Activists Deny Smear by Carmel Agrexco
climate camp | 19.08.2007 19:43 | Climate Camp 2007
Activists from the Camp for Climate Action have released a press statement refuting claims made against them by Carmel Agrexco.
Yesterday a group of 40-50 activists took part in a blockade and occupation of Carmel-Agrexco in Hayes, Middlesex, in solidarity with the Camp for Climate Action.
The Press Association wire ran an item on the blockade quoting Agrexco General Manager Amos Orr as saying that many of the protesters were 'drunk' and were 'singing about Hamas'. It is surprising that the Press Association ran this story without verifying the facts. Mr Orr's claims are completely denied.
Each activist was subjected to a search under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, a power which the police have been using widely to deal with activists from the Climate Camp. Such searches require the activists to be intimately searched by police officers, and no arrests were made for any alcohol related offences. Bearing in mind the over-zealous manner in which the camp has been policed, Mr. Orr should be able at the least to point to charges which substantiate the claim that protesters were drunk. In any event Mr Orr did not arrive until the protest was virtually over.
Mr. Orr goes on to say that protesters were 'singing about Hamas'. This claim is absolutely denied by the activists involved.
“Orr's comments are an attempt to smear campaigners,” said protestor Howard Jones. “Those who attended the protest did so to highlight the damaging effects of air freighting of food and to show support for Palestinians who suffer under Israeli Occupation, and against the importation of produce from settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.”
Camp For Climate Action spokesperson Troy Tate said, “The climate camp has been the victim of repeated attempts to smear campaigners. This is because those who are responsible for the root causes of climate change want to distract attention from the real issues.”
Six activists were arrested and released on police bail. No-one has yet been charged with any offence.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Carmel-Agrexco is an Israeli company which air freights fresh produce into
Britain and thereby contributes to climate change.
The action was part of a concerted campaign against the company and part of the growing movement for a boycott of Israeli apartheid. The action coincided with the Climate Camp and sought to highlight the damage done to the environment by air freighting of food by Agrexco and similar companies.
The Press Association wire ran an item on the blockade quoting Agrexco General Manager Amos Orr as saying that many of the protesters were 'drunk' and were 'singing about Hamas'. It is surprising that the Press Association ran this story without verifying the facts. Mr Orr's claims are completely denied.
Each activist was subjected to a search under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, a power which the police have been using widely to deal with activists from the Climate Camp. Such searches require the activists to be intimately searched by police officers, and no arrests were made for any alcohol related offences. Bearing in mind the over-zealous manner in which the camp has been policed, Mr. Orr should be able at the least to point to charges which substantiate the claim that protesters were drunk. In any event Mr Orr did not arrive until the protest was virtually over.
Mr. Orr goes on to say that protesters were 'singing about Hamas'. This claim is absolutely denied by the activists involved.
“Orr's comments are an attempt to smear campaigners,” said protestor Howard Jones. “Those who attended the protest did so to highlight the damaging effects of air freighting of food and to show support for Palestinians who suffer under Israeli Occupation, and against the importation of produce from settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.”
Camp For Climate Action spokesperson Troy Tate said, “The climate camp has been the victim of repeated attempts to smear campaigners. This is because those who are responsible for the root causes of climate change want to distract attention from the real issues.”
Six activists were arrested and released on police bail. No-one has yet been charged with any offence.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Carmel-Agrexco is an Israeli company which air freights fresh produce into
Britain and thereby contributes to climate change.
The action was part of a concerted campaign against the company and part of the growing movement for a boycott of Israeli apartheid. The action coincided with the Climate Camp and sought to highlight the damage done to the environment by air freighting of food by Agrexco and similar companies.
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