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Home | Friday 17th April 2009 | Issue 672

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RAY OF BLIGHT

James ‘Elijah’ Smith was found guilty of aggravated trespass this week after a two day trial at Yate magistrates in connection with actions at Raytheon’s Bristol office. On 5th November 2008 he d-locked himself to the doors of the office. Elijah is of course one of those arrested and charged following the decommissioning actions at Brighton’s EDO MBM/ITT (See SchNEWS 663). As a result of this case he was sentenced to ten weeks imprisonment.

This was despite police evidence being described by the judge as ‘vague and sketchy’ and videotape of Elijah’s brutal arrest (he was handcuffed while locked on and after the lock was cut five cops knelt on him and forced him into a ‘viper’ restraining harness).

Raytheon was targeted in 2008/9 by Bristol campaigners because of its role in profiting from the production of weapons of mass destruction, the type used across the Middle East, and more recently in the Israeli assault on Gaza earlier this year. Over the Christmas period campaigners sustained a rooftop protest for over four weeks at the office (See SchNEWS 661).

Details of the anti-Raytheon campaign are at www.raytheonout.wordpress.com

James is currently on remand at Bristol prison due to charges arising from the decommissioning of the EDO/MBM (ITT) factory in Brighton on January 17th. In the court he looked well and healthy, and his fighting spirit was still strong - which almost resulted in him being kicked out of court and down to the cells!

 


* Support the EDO 2! Elija Smith VP 7551 HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Horfield, BS7 8PS, Robert Alford VP 7552 HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA

** See http://decommisioners.wordpress.com

Keywords: aggravated trespass, anti-arms trade, bristol, direct action, edo, edo decommissioners, elijah smith, raytheon


 

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