10 months ago, on 18 January 2009, Elijah Smith A former British Soldier was arrested in Brighton. He had spent the previous night decommissioning the EDO/MBM/ITT factory in Brighton, in an attempt to stop it providing parts for weapons being used by the Israeli army to bomb civilians in Gaza. Nobody was injured or harassed during their action, which was one of property damage. He and his co-defendants did not resist arrest.
resisting war crimes is not a crime
Exactly 10 months on and Elijah Smith is still on remand. Yes that's right – 10 months in prison without trial. And it looks as if he is likely to remain in prison until the trial actually starts, probably on 17 May 2010, by which time he’ll have spent 16 months on remand.
Elijah is currently at Bristol prison, please write to him in solidarity: Elijah Smith VP7551, HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8PS
He will be there until late November. On 30 November/1 December he and the other Decommissioners will be at Brighton courts for a ‘case management’ session relating to their trial next May. At the same time, Elijah and another decommissioner, also known as the Raytheon 2 (previously the Raytheon 3, but 3rd defendant’s charges dropped), will have that case discussed at the same court – the prosecution are trying to have the Raytheon and EDO cases linked, and a decision is due on that then. Elijah faces a third court case, currently set for 2 August 2010, which relates to alleged threatening comments he made to the EDO/MBM CEO during a previous court hearing.
Elijah is currently at Bristol prison, please write to him in solidarity: Elijah Smith VP7551, HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8PS
He will be there until late November. On 30 November/1 December he and the other Decommissioners will be at Brighton courts for a ‘case management’ session relating to their trial next May. At the same time, Elijah and another decommissioner, also known as the Raytheon 2 (previously the Raytheon 3, but 3rd defendant’s charges dropped), will have that case discussed at the same court – the prosecution are trying to have the Raytheon and EDO cases linked, and a decision is due on that then. Elijah faces a third court case, currently set for 2 August 2010, which relates to alleged threatening comments he made to the EDO/MBM CEO during a previous court hearing.
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Solidarity
20.11.2009 09:13
pen pusher
One hundred thousand for smash edo mayday 2010
20.11.2009 10:29
Smash EDO
re: Mayday Smash EDO day of action
20.11.2009 12:54
You can achieve so much more in small affinity groups (lots of them!), working in secret and not 'claiming' actions.
I'm not saying that the good work done (allegedly m'lud) by Elijah Smith and friends isn't worthy of praise - it is. It's inspired others to get involved. Only that until we are massive numbers, we need to stay safe, keep heads down, be effective, stay free and therefore useful.
anon
Because we have such a long run up to Mayday 2010
20.11.2009 16:27
Smash EDO
100,000 - Oh yes at the very least
20.11.2009 16:49
Hmmm - not sure that Smash EDO really knows what he's talking about - The next big mobilisation is in fact on January 18th - the remember Gaza demo.
By all means fantasise away - but at least try to make it a bit more interesting -
Andrew Beckett's Damp Squib
Homepage:
http://www.smashedo.org.uk
Brighton Mayday 2010 still on track though!
20.11.2009 17:00
Smash EDO
yeah but no but..
20.11.2009 23:00
Come on - we can do what they cannot!
anon
100,000?
20.11.2009 23:39
A more reliable target would be somewhere between 1,000-3,000.
I think it's safe to say that the comments by 'Smash EDO' aren't from the campaign itself. Nobody in their right mind would boast that they've invited hardcore anarchists from Germany and Italy who the cops wont be able to arrest. Comments like this are justifications that the police can use to boost officer numbers and repressive tactics on the day.
Serious
Hardcore anarchists have been invited from Italy, France, Germany and Greece!
21.11.2009 11:54
100,000 impossible ? - All it takes these days to promote a massive demo is a lot of time and effort on the internet. Who ever is posting contrary comments on this page is obviously working for the state and is trying to persuade people not to come to Mayday 2010 in Brighton.
Smash EDO
oh wot iz zis?
21.11.2009 15:08
'aard kore fronch man