[Campaignforrealdemocracy] Putney / Levellers Planning - Sunday 12 August 1pm

[Alison Banville]

The fact that most of the British public has never heard of The Putney Debates or The Levellers or The Diggers is a disgrace! I was never taught about them at school and I bet you weren't either. It's not part of the 'official' version of history, and yet it is probably the most important point in our history in terms of the People's fundamental rights and has never been more relevant! If ever there was a time for another 'Putney Debates' it is now! I think I'll print off some info on the original debates and the new ones and give them out at tube stations. The public has to be made aware that this is about them, about all of us! We've never seen so many rotten institutions collapsing in the modern era - politics, media, police - all the interconnected corruption is being exposed; never has the public had such blatant evidence of these institutions being unfit for purpose.  This is the best chance we've had in many a year to cross the
 activist/'civilian' divide. 
 
Funnily enough I've just sent someone who wasn't aware of The Putney Debates/Levellers some info on it and included stuff on John Lilburne.  Here's what I sent my friend about him: 

This piece is written by the founder of Bindmans solicitors who specialise in human rights and represent lots of activists: 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/dec/15/legal-heroes-geoffrey-bindman-john-lilburne

Extracts from an essay on FJ:  
'John Lilburne has the  unusual distinction of being an Englishman who has been put on trial for his  life twice and acquitted twice.  During his lifetime he enjoyed huge popular  support and in the mid 1600s was almost certainly the most popular man in the  country...When Lilburne was  brought before the court of Star Chamber he refused to take the oath....(this became the Fifth Amendment - Lilburne objected to having to take an oath before even being charged. In those days, extracting a confession was the main purpose of proceedings, not building a case based on evidence, so he refused to comply with their demand to incriminate himself). The late United  States Supreme Court Judge Hugo Black, who often cited the works of John  Lilburne in his opinions, wrote in an article for Encyclopaedia  Britannica that he believed John Lilburne’s constitutional work of 1649 was  the basis for the basic rights contained in the U.S.   Constitution.'
He spent half his life in prison because of his refusal to back down on his beliefs: 
'Lilburne was brought before the House of Lords once more.  When commanded to  kneel by the Keeper of the Black Rod, he refused.  Back to Newgate he  went.'
Lilburne was to be whipped from Fleet to Westminster and this punishment was set  to take place on April 18th 1638. 
Lilburne was stripped  to the waist and his hands were tied to the back of the cart.  It was a very hot  day and the sun was beating down.  Starting from Fleet Bridge, the horse drawn  cart proceeded slowly down Fleet Street, through Temple Bar, into the Strand and  on to Charing Cross.  Throughout the journey, along the dusty streets, the  executioner lashed the prisoner with his three-thonged knotted whip.  Supportive  crowds lined the route.  On went the cart, dragging the prisoner through King’s  Gate, down King Street to New Palace Yard. 
It is estimated that  Lilburne received 500 lashes along the way, making 1500 stripes to his back  during the two mile walk.  Vivid descriptions from the period, paint a painful  picture of this tortured man: his shoulders “swelled almost as big as a penny  loafe with the bruses of the knotted Cords”14 and “for the wales in  his back, made by his cruel whipping, were bigger than  Tobacco-pipes”.He was in this  condition when he reached New Palace Yard and after he refused to admit to any  error, his head was clamped in the pillory.  Despite having been weakened by his  ordeal, he spoke out.  An enthusiastic crowd gathered around to listen to him  describe the injustice of his arrest and to hear his explanation of why he  refused the Oath.  
 
