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No justice for student protesters Alfie Meadows and Zak King No justice for student protesters Alfie Meadows and Zak King
(2 months later)
More than two years after the student protests of December 2010, two young men, Alfie Meadows and Zak King, are still waiting to clear their names after being prosecuted on charges of violent disorder (Letters, 21 November 2012). We condemn the use of such a serious charge against protesters. We also believe that a two-year lapse between the events to which the charges relate and the trial is unacceptable. Alfie and Zak have not been free to live their lives as they would have chosen, but have had to live under the constant fear that they would spend a lengthy period in prison (violent disorder carries a five-year maximum term).More than two years after the student protests of December 2010, two young men, Alfie Meadows and Zak King, are still waiting to clear their names after being prosecuted on charges of violent disorder (Letters, 21 November 2012). We condemn the use of such a serious charge against protesters. We also believe that a two-year lapse between the events to which the charges relate and the trial is unacceptable. Alfie and Zak have not been free to live their lives as they would have chosen, but have had to live under the constant fear that they would spend a lengthy period in prison (violent disorder carries a five-year maximum term).
Alfie and Zak now find themselves in the extraordinary position of facing a third trial after a jury failed to reach a decision in their first trial and their retrial collapsed after repeated delays. While we do not blame anybody for the outcome of the previous hearings, no one should have to wait so long for justice to be done. We deplore a criminal justice system such as this, which leaves protesters' lives on hold while they wait to clear their names, and the families of those individuals who have died at the hands of police waiting endlessly for justice for their loved ones. We call on the CPS to discontinue the prosecution.
Hannah Dee Defend the Right to Protest
David Renton, Haldane Society of Lawyers, barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Sheila Coleman Hillsborough Justice Campaign
Barbara Jackson Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign
Slavoj Zizek International director, Birkbeck Institute of Humanities
Bill Bowring Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Nina Power Senior lecturer, Roehampton University
Peter Hallward Centre for research in modern European philosophy, Kingston University
Jelena Timotijevik UCU NEC, Brighton University
Alex Callinicos Professor of European studies, King's College London
Professor Satnam Virdee Head of sociology, University of Glasgow
Dr. Alexander Anievas University of Oxford
Tess Gill Vice-president, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Jim Wolfreys Kings College London
Estella Schmid Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
Russell Fraser Barrister, 2 Dr Johnson's Buildings
Paul Heron Solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre
Kani Areef Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Liam Burns NUS
Laurie Penny
John McDonnell MP
Zita Holbourne PCS NEC
Martha Jean Baker
Barbara Harriss-White Emeritus professor of development studies, Oxford University
Kate Markus Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
Michael Seifert Solicitor
Alberto Toscano Senior lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of London
Adam Hanieh Lecturer in development studies, SOAS, University of London
Rasheed El-Enany Professor emeritus, University of Exeter
Dr Anne Alexander Research fellow, University of Cambridge
Adam Geary Reader in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Maria Aristodemou Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Elena Loizidou Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Nadine El-Enany Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Eddie Bruce-Jones Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Fiona Macmillan Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Sarah Lamble Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Zeina Ghandour Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Patrick Hanafin Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Victoria Ridler Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Piyel Halder Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Les Moran Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Oscar Guardiola-Rivera Senior lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Anton Schütz Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Daniel Monk Reader in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Patricial Costall Academic support officer, Birkbeck, University of London
Peter Thomas Lecturer in politics, Brunel University
Gareth Dale Senior lecturer in politics and international relations, Brunel University
Alfie and Zak now find themselves in the extraordinary position of facing a third trial after a jury failed to reach a decision in their first trial and their retrial collapsed after repeated delays. While we do not blame anybody for the outcome of the previous hearings, no one should have to wait so long for justice to be done. We deplore a criminal justice system such as this, which leaves protesters' lives on hold while they wait to clear their names, and the families of those individuals who have died at the hands of police waiting endlessly for justice for their loved ones. We call on the CPS to discontinue the prosecution.
Hannah Dee Defend the Right to Protest
David Renton, Haldane Society of Lawyers, barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Sheila Coleman Hillsborough Justice Campaign
Barbara Jackson Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign
Slavoj Zizek International director, Birkbeck Institute of Humanities
Bill Bowring Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Nina Power Senior lecturer, Roehampton University
Peter Hallward Centre for research in modern European philosophy, Kingston University
Jelena Timotijevik UCU NEC, Brighton University
Alex Callinicos Professor of European studies, King's College London
Professor Satnam Virdee Head of sociology, University of Glasgow
Dr. Alexander Anievas University of Oxford
Tess Gill Vice-president, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Jim Wolfreys Kings College London
Estella Schmid Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
Russell Fraser Barrister, 2 Dr Johnson's Buildings
Paul Heron Solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre
Kani Areef Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Liam Burns NUS
Laurie Penny
John McDonnell MP
Zita Holbourne PCS NEC
Martha Jean Baker
Barbara Harriss-White Emeritus professor of development studies, Oxford University
Kate Markus Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
Michael Seifert Solicitor
Alberto Toscano Senior lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of London
Adam Hanieh Lecturer in development studies, SOAS, University of London
Rasheed El-Enany Professor emeritus, University of Exeter
Dr Anne Alexander Research fellow, University of Cambridge
Adam Geary Reader in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Maria Aristodemou Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Elena Loizidou Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Nadine El-Enany Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Eddie Bruce-Jones Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Fiona Macmillan Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Sarah Lamble Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Zeina Ghandour Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Patrick Hanafin Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Victoria Ridler Lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Piyel Halder Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Les Moran Professor of law, Birkbeck, University of London
Oscar Guardiola-Rivera Senior lecturer in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Anton Schütz Senior lecturer in Law, Birkbeck, University of London
Daniel Monk Reader in law, Birkbeck, University of London
Patricial Costall Academic support officer, Birkbeck, University of London
Peter Thomas Lecturer in politics, Brunel University
Gareth Dale Senior lecturer in politics and international relations, Brunel University
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