If you're going to be taking part in the demonstrations in London this coming Saturday (26 March), spare a few moments to think about Edward Woollard.

Ed, an 18-year-old student from Hampshire, was the one who threw the fire extinguisher off the roof of Millbank Tower during last year's so-called 'riot' against the régime's plans to destroy access to further and higher education for those who aren't the children of the affluent.

Despite Ed:

Handing himself in to the police,
Co-operating fully with the prosecution,
Pleading guilty at the earliest possible point to avoid the expense of a full trial,
Expressing his regret and remorse for his actions (actions which did not result in any injuries to anyone),
Being a first-time offender,
Having numerous witness statements from people of good standing in his community testifying to his good character,

Judge Geoffrey Rivlin on 11 January 2011 passed an extreme sentence upon him (for "Violent Disorder") which was quite clearly motivated by political considerations and which - as Rivlin cheerfully admitted - was intended to "send a message".

Given that while you're marching through London on Saturday, Edward Woollard will be sitting in a Young Offenders' Institution less than eleven weeks into a minimum sixteen-month custodial portion of a thirty-two month sentence (a sentence sufficiently long that he will have to declare his conviction on all applications for education, insurance and - significantly - employment for the rest of his life), consider showing your solidarity with him by badges, banners or any other non-violent means at your disposal.

Make sure that you "send a message" to the judiciary and the politicians that politicised sentencing will be fought at every turn.