Bishops, declared  Lilburne, derived their authority from the Pope, who was the Beast of  Revelation, who was the Anti-Christ or the Devil, and he challenged them to deny  it. He was then gagged so  hard that he bled.  Undeterred, he then pulled pamphlets from his pockets and  distributed them amongst the excited crowd.  He then stamped his feet in protest  until his two-hour stint in the pillory was over. He was escorted back to Fleet prison  followed by enthusiastic crowds.  It was not until he reached the prison that  his wounds were dressed.' 
Later he was tried for High Treason: 
On the  24th October, Lieut.  Colonel John Lilburne was charged under the  Treason Acts of May 14th and July 17th 1649, Acts passed  no doubt with the express purpose of charging Lilburne with High Treason.  The  trial began early on the morning of 25th October ...consisting of 40  dignitaries led by the Lord Mayor, took their places in the Guildhall in London  to preside over the case.  The courtroom was packed with Lilburne’s friends and  supporters. Lilburne contested  point after point and when the prosecution read out extracts from Lilburne’s  pamphlets, the public often applauded.  After the indictment was read out,  Lilburne requested more time to prepare his defence and gather witnesses.  He  was granted an afternoon’s respite only.
The court reconvened  at 7.00am the following morning.  After a long day of listening to Lilburne  being subjected to intense questioning, the jury finally retired at 5.00pm.   Within an hour they reached their verdict—not guilty of all charges. Cheers rang out in  the court room and celebrations continued all evening.  Church bells tolled  throughout London, bonfires were lit and feasting was enjoyed by John’s many  supporters.  A special medal was struck to commemorate the occasion, with John’s  portrait on one side and the names of the members of the jury on the  other.'
'John Lilburne believed in Liberty.   Lilburne’s life story is a testament to the fact that he not only believed in  freedom but acted upon that belief.  “The bigness of the man was that his whole  life, from first to last, was an unyielding battle for his ideal of liberty.''
 
 
 

________________________________
 From: Mark Barrett <marknbarrett at googlemail.com>
To: peopleincommon at lists.riseup.net; campaignforrealdemocracy at lists.aktivix.org; project2012 at lists.riseup.net; "<occupycomms at email-lists.org>" <occupycomms at email-lists.org> 
Sent: Sunday, 5 August 2012, 3:32
Subject: [Campaignforrealdemocracy] Putney / Levellers Planning - Sunday 12 August 1pm
  

Dear Friends and Occupiers 

21st Century Putney Debates / Levellers Event 

Occupy London are planning to facilitate a 21st Century Putney Debates event this coming October. You are invited to join us at an open planning meeting : 

Sunday 12th August 1pm 
St Pauls Cross, towards the rear of St Pauls Cathedral. 

Sunday October 28th 2012 will be the 365th anniversary of the beginning of the Putney Debates. The original Debates, groundbreaking in their time, started at St Mary's Church (Giles Fraser's old parish) in 1647, and ran until November 11th. They considered the future of the English Constitution after the removal of the King from the old political order. The Levellers, who sought a democratic constitution based on an 'Agreement of the People,' were famously excluded from the final political settlement.   

We now face a growing crisis of democracy and we are inviting occupiers, interested individuals,  and representatives of  groups who are actively campaigning for a better democracy to join with us in planning out a series of Leveller's inspired events for this coming autumn.   

We have done some initial consultation work and people have proposed a variety of ideas including re enacting the debates through drama, using this as an opportunity for groups working on democracy to come together and linking the democratic deficit with economic injustice.  

If you are inspired to contribute and join us, we have three questions that we would like you to think about to help with the planning of the event: 

▪ Why are the Putney Debates important for today?▪ What do we want to see happen at the events (Speakers/performance/music/discussion etc.) ?▪ What do we want as an outcome/achievement?  

If you are unable to attend this meeting then you are very welcome to email in suggestions, but we hope you can make it as we need everyone to help make it happen.  

The first meeting will be held at the monument to St Paul's Cross, towards the rear of St Pauls Cathedral, and in the enclosed grounds. St Paul's Cross was the place of the first London folkmoot , or people's assembly, so we think this will be a fitting location! 

If you have any queries please get in touch with Julie or Natasha of the Real Democracy working group via email on the contact details below. 

Yours fraternally  

Julie Timbrell 
Natasha Langridge 
Mark Barrett 

julieoccupy at gmail.com  
07970969599 

langridge.natasha at btinternet.com

 
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