BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.5//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:10599@artinliverpool.com DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250519T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250519T190000 DTSTAMP:20250503T144459Z URL:https://www.artinliverpool.com/events/the-black-e-democracy-rights-on- the-line/ SUMMARY:The Black-E: The Black-E: Democracy: Rights on the Line DESCRIPTION:\n\nDemocracy: Rights on the Line\nWhen is a Nazi salute not a Nazi salute? When performed – twice – by Elon Musk\, Trump’s loyal M itläufer (hanger-on). Orwellian dystopia unfolds: protesters jailed\, act ivists punished\, and the BBC bowing to right-wing pressure – all just i n the UK. In the US\, Green Card holders are detained for lawful protest\, scientists deported over critical phone comments\, and Venezuelans falsel y branded as criminals. Meanwhile\, Trump flirts with Putin\, excusing an invasion his own supporters recently condemned.\n\nAnd then there’s Gaza . ‘Never again\,’ we said\, but only one side meant it. As the Israeli State commits genocide in broad daylight\, democratic leaders barely rais e a whisper in opposition. Peaceful protest is being criminalised\, with a nti-war activists arrested and charged\, with others\, including an 87 yea r old holocaust survivor\, taken in for Police questioning in an attempt t o intimidate and weaken a growing movement.\n\nYet\, as Dr. Martin Luther King said\, ‘Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor\; it mu st be demanded by the oppressed.’ WoWFEST’s panel\, featuring Chris N ineham\, Juliet Stevenson\, Niheer Dasandi\, and Roger Hill\, discusses  democracy under attack—and how we can fight back.\n\nChris Nineham is a founder and vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition. Arrested in 2025 during a pro-Palestinian march\, he pleaded not guilty to Public Order Act charges. He helped organise the historic 2003 anti-war protests\, the 200 1 Genoa G8 protests\, and the European and World Social Forums. A regular media commentator\, he writes for Stop the War\, Counterfire\, and others. \n\n\nJuliet Stevenson CBE is an award-winning actor known for decades of acclaimed work across film\, television\, and theatre. She gained promine nce with Truly\, Madly\, Deeply (1991)\, earning a BAFTA nomination\, an d has since starred in films including Emma (1996)\, Bend It Like Beckh am (2002)\, Mona Lisa Smile (2003)\, Being Julia (2004)\, Infamous  (2006)\, Wolf (2023)\, and Reawakening (2024). Stevenson’s activism e nsures her impact goes well beyond stage and screen: she has taken part in a range of campaigns and protests\, including for the rights of refugees and displaced people\, speaking out for the Palestinian people who are ‘being relentlessly and brutally assaulted while the world looks away or tries to rationalise it’\, and in defence of the right to protest itsel f. As an actor and activist\, Juliet Stevenson is performing in our time\ , and shaping it too.\n\nNiheer Dasandi\, author of Is Democracy Failing (2018)\, is Professor of Global Politics and Sustainable Development. His research focuses on human rights\, development\, climate change\, and fore ign policy. He co-chairs the Lancet Countdown’s Public and Political Eng agement Working Group. Niheer’s has published a range of books\, and his work appears in leading journals.\n\nRoger Hill hosted the UK’s longes t-running alternative music show on BBC Radio Merseyside for nearly 40 yea rs. A key figure in Youth Theatre\, he has worked at Liverpool Everyman an d beyond\, now focusing on Live Art and storytelling.\n\nWe encourage peop le to use public transport to travel to events where possible.\n\n\n \ ;\n\nThe Black-E is an accessible venue\; however\, please note that the w alkways are narrow and may not be suitable for larger motorized wheelchair s. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility\, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@writingonthewall.org.uk\n\n \;\n\ n*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford fu ll price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t affor d to\, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be tr eated in confidence.   \n\n\n\n\nBOOKING &\; INFO\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.artinliverpool.com/wp-content/upload s/2025/05/WOWFEST-25-WebHead.jpeg CATEGORIES:Talks LOCATION:The Black-E\, 1 Great George Street\, Liverpool\, L1 5EW\, Liverpo ol\, United Kingdom GEO:53.397876;-2.97619 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=1 Great George Street\, Liv erpool\, L1 5EW\, Liverpool\, United Kingdom;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Th e Black-E:geo:53.397876,-2.97619 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250330T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR