Ed was given bail by Birmingham Magistrates and released after 10 days in prison! Thank you to everyone for your support and all those who attended the solidarity demonstration last Monday! We are still very hacked off about the dis-proportionate and politicised use of criminal justice powers against Ed and now his rather harsh bail conditions. Hopefully the courts will see sense and drop the ridiculous case against all three banner droppers.
Speaking in support of his bail application in court John Hemming MP, a local Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley, said:
“Whilst I do not believe he should have put the banner there in the first place, the protest was peaceful and placid and I think it is dis-proportionate to keep him in prison any longer.”
Outside the court over 70 people attended a ‘solidarity’ demonstration. They chanted “free ed bauer” pretty loudly, which could be heard within the court room as the hearing started. Claire Lister, a student at Birmingham University attending the demonstration, said:
“I came here to show my support for Ed being granted bail today. I’m very happy that the magistrate has seen that he is not a danger to the public and there would be no reason to continue his imprisonment for what was basically peaceful protest against the government. He is an important member of the University community and has a lot of support amongst students and staff for the stand he has taken defending our education.”
Michael Chessum, a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students, commenting on the days events said:
“It is a farce that Ed Bauer has spent over a week in prison for a banner drop, and this can be seen as part of a broader attempt, along with kettles and political charges, to muzzle and intimidate student protest. We are determined not to allow this to stop us from fighting for the right to an education and for a better society.”
There is a press release here:
There are some great pictures of the solidarity demo here (thanks Jon!)
Speaking in support of his bail application in court John Hemming MP, a local Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley, said:
“Whilst I do not believe he should have put the banner there in the first place, the protest was peaceful and placid and I think it is dis-proportionate to keep him in prison any longer.”
Outside the court over 70 people attended a ‘solidarity’ demonstration. They chanted “free ed bauer” pretty loudly, which could be heard within the court room as the hearing started. Claire Lister, a student at Birmingham University attending the demonstration, said:
“I came here to show my support for Ed being granted bail today. I’m very happy that the magistrate has seen that he is not a danger to the public and there would be no reason to continue his imprisonment for what was basically peaceful protest against the government. He is an important member of the University community and has a lot of support amongst students and staff for the stand he has taken defending our education.”
Michael Chessum, a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students, commenting on the days events said:
“It is a farce that Ed Bauer has spent over a week in prison for a banner drop, and this can be seen as part of a broader attempt, along with kettles and political charges, to muzzle and intimidate student protest. We are determined not to allow this to stop us from fighting for the right to an education and for a better society.”
There is a press release here:
There are some great pictures of the solidarity demo here (thanks Jon!)
Solidarity demonstration last Monday
Edward Bauer, Vice-President of Education of the Guild of Students at the University of
Birmingham, has been granted bail by a Birmingham magistrate after spending 10 days in prison. Along with two other men he unfurled a banner reading “Traitors Not Welcome, Hate Clegg Love NCAFC” on the opening day of the Liberal Democrat conference on Friday 16th September. He was arrested and charged with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and then remanded in custody at a hearing of Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday 19th September where his co-defendants were bailed. He will now re-appear before Birmingham Magistrates on 31st October for
committal.
Speaking in support of his bail application in court Mr. John Hemming MP, a local Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley, said:
“Whilst I do not believe he should have put the banner there in the first place, the protest was peaceful and placid and I think it is dis-proportionate to keep him in prison any longer.”
Outside the court over 50 people attended a 'solidarity' demonstration organised over social media websites. They repeatedly chanted “free ed bauer”, which could be heard within the court room as Mr Bauer's defence was introduced. Claire Lister, a student at Birmingham University attending the demonstration, said:
“I came here to show my support for Ed being granted bail today. I'm very happy that the magistrate has seen that he is not a danger to the public and there would be no reason to continue his imprisonment for what was basically peaceful protest against the government. He is an important member of the University community and has a lot of support amongst students and staff for the stand he has taken defending our education.”
