From: JNugent73@mail.com 
  
 On 11/08/2025 07:17 AM, Norman Wells wrote: 
 > On 10/08/2025 23:43, Roger Hayter wrote: 
 >> On 10 Aug 2025 at 23:20:45 BST, "Norman Wells"  wrote: 
 >> 
 >>> On 10/08/2025 22:15, billy bookcase wrote: 
 >>>> "The Todal"  wrote in message 
 >>>> news:mfsc9uFs6deU3@mid.individual.net... 
 >>>> 
 >>>> 
 >>>>> Yvette Cooper thanked police for their work handling Palestine rights 
 >>>>> protests across 
 >>>>> the UK on Saturday, saying there had been a "very small number of 
 >>>>> people 
 >>>>> whose actions 
 >>>>> crossed the line into criminality". 
 >>>>> 
 >>>>> unquote 
 >>>>> 
 >>>>> Which implies that many people were arrested for actions that 
 >>>>> didn't cross 
 >>>>> the line 
 >>>>> into criminality. 
 >>>> 
 >>>> Which also clearly indicates that the Home Secretary is quite 
 >>>> willing to 
 >>>> prejudge issues of criminality;  which formerly were the sole 
 >>>> province of 
 >>>> the Courts to decide 
 >>> 
 >>> Which of course they will in due course, if any charges are actually 
 >>> brought. 
 >>> 
 >>> There is very little doubt that the vast majority at least of those 
 >>> arrested were strictly breaking the law which says: 
 >>> 
 >>> "A person commits an offence if the person€€€ 
 >>> 
 >>> (a) expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed 
 >>> organisation, and 
 >>> 
 >>> (b) in doing so is reckless as to whether a person to whom the 
 >>> expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed 
 >>> organisation." 
 >>> 
 >>> The law is framed in such a way that it encompasses holding a placard 
 >>> expressing support of Palestine Action, which the many arrested 
 >>> 'terrorist offenders' did directly and deliberately. 
 >>> 
 >>> The main purpose of their protest in my view, however, was not to do 
 >>> anything about Palestine, which no-one here can, but to show the absurd 
 >>> nature of the law by getting arrested for peacefully exerting their 
 >>> right to freedom of expression, which is an admirable and honourable 
 >>> aim. 
 >>> 
 >>> "In a post on X shortly after 6.45pm on Sunday, Defend Our Juries said 
 >>> every person arrested in the square had been released from police 
 >>> custody, and that none had been charged." 
 >>> 
 >>> https://news.sky.com/story/more-than-500-people-arrested-aft 
 r-palestine-action-protest-with-about-a-half-aged-60-and-above-13409747 
 >>> 
 >>> 
 >>> That sounds to me like 532 unwarranted arrests for which someone needs 
 >>> to be accountable. 
 >>> 
 >>> Now I hope the government will be held to account for the 
 >>> heavy-handedness of the police, the very large number of arrests that 
 >>> came to nothing, the cost of them and the relocation of other prisoners 
 >>> (which I'm paying for incidentally), and indeed having such a law at all 
 >>> that either can't be or won't be enforced. 
 >>> 
 >>> The whole situation is a ludicrous shambles.  The government is to 
 >>> blame, and it needs to do something about it urgently.  Does it really 
 >>> believe in freedom of expression and the right to protest peacefully or 
 >>> doesn't it? 
 >> 
 >> Clearly it does not so believe. 
 > 
 > So, Yvette Cooper, our Home Secretary, is a lying hypocrite then when 
 > she says 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely'? 
 > 
 > Thought so.  Sadly. 
  
 One protests by using WORDS, whether orally or in print. 
  
 Not by damaging property. 
  
 Criminal Damage is... er... a crime. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)