in a savage racist attack resulting in the death of the victim?

We’d like to know! So if any FAB or AF would like to answer our questions feel free. (you’ve got our email address)

Now, the controversial claims about Jock ‘being a soldier’…

Firstly, lets get one thing clear, Jock has never claimed to be an Anarchist, Activist or Antifascist. He was a young lad travelling and making friends.

He decided to join the British Army towards the end of 2007, his visa was coming to an end and he saw it as an opportunity to stay in the UK. He completed four weeks training and then went on leave for christmas. He was on holiday in Bulgaria.

So did we know Jock is a soldier?

Well he’s not! He never completed his training.

Did we know that Jock had joined the British Army in 2007?

Yes we did! And quite frankly we don’t care!! The decisions Jock made before the incident in question do not interest us one bit. As far as we are concerned those decisions are completeley irrelevant to what happened on the night of the 28^th December 2007. Jock unfortunately found himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and he did the right thing!!

Thats enough for us.

It is abundantly clear that the whole case has been completely manipulated by Monovs father and his high ranking friends, all of the court proceedings to date have been a complete farce, there has been absolutely no sense whatsoever of a fair trial and it is so blindingly obvious that Jock has been completely stitched up!

Jock Palfreeman is an incredibly brave and courageous man who took outstanding Antifascist action and he needs our support.

Which side are you on?

For more info about Jocks case and how you can support him please go to: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/conviction/default.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rLrOW1g1k www.freejock.com www.anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com

Also you can join the facebook page Freedom For Jock.

STATEMENT ALSO ENDORSED BY BRIGHTON ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS

International Week of Action for Jock Palfreeman 11th-17th of April

Posted: March 17, 2011 in Anarchist Solidarity, Anti Fascism, Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

THIS IS A CALL OUT!!

SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY FOR JOCK PALFREEMAN

AN INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION HAS BEEN CALLED

FOR 11^th-17^th of April 2011

Continuing the campaign for Jock;

Jock Palfreeman is a 23 year old Australian who, on the 27th of December 2007,
had the courage to stand up against 16 fascist hooligans on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria.
He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to
the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the fascists at bay by waving a knife at
them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice
but to defend himself. Andrey Monov, one of the racist gang, was stabbed and killed
and another, Anton Zahariev was injured. The Roma boys ran away.
Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has
been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been fined 375,000 Australian
dollars. Jock has spent much of the time he has already served in isolation due
to a legal loop hole used by the prison authorities.
Andrey Monovs father is well known in Bulgaria and at the funeral there were a
mixture of judges, police and politicians. Jocks trial was (not surprisingly) a
complete sham – yet another example of corruption and secret handshakes in the
judicial system. The prosecutions case was built on the witness statements made
by the other Nazis that were there that night, all claiming that Jock randomly
attacked the group and chased them with the intent of killing somebody. Key
people and possible witnesses for Jocks defence were never interviewed by police
and the CCTV footage from the scene miraculously went missing. Many of the
statements made at the time were not the same as the statements submitted to the
court by the prosecution.
Jocks statement has remained consistent from the night in question.

Jock appealed against his sentence and few court hearings took place between October 2010 and January 2011. Despite police officers confirming his version of events, one of the fascists making totally incoherent statements in court trying to explain why he changed his original testimony , mounting evidence of judicial errors during the initial trial and all other factors pointing to his innocence his sentence of 20 years was upheld. (For Jocks statement about this please go to: https://anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/jocks-sentence-upheld-after-an-appeal ) He has one last chance of appealing against that decision.
It is now more important than ever that we collectively put as much pressure on
the Bulgarian authorities as possible to accept Jocks final appeal.
From the 11th to the 17th of April there will be another International week of
action for Jock. The more creative the actions the better. Don’t let Bulgarian state bury this courageous man alive in prison! Don’t let them think that they can get away with it!

If you are short of ideas why not try one of the following;

Help us to bombard the Bulgarian Authorities with letters of protest and
requests for Jocks appeal to be accepted.
(please see below for a list of addresses).

We need to get the pressure up and
keep it up.

Addresses to post, fax and email your letters of protest to:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 2 Aleksander Zhendov Str
Sofia 1040
BULGARIA
Tel: +359 2 948 2999

http://www.mfa.bg/en/contact/ (ready form for sending messages from their website, very helpful)

Ministry’s Reception Desk
Tel: +359 2 948 2018 OR +359 2 971 1054
(opening hrs 09.30 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 16.00)

Ministry of Justice
E-mail: pr@justice.government.bg

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you in regards to Australian National Jock Palfreeman.

He is clearly only guilty of causing accidental death while using self defence.

I ask that the Bulgarian Authorities grant him his appeal and release him from those absurd charges!

Mr. Palfreeman selflessly saved the lives of two young boys, risking his own
safety and costing him his own freedom. He should be deemed a hero, not a cold
blooded killer!

