After leaving the sit-in when prompted (and indeed encouraging others to move on to Parliament Square, since I felt we had "made our point"), I walked down Duke street with some of my friends (fellow classmates & one of my lecturers). We walked along, following the small group of marchers that had been isolated, from the pavement. One of my friends was still in this group. I could see that he was trying to phone us, but couldn't hear me shouting his name from outside. I kept shouting his name, so that he would know we were all nearby. After shouting his name one time too many, the police at the back of the contingent came and grabbed me violently, saying: "go and join your friend in there then; you know you want to". Obviously, to me this felt like "come here, so that you fit our criteria for arrest". I tried to break free, but failed. Five policemen made sure I was one of those 'going in'; clearly feeling satisfied at their 'catch'. I was handcuffed and escorted to the van...

 

I was charged with the following:
ON 05.04.2003 AT DUKE STREET JUNCTION WITH OXFORD STREET W1 TOOK PART IN A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY AND KNOWINGLY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITION IMPOSED BY A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER UNDER SECTION 14 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986,NAMELY WAS GIVEN DIRECTION BY SUPERINTENDENT PLOWRIGHT THAT PERSONS WERE ONLY TO PROTEST OUTSIDE AMERICAN EMBASSY,THIS DIRECTION WAS PASSED ONTO MR AZARIAH-MORENO WHO HE CONTINUED TO PROTEST AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO SIT DOWN IN THE ROADWAY AT DUKE STREET W1.

 

CONTRARY TO SECTION 14(5) AND (9) OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986

 

I certainly don't recall anyone telling me that I was only allowed to protest outside the American embassy. I didn't 'knowingly' fail to comply with any condition. And, at any rate, I was among the many who had already chosen to move on from the roadway and had been allowed to do so. The sit in was a spontaneous event. We all chanted "sit down, stop the war", along with other slogans. It seemed my voice was louder than others. I did not 'encite' any more than all those others chanting the same slogan.