Emeritus Prof. Christopher May

Four Palestine Action activists have been sentenced not on the basis of the convictions for criminal damage (through a jury trial) but on the basis their crime *really* was terrorism (a subsequent decision by the presiding judge).

This not only violates the sanctity of jury trials (the jury was not informed of this possibility), it also is a retrospective legal decision, essentially violating the Rule of Law.

Its a direct attack on civil liberties!

#politics #protest
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce950111xk7o

Palestine Action activists jailed over Bristol Elbit factory raid

The case is believed to be the first time that convictions for criminal damage have been classified as terrorism.

BBC News
Jun 13 at 7:03amWeb
Show threadSarah W5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6
I don't understand how this is legal, it's certainly not moral. Surely justice can only be served if in possession of ALL the facts?
Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@Sarahw

Under section 69 of the Sentencing Act the Judge can use their discretion to declare a crime was intended to influence the Govt. and was *actually* terrorism; its doing exactly what it was intended to do; allow a judge to sentence on the basis of an accusation of terrorism that would've been unlikely to have been sustained by a jury (who would might well acquit on that basis)... so an attack on jury's powers of decision & an attack on the norm against retrospective legal findings

Show threadKim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6
“Intended to influence the Government” seems like a dangerously low bar. Will spraying political graffiti count as terrorism in future trials, for example?
Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@KimSJ

Indeed, it does; and essentially makes all protest potentially terrorism.... which even if it was not intended to be so broad, can so easily be interpreted in that way, its a wonder that its taken this long for it to come to pass.

Show threadFragarach5d ago
@KimSJ @ChrisMayLA6
Or signing a petition?
Show threadEpistatacadam5d ago
@KimSJ @ChrisMayLA6 I think it already has in the case of those who sprayed an aircraft.....
Show threadDec [{()}]5d ago
@KimSJ @ChrisMayLA6
"If voting could change anything"
Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist Dragon5d ago

@ChrisMayLA6 @Sarahw

The hired gun problem, you give them a brief, they do their professional best with it, but zero requirement for them to engage with it on a personal level, just an intellectual one.

Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPE5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 @Sarahw I wonder what the European courts will say when it gets there.
Show threadcultdev4d ago
@TimWardCam @ChrisMayLA6 @Sarahw “we, too, are zionist pederasts,” most likely
Show threadAnneH5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 💯
Show threadHavoc BSc MSc 💚5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6
"The judge said their actions had aimed to influence the government."
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Show threadllanciawn5d ago
@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 We're entitled to influence the government, at least as much as the Corporates do.
Show threadWhichOne'sPink 🇫🇮5d ago
@llanciawn @Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 The government, in a democracy, works FOR the people.
Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@NickSchwanck @llanciawn @Havoc_online

What heresy is this.... the Govt. works *for* the people... whatever next? /s

Show threadWhichOne'sPink 🇫🇮5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 @llanciawn @Havoc_online Well...back in MY day. And, I suspect, yours...
Show threadPetra5d ago

@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6

Isn't voting also an attempt to influence the government, if you want to take a broad definition?

Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@PetraPhoenix @Havoc_online

Yes, of course: voting is terrorism = no elections... for whoever makes the connection (Labour now, or ReformUK later?)

Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist Dragon5d ago

@ChrisMayLA6 @PetraPhoenix @Havoc_online

surely under this delicious logic of attempting to influence the government, donations and think tanks are all terrorists as well?

Show threadPetra5d ago

@Thebratdragon @ChrisMayLA6 @Havoc_online

That does seem to be a logical conclusion.

Show threadJames Tweedie 4d ago
@Thebratdragon @ChrisMayLA6 @PetraPhoenix @Havoc_online Also, lobbying = terrorism. All lobbying groups should now be proscribed as terrorist organisations.
Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist Dragon4d ago

@MyricaGale @ChrisMayLA6 @PetraPhoenix @Havoc_online

Tufrton street to get an SAS visit shortly then.....

Show threadNina Cried Power5d ago

@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6

Is giving someone £5m, 'aimed to influence the government'?

Show threadEpistatacadam5d ago
@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 I suppose when I vote, if I choose to vote anything other than Labour, as I am trying to influence the government, I am a terrorist. Lets hope there are plenty of terrorists at every election until this law is revoked and declared unlawful.
Show threadcultdev4d ago
@epistatacadam @Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 no government right of labour will be doing any such revocations, this law is a very convenient one for fascists
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPE5d ago

@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 Could be worse - they could have wanted to *overthrow* the government, not just "influence" it.

Like many, many thousands of political activists do every day. Including, at the moment, plenty in the Labour party.

(Of course you "aim to influence the government" every time you fill in a consultation response.)

Show threadhiphopheaven5d ago
@Havoc_online @ChrisMayLA6 influencing the government to stop state terrorism and ensure the country obligations towards stopping genocide
Show threadKai und der Andere 🎗️5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 it's about time these Nazi terrorists finally faced consequences.
Show threadHouba5d ago

@walsonde

That is an odd comment, are you sure you understand what you are responding to?

Show threadKai und der Andere 🎗️5d ago

@houba are you? it is absolutely impossible to ask me this question without downplaying that antisemitic terrorism like from those Hamas Nazis who broke in to the factory. I feel compelled to consider you a Hamas Nazi supporter, since otherwise you would be condemning the terrorists instead of me.

#IBlockNazis

Show threadHouba5d ago

@walsonde

Well that was a nice drive-by and block from a supposed 'anti-fascist' calling me a Nazi.

Well done.

I guess antifa.style has a problem with genocide apologia, all style no substance.

Show threadFelichs5d ago

@ChrisMayLA6

maybe this opens the door for a successful appeal?

Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@felichsdakatze

possibly?

Show threadCrazyDogLadySezPEACE5d ago
@felichsdakatze @ChrisMayLA6 🙏
Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist Dragon5d ago

@ChrisMayLA6

next step is declared a terrorist without ever being convicted of anything and imprisoned, I think that is coming later this year.

WE are hurtling into authoritarianism.

Show threadEmeritus Prof. Christopher May5d ago

@Thebratdragon

yes, the threshold is lowering, mind you given Farmers demonstrated with the clear intent of influencing the Govt. perhaps farmers will also be declared terrorists... which would be an interesting turn of events

Show threadspanghero5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 Farmers will be fine. Farage is on their side so Keir will under no circumstances further upset them or the Daily Mail will call him names.
Show threadSimonBornAt318ppm5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 yes, except farmers never get arrested despite breaching the anti -protest provisions on disruption, excess noise, etc so we’ll never know…
Show threadhiphopheaven5d ago
@ChrisMayLA6 sending weapons to a genocidal settler colonial power is the real terrorism