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DSEI Emily not jailed - supporters followed by cops to police demo

food not bombs | 13.03.2002 14:05

Emily Apple who defended herself in court after being charged with locking herself to a DLR train during the DSEI arms fair (defence systems exhibition international) protests on September 11th 2001 - and thus stopping the train and the arms dealers in their tracks - was up for sentencing today (13/03/02) at Snaresbrook Crown Court.


Previously she has been told that because of her previous record of non violent direct actions this time they would 'remove her for a long time'. Prepared to be jailed for her beliefs Emily was however today just fined for obstruction, and the judge fined her the minimum amount for the legal costs.

Around a dozen supporters had turned out this morning for a final breakfast at the Crown Court. Several of them were followed by uniformed officers when they went to get coffees at a local shop. Later when they all left the supporters were followed by police all the way to Westminster where the police rally / demonstration was taking place this morning. Later Emily was prevented by police from visiting a friends office, the police saying they believed she was going to take part in an office occupation !?!

At the police demonstration around 100 people (ie not police) had gathered with various banners to highlight the harassing treatment peaceful protesters are often given by police including the high levels of video and photographic surveillance.

In a fitting confirmation of this the supporters were still being followed by police officers LX365 and C0906 at 1330hrs after they had left the police demonstration and were heading for a celebratory drink in a pub...

food not bombs

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

email address?

13.03.2002 14:11

n e 1 know of any police email address we can write to and complain about the two officers numbered above?

.


spy cops r us

13.03.2002 20:06

I saw these two this morning- I believe they are part of the FIT Team (Foward Intelligence Unit) who have nothing better to do with their lives than follow people & film them in the cause of 'evidence gathering' - although they seemed remarkably shy this morning when being filmed & photographed themselves...
I believe they are based at Scotland Yard - assuming they & their colleagues see this then could they post the relevant contact info here?

piggy wiggy


Nasty filth, but...

14.03.2002 08:32

That is so good Emily got out of going to jail. What a fantastic result!

Andy


Thanks for all the support

14.03.2002 11:50

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has given me support and encourgment. People have been so lovely and I really can't express how much that has meant to me. It has made a huge difference.

Yes, the FIT team were total wankers following us around and trying to stop me drop off my bag etc. However I feel a bit of smug satisfaction that not only did they see me not get sent to jail, but also got to hear the judge be relatively complementary about what I do etc.

I've been asked to post what I said in court, so here it is...

Firstly I have thought very hard about getting representation for this hearing. However I have decided against it. My main regret after my trial was that I didn't give evidence, that I wasn't properly able to express why I had acted. I promised myself that I would treat my mitigation differently and I intend to keep that promise.

The main point that I want to make today is that this was an act of conscience. It's not something I wanted to do, I'd have much rather have stayed in bed. I knew the consequences of what I was doing but I didn't feel as though I had any choice. I had tried other peaceful means of stopping what I believe to be an illegal and immoral arms fair but had been met with government silence and police repression of peaceful protest. All the delegates were arriving by train and I believe it was necessary to non violently attempt to try to stop these deplorable deals from taking place.

The ruling of this court was that my defence was "irrelevant." I have been told on quite a few occasions that a court is not the place for moral arguments. This essentially is the problem with the law. Under current legislation, UK companies have free reign to sell arms to repressive regimes who use them to abuse empoverished populations. This cannot be morally right. It cannot be a good thing to encourage a market in death and suffering. Unfortunately the needs of big business and a government whose promise of an "ethical foreign policy" is a joke, mean that what is right and wrong gets ignored in legislature. I therefore believe that individuals have a responsibility to take direct action in the name of what is right. In recent years, if it weren't for direct action, issues such as nuclear weapons, gm crops, road building schemes, the policies of the IMF and World Bank and the arms trade would have been ignored.

I am aware that I have refused to provide certain information the court. I have refused to state my means because I have no intention of paying any monetry penalty. Doing so would require an admission of guilt and that is not an admission I am willing to make. I have not provided any personal background because there is nothing in my personal life that I wish to disclose or deem relevant to these proceedings.

It was said before adjourning for reports that "something might be able to done to help me." I found this statement both confusing and alarming; I have acted because of deep and long held beliefs. I don't regret what I have done, I don't intend to stop standing up for what I believe to be right. I have no desire to change this and any attempts to change this will hopefully fail.

With regards my previous convictions, they are acts of peaceful political protest. I have not harmed or endangered anyone through my actions and I am proud of the things I have done.

To conclude, this was not a serious criminal act, it was not done for personal gain. I believe all I am guilty of is believing that a better world is possible and of acting upon these beliefs. I should be a testament to those beliefs that I have faced the courts, that I took part in an accountable action knowing that the end result might be the sacrifice of my liberty.

Emily


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