Case against anti-war protester dismissed
ISR | 26.01.2004 21:08 | Anti-militarism
Today the criminal case against anti war activist Karl Debbaut was dismissed. 8 months ago, on the day the war began, International Socialist Resistance member Karl Debbaut was charged with ‘assault on a police officer in the execution of his duty’ whilst attending a school student strike against the war in Lewisham.
The judge ruled that the police had acted outside the law when they wanted to forcefully remove school students from a London Transport bus and take them back to school. The school students and students had boarded the 185 in Lewisham on their way to parliament square where they would have joined thousands of other young protesters.
ISR and Karl Debbaut himself are extremely pleased with this ruling. It reconfirms that the police attempts to prevent students or school students organising or joining a collective protest were unlawful on the basis of truancy laws. We believe this is a victory for students’ the right to protest and against the attempted criminalisation of anti-war activists and political activists in general.
The case for the defence of Karl Debbaut was handled by barrister Tony Metzer and solicitor Matt Foot.
1) For more information or to interview Karl contact International Socialist Resistance at 07960 361471
2) Sponsors of the campaign include: Stop the War Coalition, George Galloway MP, Members of the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Socialist Party: Tommy Sheridan, Frances Curran, Rosemary Byrne, Carolyn Leckie, Rosie Kane. Mark Serwotka General Secretary of the PCS, Janice Godrich President of the PCS, Sue Bond Vice President PCS, Jeremy Dear General Secretary NUJ, PCS NEC members: Sevi Yeslgalli, Chris Baugh, Danny Williamson, Christine Chorlton, Rob Williams. UNISON NEC members: Raph Parkinson, Carol Dutton, Roger Bannister, Clare Williams, Mike Tucker, Jon Rogers, Kate Ahrens, Helen Jenner. CWU NEC members: Gary Jones, Bernard Roome. Branch Secretary London East CWU Paul Stygal, NUT NEC members: Linda Taaffe. T&G GEC members: Martin Meyer, Chris White, John Boughan. Teresa Mackay Chair of T&G Rural Agricultural Workers Section, Brian Rebel National Organisers of T&G National Agricultural Workers Section. RMT TUC delegate: Joe Grey, Keith Brodel, Neil Kaeith, G Watson, D Elliot, Roy Cottage, Martin Wickes. ASLEF TUC delegates: Nigel Gibson, Mike Jones, Dave Tyson. Socialist Party Councillors: Coventry - Dave Nellist, Rob Windsor, Karen Mackay, Lewisham – Ian Page, Chris Flood etc etc etc
The judge ruled that the police had acted outside the law when they wanted to forcefully remove school students from a London Transport bus and take them back to school. The school students and students had boarded the 185 in Lewisham on their way to parliament square where they would have joined thousands of other young protesters.
ISR and Karl Debbaut himself are extremely pleased with this ruling. It reconfirms that the police attempts to prevent students or school students organising or joining a collective protest were unlawful on the basis of truancy laws. We believe this is a victory for students’ the right to protest and against the attempted criminalisation of anti-war activists and political activists in general.
The case for the defence of Karl Debbaut was handled by barrister Tony Metzer and solicitor Matt Foot.
1) For more information or to interview Karl contact International Socialist Resistance at 07960 361471
2) Sponsors of the campaign include: Stop the War Coalition, George Galloway MP, Members of the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Socialist Party: Tommy Sheridan, Frances Curran, Rosemary Byrne, Carolyn Leckie, Rosie Kane. Mark Serwotka General Secretary of the PCS, Janice Godrich President of the PCS, Sue Bond Vice President PCS, Jeremy Dear General Secretary NUJ, PCS NEC members: Sevi Yeslgalli, Chris Baugh, Danny Williamson, Christine Chorlton, Rob Williams. UNISON NEC members: Raph Parkinson, Carol Dutton, Roger Bannister, Clare Williams, Mike Tucker, Jon Rogers, Kate Ahrens, Helen Jenner. CWU NEC members: Gary Jones, Bernard Roome. Branch Secretary London East CWU Paul Stygal, NUT NEC members: Linda Taaffe. T&G GEC members: Martin Meyer, Chris White, John Boughan. Teresa Mackay Chair of T&G Rural Agricultural Workers Section, Brian Rebel National Organisers of T&G National Agricultural Workers Section. RMT TUC delegate: Joe Grey, Keith Brodel, Neil Kaeith, G Watson, D Elliot, Roy Cottage, Martin Wickes. ASLEF TUC delegates: Nigel Gibson, Mike Jones, Dave Tyson. Socialist Party Councillors: Coventry - Dave Nellist, Rob Windsor, Karen Mackay, Lewisham – Ian Page, Chris Flood etc etc etc
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