Signed

Jock’s sentence upheld after an appeal

Posted: February 23, 2011 in Anti Fascism, Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

Jock finally received court verdict on his appeal. In blatant disregard for all the facts presented to them during the process Bulgarian authorities upheld Jock’s ridiculous sentence, complete ingoring all evidence in his defence. There are no words to describe our contempt and disgust we feel towards all those people responsible for his imprisonment. Jock can appeal the decision within 14 days and last appeal will take place within next few months. We have to put more pressure on Bulgarian authorities if we don’t want them to get away with what they are doing at the moment.

Below is Jock’s comment on the sentencing:

To say I’m dissapointed would be an understatement. But I am not dissapointed in the “Manaf” family’s demands for unjustified punishment. I am dissapointed in the judges and legal structure that seems to have the moral backbones of jellyfish. When I saw the 15 men attack the two homeless men, I was presented with a choice. Stand back and let the injustice continue or intervene in an attempt to save human life. The Sofia city court and the Sofia court of appeal were all presented with a much easier choice than that. Their choice was not one that could result in their own deaths as mine was. Yet still they chose to take the easy way. They chose to bow to the political pressure from the Bulgarian Socialist Party and it’s beaurocrats which float around the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice like bad smell. Although this latest decision keeps me with a 20 year prison sentence, it is useful as evidence to show the depth and width of corruption in the Bulgarian courts and justice system. As disheartening as this blatantly corrupt decision is, we all must take encouragement from the 10 neautral witnesses who did have the moral backbone to come forward and tell the truth. Also from the 5 police who too eventually told the truth despite overwhelming pressures from their superiours. To all those who fight against racism, nationalism, corruption and injustice- I tell you not to loose focus or direction. Do not loose hope. Those who wish to hide the shame that the 15 skinheads brought on Bulgaria have only been successful in increasing it and legalizing it. Ironically Andrei “Manaf” was not ashamed of his nationalism and I doubt he would have lied about actions he and his family are clearly proud of. “Bulgaria for Bulgarians” was what Dr Monov said he and his son believed in. “Defending the underdog” is what I believe in, be it Bulgaria or Bangladesh. The supreme court of appeal will not remedy the injustice. The head judge of the supreme court of appeal was even present at Andrei “Manafs” funeral. My prison sentence although outrageous, will be served easier now that the evidence is overwhelmingly in concurance with my statements and that I know I was correct in opposing racism in it’s most disgusting form, violence. My gratitude to my family, friends and comrades who have not supported me as an individual but supported me based on the evidence in my case and the reason for my involvement with the 15 skinheads.

Jock Palfreeman

Solidarity Picket outisde Bulgarian picket in Hague/Holland on 15th of February

Posted: February 23, 2011 in Anti Fascism, Jock Palfreeman

message from Dutch comrades:

Our solidarity, against their repression!

This Tuesday the Anarcho-Syndicalistische Bond (ASB) in coorperation with the local AFA group organised a picketline in support of Jock Palfreeman. At 12.30 we gathered at the Bulgarian ambassy in The Hague. Leaflets we’re handed out to people passing by, solidarity chants could be heard and a banner was unrolled. Free Jock!

ASB
Utrecht@anarcho-syndicalisme.nl

online petition in support of Jock

Posted: February 12, 2011 in Jock Palfreeman

Yeah, we know it is not the best method of showing your solidarity, but it never hurts to try and it only takes few seconds, so sing yours now-

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freejock/

Moscow- solidarity picket with Jock Palfreeman

Posted: February 12, 2011 in Jock Palfreeman, Prisoners

Picket in support of Jock Palfreeman in Moscow

Today on the 11th of February from 4 till 5 p.m. near the embassy of Bulgaria in Moscow there was a picket in support of antifascist Jock Palfreeman. In the action anarchists, including members of Autonomous Action, Confederation of revolutionary anarcho-syndicalists and International Workers Association took part. Members of the picket unwrapped the banner: «Life is an argument – against Nazism!» and two posters, one of them with the title: «FREEdom for Jock PalFREEman!» and another one with quote from the song «Our 14 words» of hardcore group What We feel: «Love and respect, tolerance, equality and brotherhood despite the skin color and wealth’s level!»

Anarchists shouted: «Freedom for Jock Palfreeman!», «No to justice despotism», «No to fascism!», «Fascism will fail!», “No to fascism of all hues: from gateways to authorities!”, «To be antifascist means to be human!», «Self-defense is not a crime!», “Solidarity is our weapon!”, “Until we are united, we are invincible”.

