An alliance of people spied on by Britain's political secret police
Film: Solidarity (UK, 2019, 76mins), followed by Q&A with director Lucy Parker
For decades, a secret blacklist kept thousands of people out of the UK construction industry. Most of the major firms were involved, vetting thousands of applicants and supplying the blacklist with information on ‘undesirables’.
Workers who organised to ensure their legal rights such as getting paid on time or being provided with the proper safety equipment, were listed and excluded.
After the illegal blacklisting firm was raided in 2009, the files were found to contain information that can only have come from the police or security services. The Independent Police Complaints Commission admitted that every constabulary’s Special Branch appears to have routinely supplied personal details of citizens. This is not police officers upholding the law – it is police breaking the law to maximise corporate profit.
Many spycops from the Special Demonstration Squad took a particular interest in trade unions, becoming members and joining picket lines.
SOLIDARITY attentively follows meetings between activists and law students, brought together for the film, revealing the determination of a community working together to find a route to justice.
This screening is followed by a Q&A with director Lucy Parker.
Where: Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6QG
When: Thursday 7 November, time TBA
SOLIDARITY was made by visual arts organisation City Projects and filmmaker Lucy Parker, who has been working alongside members of the Blacklist Support Group for over four years. The project has generated several short films, exhibitions and events.