Chris Cole, a Christian peace activist from Oxford, was jailed today for 28 days. The jail sentence was in response to a nonpayment of fine for an action at the Ministry of Defence in 2004.
22nd January 2007
Oxford Man Jailed for Anti-War Protest
A Christian peace activist from Oxford was today jailed for 28 days by Magistrates at Horseferry Road Court , London for refusing to pay a fine of £661 in connection with an anti-Iraq war protest in December 2004.
Chris Cole (43), a father of three, from Wilkins Road, Cowley, Oxford, was part of a small group of Christian anti-war protestors who dug symbolic graves in the lawn of the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall and sprayed ‘Remember the Innocent – Stop the War’ on December 28th 2004 (the Christian feast of Holy Innocents).
Cole told Magistrates at Horseferry Road Court that he refused to pay the fine as it had been right for the group to protest the war. Cole said “Thousands of innocent people have lost their lives in the illegal invasion and on-going war in Iraq. Ordinary people have a duty to resist war-making on innocent civilians by their government.”
In July 2006, court appointed bailiffs seized the Cole family car in connection with the fine and sold it at auction for a mere £52.
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Get him out
22.01.2007 18:32
Dingo
You are not alone friend
22.01.2007 19:10
Graham
things are looking serious
22.01.2007 19:36
Mr Ericson
But...
22.01.2007 20:31
Dingo
prison details + action after 24/02
22.01.2007 23:03
also, on the issue of "not going home after the demo" ... there are plans for some kind of mass, affinity-group-based action on the Monday after in London - focused on Trident replacement (cos the parliamentary vote is likely 12-15 March). There should be accomodation and training (for those that want) - sat-mon 24-26 feb. I guess more details will be posted somewhere on imc and also on the PN site /paper when things are firmed up a bit more.
watch this space...
pn
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