Another small victory

Lindis Percy is a legend in the peace movement. She's been a thorn in the side of successive governments for more years than she would probably care to remember. I've been lucky enough to meet her at a couple of CND conferences and her energy and passion is an example to all.

A regular event in North Yorkshire is the Tuesday night demo outside the US spy base at Menwith Hill. Lindis was in court this morning facing five charges relating to the demonstration. The MoD and North Yorkshire Police were seeking an ASBO to prevent Lindis turning up and causing them any more trouble. In a splendid decision showing just how important an independent judiciary is, District Judge Roy Anderson refused the ASBO saying

"I am firmly of the view courts ought not to allow anti-social behaviour orders to be used as a club to beat down the expression of legitimate comment and the dissemination of views of matters of public concern."

The full story is here.

This is Lindis' second victory over political persecution in a little over a year. In March 2004 a judge cleared her of aggravated trespass after she broke into RAF (USAF) Fairford protesting against the war in Iraq.

Grandmothers taking on the system and winning. It doesn't get much better than this.

This is democracy - are you watching Tony?