Student leaders and other commentators [1,2] have expressed concern at what they consider to be the dis-proportionate application of criminal justice powers in this case. These relate to the original decision to remand him in custody being based on his involvement in previous peaceful protests and groups opposed to government policy.
Michael Chessum, a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students, commenting on the days events said:
“It is a farce that Ed Bauer has spent over a week in prison for a banner drop, and this can be seen as part of a broader attempt, along with kettles and political charges, to muzzle and intimidate student protest. We are determined not to allow this to stop us from fighting for the right to an education and for a better society.”
Mr Bauer is a well known local and national student activist and a committee member of the National Coalition Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) which organised many of the demonstrations against the rises in tuition fees for students in higher education and is currently planning further national demonstrations on the 9th November against government cuts to higher education and the rest of the public sector.
Edd has now been suspended from his job as Vice-President of Education of the Guild of Students [3]
For further comment, pictures, and interview requests please contact Ben Aylott.
[1]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/25/protest-students-higher-education
[2] http://bannerdropsarenotacrime.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/nus-nec-call-for-eds-immediate-release/
[3] https://bannerdropsarenotacrime.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/statement-from-edd-regarding-his-suspension-from-work-today/
There are some great pictures of the solidarity demo here (thanks Jon!)
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/orangejon/sets/72157627634912053/
Birmingham, has been granted bail by a Birmingham magistrate after spending 10 days in prison. Along with two other men he unfurled a banner reading “Traitors Not Welcome, Hate Clegg Love NCAFC” on the opening day of the Liberal Democrat conference on Friday 16th September. He was arrested and charged with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and then remanded in custody at a hearing of Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday 19th September where his co-defendants were bailed. He will now re-appear before Birmingham Magistrates on 31st October for
committal.
Speaking in support of his bail application in court Mr. John Hemming MP, a local Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley, said:
“Whilst I do not believe he should have put the banner there in the first place, the protest was peaceful and placid and I think it is dis-proportionate to keep him in prison any longer.”
Outside the court over 50 people attended a 'solidarity' demonstration organised over social media websites. They repeatedly chanted “free ed bauer”, which could be heard within the court room as Mr Bauer's defence was introduced. Claire Lister, a student at Birmingham University attending the demonstration, said:
“I came here to show my support for Ed being granted bail today. I'm very happy that the magistrate has seen that he is not a danger to the public and there would be no reason to continue his imprisonment for what was basically peaceful protest against the government. He is an important member of the University community and has a lot of support amongst students and staff for the stand he has taken defending our education.”
Student leaders and other commentators [1,2] have expressed concern at what they consider to be the dis-proportionate application of criminal justice powers in this case. These relate to the original decision to remand him in custody being based on his involvement in previous peaceful protests and groups opposed to government policy.
Michael Chessum, a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students, commenting on the days events said:
“It is a farce that Ed Bauer has spent over a week in prison for a banner drop, and this can be seen as part of a broader attempt, along with kettles and political charges, to muzzle and intimidate student protest. We are determined not to allow this to stop us from fighting for the right to an education and for a better society.”
Mr Bauer is a well known local and national student activist and a committee member of the National Coalition Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) which organised many of the demonstrations against the rises in tuition fees for students in higher education and is currently planning further national demonstrations on the 9th November against government cuts to higher education and the rest of the public sector.
Edd has now been suspended from his job as Vice-President of Education of the Guild of Students [3]
For further comment, pictures, and interview requests please contact Ben Aylott.
[1]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/25/protest-students-higher-education [2]
http://bannerdropsarenotacrime.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/nus-nec-call-for-eds-immediate-release/ [3]
https://bannerdropsarenotacrime.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/statement-from-edd-regarding-his-suspension-from-work-today/ There are some great pictures of the solidarity demo here (thanks Jon!)
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/orangejon/sets/72157627634912053/
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