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

[Robert Naiman]

A case could be made that this isn't so much an example of jury
nullification as of a jury taking seriously its obligations under
international law.

On Mon, Jul 5, 2010 at 4:46 AM, John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

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