Activists Who Smashed Up Arms Factory Acquitted on Necessity Defense
I mentioned the story of several activists who broke in to the
ITT/EDO-MGM
arms factory in Brighton, England earlier that year to destroy equipment
involved in the manufacture of parts for fighter jets, guided missiles and
bombs.
The activists were arrested and brought to trial and charged with conspiracy
to cause criminal damage. They made a “necessity” defense based on the fact
that the company was supplying military equipment to Israel that it was using
in its assault on Gaza, which was taking place at the time of the activists’
action. One of the activists said before his assault on the factory, “I don’t
feel I’m going to do anything illegal tonight, but I’m going to go into an
arms factory and smash it up to the best of my ability so that it cannot
actually produce munitions and these very dirty bombs that have been provided
to the Israeli army so that they can kill children.”
Last month, all of the activists were acquitted.
One of the “decommissioners” reacted to the verdict by saying:
“It’s a real victory for the anti-war movement, The jury were presented with
the facts and they supported our motivations. If people in Britain knew the
truth away from media manipulations they would all support our actions.”
The thanks of our League are due to our courageous fellow-member, Miss Mary
Anderson, for the splendid opportunity provided by her for carrying our
gospel into new quarters. The quiet little village of Woldingham, one of the
beauty spots of England, has been thoroughly roused by Miss Anderson’s
spirited protest against the tyranny of taxation without representation; and
a great gathering of its inhabitants attended at the sale of her goods on
.
Our energetic and honoured workers, Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Fisher, most ably
seconded Miss Anderson in organising the protest. By the courtesy of Messrs.
Jarrett, the King’s officers, whose consideration and forbearance call for
our kindest appreciation, the sale was to have been held on the village
green, close to Miss Anderson’s residence; but owing to the inclement
weather, the adjacent public hall was “commandeered” for the ceremony. In
spite of an incessant downpour, the hall was packed with an appreciative
audience.
The sale was conducted, laughably enough, under the auspices of the Women’s
Freedom League and the Women’s Tax Resistance League; for, on obtaining
entrance to the hall, Miss Anderson and Mrs. Fisher bedecked it with all the
insignia of suffrage protest. The rostrum was spread with our flag
proclaiming the inauguration of Tax Resistance by the
W.F.L.;
above the auctioneer’s head hung Mrs. [Charlotte] Despard’s embroidered silk
banner, with its challenge “Dare to be Free”; on every side the green, white
and gold of the
W.F.L.
was accompanied by the brown and black of the Women’s Tax Resistance League,
with its cheery “No Vote, no Tax” injunctions and its John Hampden maxims;
while in the front rows, besides Miss Anderson, the heroine of the day, Mrs.
Snow and Mrs. Fisher, were seen the inspiring figures of our President and
Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson, vice-president of the
W.T.R.L.
Mrs. Huntsman took the chair as soon as the sale was completed and the
necessary sum realised. Mrs. Despard and Mrs. Cobden Sanderson were the
principal speakers, Miss Boyle expressing the acknowledgments of the two
Leagues and of Miss Anderson to the King’s officers for carrying out the
stern duties of their office with so little unpleasantness.
A resolution, proposed from the chair, and carried with only one open
dissentient, was couched in the following terms:— “That this meeting
supports Miss Anderson in her protest against the tyranny of taxation
without representation, and calls upon the Government to include women in the
Franchise Reform Bill.”
At the close of the ceremony the goods, bought in by her friends, were
presented to Miss Anderson, who briefly returned thanks, and expressed her
intention of maintaining that form of protest.
Among those present were Miss F[lorence].A. Underwood, looking very well and
sunburnt after “holiday” with the Scottish campaign; Mr. Snow, to whose
kind support no words will do justice; Mrs. [Kate] Harvey; Mrs. [Emma]
Fox-Bourne and her son and daughter-in-law; Mrs. Lawrence and her little
sons; Miss Charrington; Mrs. Robert Barr and her daughter and son-in-law;
Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith, Colonel and Mrs. Eales, Mrs. O’Sullivan, Mrs. Croad,
Miss Watson, and other well-known residents of the neighbourhood.
The next event of a similar kind to which we may look forward is the breaking
of Mrs. Harvey’s barricade at Bromley. Mrs. Harvey, with the greatest
resolution, has kept the King’s officer at bay for months; and she should be
heartily applauded for flying the flag of resistance, and invading with
suffrage protest and propaganda so notorious a centre of anti-suffrage
activity as Bromley. It is hoped that all good Freedom-Leaguers and all good
Tax Resisters will rally in force to the protest when the final act is being
played.