However, Charlie also hasn’t been sentenced to sixteen months for being rich and privileged, but because he was part of a militant movement which the state is seeking to crush. This is just one more sentence in a long line of deterrent punishments being passed down by the courts, including our Antifa comrades[1] who were sentenced for 21 months for conspiracy to commit violent disorder under very dubious circumstances[2]. Anyone politically motivated and found or pleading guilty is being made an example of, and after Frank Fernie received twelve months[3] for throwing two harmless sticks last week, it was inevitable, with two counts of violent disorder against him, Charlie Gilmour would face a longer stretch.

It has been made very clear to anyone facing violent disorder charges from recent protests that they will be sent to prison if convicted. This leaves defendants with a simple choice – plead guilty and resign yourself to months behind bars, or fight the cases, put the policing of these protests on trial, and show self defence is not an offence.

[1]  http://leedsabc.org/?p=400
[2]  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/07/482408.html
[3]  http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/07/12/free-francis-fernie-resist-political-sentencing/