He's in there for us, We're on the loose for him!

Last Wednesday I accompanied Chris Cole, Catholic Worker/ plowshares activist/ father of 3, to Westminister Court on Horsferry Rd. in central London. This magistrate's court had been the site of December's Julian Assange (denial of) bail hearings. This time the word's media were not assembled to witness nonviolent anti-war resistance. One of the security guys on the metal detectors recognised me from previous weeks giving speeches outside his window pane, seemed happy to see me!

As it is with these places it's all "hurry up and wait" as we were sent upstairs and then sent downstairs and then sent upstairs again...before the police officer from downstairs came upstairs and took Chris into custody.

When I left Chris he was in good spirits, later that afternoon he was sentenced to 28 daze. For the past week he has been unable to make contact with his family (no phone call) from within HMP Wandsworth. Last Wednesday, I text Belfast @ Seamus residing on the southside of London and he got up to visit Chris on his first morning in custody...due to this new thang they got where first 30 folks who turn up can get a visit with a prisoner brought in the previous day!

Chris's present imprisonment follows 18 months of numerous court letters, bailiffs threats visits and his steadfast refusal to pay the fine.

BACKGROUND ON CHRIS'S 2009 RESISTANCE ACTION TO THE ARMS TRADE

CCTV footage (2 mins 27 secs) of Chris's nonviolent resistance at the opening conference at the Queen Elizabeth II of "Defence and Security Equipment International (Dsei) 2009 Arms Fair"
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azHNNesrePw

With spray can in hand Chris went to the conference centre just before the event and sprayed ‘build peace not war machines’ ‘stop this bloody business’ and ‘arms trade=death’ on the front entrance and poured fake blood over the steps. He was shortly convicted of criminal damage and fined just under £2,000.

You can read Chris's pre-prison reflections on his blog:
 http://chrisco1e.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/%E2%80%9Cit%E...0%9D/

PLEASE SEND A SOLIDARITY POSTCARD OR LETTER ASAP TO CHRIS COLE IN WNADSWORTH PRISON!

Chris Cole
Prisoner Number: A81 47 AZ
HMP Wandsworth
Heathfield Rd.
London
SW18 3HS
ENGLAND

*If you are posting from overseas this week (ending Jan 29)
post directly to the prison. If posting after Jan 29th. send c/- to GIuseppe Conlon House (see address below)...we will redirect your correspondence or give it to Chris on release. This will protect against your letter or postcard being returned to you should Chris be released early!

*If you are posting from within Eng/Scotland & Wales.....post directly to Chris in prison until Monday Jan 31st...then from Feb 1st. to Giuseppe Conlon House for redirection

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILY OF CHRIS COLE.
(wife Virginia & 3 Kidz)

Cheques payable to
"Virginia Moffatt"
post c/--
Giuseppe Conlon House
49 Mattison Rd.
London
N4 1BG
(as we don't wish to publicise family home address)

**Family will pass on excess donations to anti-war prisoners (Bradley Manning, military & civilian resisters etc)

Check out Chris Cole's drone website
 http://dronewarsuk.wordpress.com/

Check out Chris Cole Blog
 http://chrisco1e.wordpress.com/

Solidarity
Ciaron