-Caveat Lector- This is from today's (21 Feb 2001) Morning Star, socialist daily from the UK: Peace Activists attack 'race' charge by Dan O'Neill Peace campaigners attacked the Crown Prosecution Service's "ridiculous" decision yesterday to charge an anti-nuclear campaigner with racist abuse for trailing a US flag on the ground. The prosecution service has accused veteran peace campaigner Lindis Percy of being motivated by racial hatred when she used the flag during an anti-Star Wars demonstration at a Yorkshire US military base. The flag has "Stop Star Wars" painted on it and was placed across a road in front of the Menwith Hill base entrance. Ms Percy, a mid wife and health visitor, said that she found the charge offensive. "This is absolutely ridiculous - I was campaigning against US nuclear weapons policy, not against the American people," Ms Percy stated. "This is a real bottom-of-the-barrel attempt by the CPS to prevent our democratic right of protest," she warned. Labour MP Tony Benn said that the decision set a very dangerous precedent. "It is highly worrying that, if you criticise a foreign government's policy, you can be charged with racism, " Mr Been argued. "This really is a gross misuse of the important anti-racist laws, as well as an example of the state's growing control over the right to dissent," he pointed out. The charge against Ms Percy is the first time that the new anti-racism powers introduced under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act have been used. A Commission for Racial Equality spokeswoman said that she was deeply concerned by the use made of the Act by the prosecution service. "This person was protesting against a country's policy and I cannot see any racially motivated abuse toward any group," she said. "A large amount of racial discrimination is not being recognised and needs to be. "For this reason, these laws should be used responsibly," the spokeswoman insisted. But the CPS claimed that the use of the flag had caused "harassment, alarm and distress" to the US military at the base. The prosecution service pointed to an incident in which the flag was accidentally run over by a member of the ex-servicemen's association the American Legion. A Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament spokesman commented: "Maybe they should have charged him instead. "The charge is ludicrous and its a prime example of the CPS trying to control the growing anger and dissent against nuclear weapons." The trial of Ms Percy has been set for late April. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
