[Peace-discuss] Non-violent direct action...

[John W.]

Looks like a clear example of jury nullification, which we have discussed
from time to time....



On Sat, Jul 3, 2010 at 3:23 AM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at illinois.edu>wrote:



>      Weapons decommissioners found not guilty
>
>
>      2 July 2010 (11:am)
>
>      Hove Crown Court, Brighton UK
>
>      Final two Decommissioners Found NOT GUILTY!
>
>      The jury in the trial of seven activists who decommissioned a Brighton
>      arms factory to prevent Israel war crimes in Gaza in January 2009,
> have
>      now found all seven activists not guilty of Conspiracy to Cause
> Criminal
>      Damage by unanimous verdict in Hove Crown Court.
>
>      The seven entered the factory on 16th Jan 2009, causing nearly
> £200,000 of
>      damage and shutting down production. They offered no defence other
> than
>      the prevention of imminent war crimes.
>
>      Simon Levin, Tom Woodhead, Ornella Saibene, Bob Nicholls, Harvey
> Tadman
>      were all acquitted on Wednesday.
>
>      The final two Elijah Smith and and Chris Osmond were acquitted this
> morning.
>
>      Chris Osmond said "This action was taken was taken because of EDO MBMs
>      illegal supply of weapons to the Israeli military. We brought the
> suffering
>      of ordinary Palestinians into a British courtroom and confronted with
> the
>      evidence they took the brave decision to find that our actions were
>      justified"
>
>      All have now been found not guilty by unanimous verdict.
>
>      A press conference will take place at:
>
>      1m at
>
>      Mary Magdalene Community Centre
>      55 Upper North Street
>      Brighton
>
>      Messages of support have already arrived from Caroline Lucas, MP for
>      Brighton Pavilion, and Noam Chomsky.
>
>      Caroline Lucas said:
>
>      'I am absolutely delighted that the jury has recognised that the
> actions
>      of the decommissioners were a legitimate response to the atrocities
> being
>      committed in Gaza. I do not advocate non violent direct action
> lightly;
>      however in this situation it is clear that the decommissioners had
>      exhausted all democratic avenues and, crucially, that their actions
> were
>      driven by the responsibility to prevent further suffering in Gaza.'
>
>      Noam Chomsky said
>
>      'I would like to express my respect and admiration for those who are
>      undertaking non-violent resistance to oppose British participation in
>      Israel's cruel crimes in Gaza.'
>
>      News site Ynetnews.com reports that the Israeli Ambassador in London
> is
>      'furious.'
>
>      http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3914014,00.html
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