"An attempt to ban animal rights campaigners from wearing animal
costumes, ‘blood’ splattered lab coats and face masks and carry
banners with the words ‘murder’,’torture’, ‘kills’, abuses’ or (wait
for it) ‘Novartis’ was rejected in a ruling by Mr Justice Sweeney at
the Royal Courts of Justice last Friday (30th).

The application under the Protection From Harassment Act was made on
behalf of Novartis by, surprise, surprise, Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden
(aka TLC) - the go-to lawyer for oppressing civil liberties. TLC had
claimed a demonstration held on Saturday (31st) would incite criminal
activities through “subtle” means.

TLC attempted to argue the demonstration would violate Article 8 of
the Human Rights Act - the right to privacy in the home and workplace
- and this should override Articles 10 and 11 - the rights to freedom
of expression and assembly.

In last Wednesday’s (28th) hearing TLC was unable to provide any case
law to support his claims and the application was refused.

The representative for defendants Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
(SHAC), Dr. Max Gastone, said, “Novartis were seeking to control the
atmosphere on a protest, which would have been a very draconian
ruling. Even the police were wary about how what Novartis sought could
have been enforced.” Had Novartis won the case, the ruling would have
set a dangerous precedent in curtailing freedom of speech and the
right to protest.

Harriet O’Shea, a protester at Novartis in Horsham, said, “They are
trying to make a mockery of legal protest. Why should I not be allowed
to wear a beagle costume or a blood splattered lab-coat to make my
point visually?”

Saturday’s demo went ahead as planned, complete with giant dissected
bunnies, placards of abused monkeys and a banner with the slogan
“Novartis: Animal Abuser”. There were no arrests despite the subtle
subliminal urgings to commit crime."

http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news698.php

--
UK Radical Campaigns
www.zing.icom43.net
"Our government is big on allowing people the democratic right to
protest but when you become effective at protesting they clamp down on
you like the worst form of dictatorship."
Heather Nicholson.