Jailed for Holding a Placard

[Secret Chief]

Typical of Russia, except this is the UK. Protest more than sending your MP a polite email is being outlawed...

Thoughts...?

- Jail for holding a placard? Protest over the climate crisis is being brutally suppressed | Natasha Walter

 

[Watchmen]

There’s always more to the story. Here’s the court’s judgment. As you’ll see, Dr. Benn knowingly violated a court order, skipped a court appearance to again violate the same order, and so on. I’m all for free speech and protests, but let’s not pretend she was some innocent victim of repression. She knowingly violated a court order multiple times. That ought to get one temporarily locked up under the circumstances.

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-EWHC-1499-QB-NWBC-v-Benn-11.05.22.pdf

 

[Secret Chief]

"The Policing Bill is part of a hugely worrying and widespread attack on human rights from across Government which will not only see basic rights reduced across the board, but will also strip people of the means to challenge or contest their treatment."
- Amnesty International CEO.

- What is the Police and Crime Bill and how will it change protests?

 

[Subduction Zone]

There’s always more to the story. Here’s the court’s judgment. As you’ll see, Dr. Benn knowingly violated a court order, skipped a court appearance to again violate the same order, and so on. I’m all for free speech and protests, but let’s not pretend she was some innocent victim of repression. She knowingly violated a court order multiple times. That ought to get one temporarily locked up under the circumstances.

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-EWHC-1499-QB-NWBC-v-Benn-11.05.22.pdf

That would not fly in the US. In fact the judges injunction would be immediately seen as being unconstitutional. Please note that she was not even named in the first injunction. It was a general injunction against anyone protesting that oil corporation. A judge would be removed for trying that here.

 

[Watchmen]

That would not fly in the US. In fact the judges injunction would be immediately seen as being unconstitutional. Please note that she was not even named in the first injunction. It was a general injunction against anyone protesting that oil corporation. A judge would be removed for trying that here.

False. There are restraints on free speech all the time in the US.

“It was a general injunction against anyone protesting that oil corporation” is an overstatement.

And judges in the US haven’t been removed for far worse. Don’t think that judge would be removed here.

 

[icehorse]

Typical of Russia, except this is the UK. Protest more than sending your MP a polite email is being outlawed...

Thoughts...?

- Jail for holding a placard? Protest over the climate crisis is being brutally suppressed | Natasha Walter

If the article's claims are true, it's quite chilling.

 

[Subduction Zone]

False. There are restraints on free speech all the time in the US.

There are, but not like that.

“It was a general injunction against anyone protesting that oil corporation” is an overstatement.

And judges in the US haven’t been removed for far worse. Don’t think that judge would be removed here.

I don't know. It would be hard to find a judge that would make such a ruling here. Inside the courtroom bringing up jury nullification would earn an almost instant contempt of court charge. But outside of the courthouse? I do not think so. And after searching a while it looks as long as one is on the public sidewalks one can hand out pamphlets or hold up signs in the US. If there are such pamphleteers outside and a judge knows of it he may ask potential jurors if they had any contact with anyone and they can be excluded from the jury for that, but the people outside appear to be legit. They are told to hand out their materials to everyone and non concentrate on just potential jurors. When they do it that was it appears to be a First Amendment protected activity. Please note, I could not find any sources saying that this is not allowed and this is from a biased source for that sort of activity:

Is Sharing Jury Nullification Info at Courthouses Jury Tampering?

Not legal advice, but general observations that might be of use for those trying to weigh the risks of hand out jury nullification brochures or hold a sign outside a courthouse.

fija.org

 

[Watchmen]

There are, but not like that.

I don't know. It would be hard to find a judge that would make such a ruling here. Inside the courtroom bringing up jury nullification would earn an almost instant contempt of court charge. But outside of the courthouse? I do not think so. And after searching a while it looks as long as one is on the public sidewalks one can hand out pamphlets or hold up signs in the US. If there are such pamphleteers outside and a judge knows of it he may ask potential jurors if they had any contact with anyone and they can be excluded from the jury for that, but the people outside appear to be legit. They are told to hand out their materials to everyone and non concentrate on just potential jurors. When they do it that was it appears to be a First Amendment protected activity. Please note, I could not find any sources saying that this is not allowed and this is from a biased source for that sort of activity:

Is Sharing Jury Nullification Info at Courthouses Jury Tampering?

Not legal advice, but general observations that might be of use for those trying to weigh the risks of hand out jury nullification brochures or hold a sign outside a courthouse.

fija.org

I don’t recall seeing anything about jury nullification in the court’s order. And not sure why you think jury nullification applies to the instant case.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I don’t recall seeing anything about jury nullification in the court’s order. And not sure why you think jury nullification applies to the instant case.

I might have misinterpreted your link a bit. With further reading I see that she was holding a placard in what was decided by the court to be a "buffer zone" and protests were not allowed in there.