An alliance of people spied on by Britain's political secret police
‘Alison’ and ‘Andrea’ – political activists who were deceived into relationships by undercover officers of the Special Demonstration Squad – will both be speaking about spycops at the 2018 Matchwomen’s Festival on Saturday 30th June, alongside other “women vs the State”.
Alison was active in a community-based organisation exposing cases of police corruption, promoting trade unionism, and campaigning against racism and fascism. She had a five year cohabiting relationship with the man she knew as Mark Cassidy – police officer Mark Jenner.
She is one of the women who secured an unprecedented apology from the Metropolitan Police in 2015, and has written a number of hard-hitting, insightful articles for the Guardian on the spycops scandal.
Andrea was part of a circle of friends who were trade unionists, socialists and active in campaigning against racism. She had a two year relationship with Carlo Neri, in which they lived together and got engaged. Though the Met have admitted he was a police officer, they are still stalling her legal case against them.
DATE: Saturday 30 June 2018, 14:00-23:00
VENUE: Bow Arts, 183 Bow Road, London E3 1SJ
TICKETS: £8.00 + £1.08 fee. Book here.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Matchwomen’s Festival is named after the Bryant & May match workers who went on strike in 1888. It was a pivotal event in the foundation of the trade union movement.
This year we celebrate 130 years since the Bow Matchwomen’s groundbreaking strike of 1888.
With no union, no money and no job security, they took action to defend one sacked girl, and ended up facing down one of the country’s most powerful employers. Their unexpected victory began a social movement from which the new union movement sprang, eventually leading to the founding of the Labour Party.
For our 6th annual festival we will take inspiration from each other, and from speakers of diverse gifts who have one thing in common: they never, ever give up!
NEW VENUE
We are thrilled this year to be just a stone’s throw from the matchfactory, right where the strike began. This is the Bow Road the matchwomen knew, and promenaded, dressed to kill and arm in arm, on their days off. Here they began the strike which led to an unprecedented, supposedly impossible victory for poor, working class, largely migrant women.
Our festival will take place in the courtyard of Bow Arts, an organisation that supports art at the heart of the local community, and celebrates its history.
WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN WELCOME
SPEAKERS:
As well as Andrea and Alison, the Festival will include:
Shadow Attorney General SHAMI CHAKRABARTI
Writer and broadcaster MICHAEL ROSEN
Award-winning novelist KATE THOMPSON
Women’s Rights’ campaigner AISHA ALI-KHAN
Black Activists against Cuts’ Women’s Officer DONNA GUTHRIE
SARA ROWBOTHAM and CATH HAYES, the ‘Rochdale Whistleblowers’ immortalised in ‘Three Girls’, on their fight for the truth.
LISSA EVANS, BAFTA-winning Father Ted director and best-selling novelist who’s Their Finest Hour is now a major film, on writing comedy, & the suffragette heroine of her latest book.
NUT former Vice-President LOUISE REGAN on sexism in our schools
Founder of the eagerly-anticipated East End Women’s Museum SARAH JACKSON
KAREN INGALA SMITH of Counting Dead Women (the femicide census)
NINA, who overcame an abusive relationship to become and advocate, facilitator and fighter for other women escaping domestic violence
SAMIRA-CATERINA MONTELEONE of the UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT
THE GIRLS OF THE CONVENT OF JESUS AND MARY COLLEGE, WILLESDEN
MIA SHEPHERD and ROXANNE ELLIS of the WOMEN’S QUILT memorial project (the beautiful quilt will be on display)
EVENING BANDS
We’re delighted to be joined by STEVE WHITE AND THE PROTEST FAMILY, back for their 6th triumphant year at MatchFest; wonderful new band I,DORIS featuring CASSIE FOX; uber-talented singer songwriter MADDY CARTY; and the incredible SAMBA SISTERS!
Spread the word with the Facebook event.
Follow the Matchwomen’s Festival on Facebook and Twitter.
DATE: Saturday 30 June 2018, 14:00-23:00
VENUE: Bow Arts, 183 Bow Road, London E3 1SJ
TICKETS: £8.00 + £1.08 fee. Book here.