Press Release - 5 February 2004
Contact: 07815 760211
No embargo - For immediate use

Peace Activist in Court over Bridge Protest.

A Cambridge peace activist pleaded not guilty to a public
order offense today, 5 February 2004, at the Cambridge Magistrates
court. He was arrested on the 11th November 2003 after hanging a
banner displaying "Stop Bush" and informing commuters of the
President's visit from the top of the footpath bridge, next to the
Cambridge rail station, a week before Bush's visit to Britain. Despite
his protest being peaceful and polite he was finally charged with
"threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or disorderly
behavior". In the next few weeks he will be putting up a defense based
on his freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

The man was originally charged with causing a public nuisance and
criminal damage. The criminal damage charge, relating to the
defacement of the War Memorial, was dropped but only after his house
was search by the Cambridgeshire police. There was no evidence of him
being implicated in any criminal damage other than his protest
against the war and the current United States administration. It is
only on the 2nd February, this week, that he was re-arrested and
charged with section 5 of the Public Order Act for the events on the
bridge.

"I did my protest with good humor, and caused a minimum of
disruption, while effectively
advertising the demonstrations against George Bush." said the protester. "I am surprised that merely for protesting, I am charged with
something usually reserved for people fighting outside Pubs."

Commenting on the criminal damage charges that were dropped, he said, "I don't understand the police logic which seems to suggest that
if you engage in peaceful protest against an illegal war you are also
likely to be guilty of defacing a memorial to some of the victims of
previous wars."

The first pre-trial hearing is scheduled for the 4th March 2004.

Notes for editors:

1. The exact charge is section 5(1)(a) of the Public Order Act 1986,
"using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or
disorderly behavior within the hearing or sight of a person likely to
be caused harassment, alarm or distress".

2. Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 on freedom of expression
states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This
right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart
information and ideas without interference by public authority and
regardless of frontiers."

3. Photographs and background material can be found on the Cambridge
Independent Media Centre:
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2003/11/280232.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/2004/02/284814.html