Life is an argument – against Nazism. Nowadays it’s not accepted to talk about Nazism, despite the fact, that murders motivated by ethnic hatred have become common. Almost everyone could be a victim of the Nazis. And anyone who understands the origins of the problem of nationalism has anti-fascist views. But shall we protect the life of other if it is on a knife’s edge? Today we fought for Jock Palfreeman, a man who could stand up for others’ lives, risking his own life, when on Dec. 27, 2007, he saw a group of people who attacked two young Roma men. When seeing the group disperse, Jock rushed to check the health of the young boy that didn’t manage to escape. A fight occurred, during which two of the attackers were injured, one – deadly. According to investigators, Jock himself attacked a group of people in order to murder them, and the group of attackers automatically became the victims. Victims give conflicting testimony, the witnesses of what happened are not polled, and video CCTV system for some reason can not be dealt with in court. All these facts lead us to fight for liberation of Jock, who received a sentence of 20 years imprisonment, 3 years of which he has already served in the Sofia Central Prison.

Before making a decision on the appeal, which was filed with the court’s decision remained a week, you can sign a petition in support of Jock Palfreeman here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freejock/

In addition, it is very important for imprisonedperson to feel that he is not alone, that someone fights for his liberation and what he did, is not condemned. You can write a letter to Jock using the following address:

Jock Palfreeman

Sofia Central Prison

21 General Stoletov Boulevard

Sofia 1309, BULGARIA

Message from Jock Palfreeman

Posted: January 6, 2011 in Anti Fascism, Jock Palfreeman
Tags: Jock Palfreeman

For 3 years my statement of self defence has not changed. And it doesn’t change now. The 3 years have been difficult, but the fact that the judges, prosecutors, private plaintifs and myself know that I’m innocent brings some comfort.

The false accusers are scared of my case being publicized. Within Bulgaria they have done a very good job of censoring the facts of my case from the Bulgarian language public. In the past year nothing has been mentioned about my case in Bulgarian print nor in tv. In contrast to other languages.

The propaganda has been very good, with rumours that I stabbed people in the back, that contradict eye witnesses and the forensic report. Ironically the forensic report not only states that andrei was stabbed face to face, but it also states that he was not stabbed with the knife I held. He was stabbed with a dagger, a type of knife I did not have.

Dr Monov is good friends with the ex minister of police who was minister at the time of my arrest and first trial. Which clearly explains the police changing their statements in 09, witnesses not being found and video evidence being deliberatly “misplaced”.

All objective and neutral evidence in my case has supported my statement from the begining. With only the statements of the gang conflicting, with not only my statement, but all if the evidence. It is more then evident that the Monov family have used their connections within the then governing Bulgarian Socialist Party to corrupt the judicial process.

If the appeal court is not corrupt, there is more then enough evidence to find that I acted in defence of a racial minority being assaulted due to the colour of their skin, then acting in defence of myself.

Any deviation from this ruling, is a display of corruption and disrespect for law, morals, society and justice.

I have been convicted of “attacking 15 men, without reason or provocation, because I don’t like society” this was based on ONLY the statements of the football hooligans, NOT forensic or objective evidence, and I am not only innocent of this conviction, it is ridiculous on it’s own, to surgest that a sane man can attack 15 trying to kill them all without reason, is absurd.

Defence is not a crime!

Thank you for all the acts of friendship, support and solidarity, shown by friends, family and those concerned with social justice. Your constant support has not only brought the injustice to public light, but reminded me why I went to the defence of the 2 boys in the first place. It is human nature to care for each other even in the face of overwhelming odds. To all those who show their disgust of racism and corruption, thank you. We must not loose hope, not only for my case, but in the broader struggle against racism.

Most of all, I wish to publically thank my dad Simon Palfreeman, who for over 3 years now has traveled to Bulgaria about 30 times to defend me in court. When they sentenced me to 20 years, he held me by the shoulder, I told him I was fine and didn’t need condolences, he told me, “it’s not for you, it’s for me”. Thank you dad for your continued support, I love you very much

Jock Palfreeman, January 2011

Update about Jock

Posted: January 6, 2011 in Jock Palfreeman

Jocks appeal continues. He had two hearings so far, end of October and mid of November.
Heres a link to article about it: http://sofiaecho.com/2010/11/11/991752_policeman-in-palfreeman-appeal-hearing-supports-defence-account

In quite suprirsing turn of events both serving policeman during first hearing and two ex-cops during second hearing confirmed Jock’s version of events and admitted that when they arrived to the scene their collegues and other witnesses told them about attack on Roma boys before fight with Jock started. That actually gives us some hope for the final result to be positive. His next hearing will be on 22nd of December and probably in January there will be a sentencing. We got all this time to carry on putting pressure on Bulgarian authorities, we can’t stop now as this is very important moment. Please make sure you organise actions in your are or at the very least send another round of protest letters, emails and faxes to Bulgarian authorities.
Plese also make sure you report all actions to anarchosolidarity@yahoo.co.uk

Anarchist Solidarity

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