Thread by @PlanB_earth

1. BREAKING: @metpolice launches criminal investigation into people holding signs outside court for 'perverting the course of justice' 🧵

2. LAWYERS REACT: Lawyers describe action as ‘absurd overreach’ and an ‘assault on freedom of speech’



@LawyersAreResp @paulpowlesland @UKSupremeCourtbit.ly/3EXq7BP

3. THREATS OF ARREST: Over the last few days more than a dozen members of the public have been called for interview for perverting the course of justice under threat of arrest.

4. CONTEXT: The ever more extreme measures courts are taking to prevent juries reaching not guilty verdicts in political trials, following a pattern of jury acquittals, from the #Colston4 to Palestine Action to climate campaigns

5. REPRESSIVE MEASURES: These include banning people from explaining their motives in court and sending them to prison if they try. Judges are even threatening to move to judge only trial.

bit.ly/3qCgVza

6. SILENCING VIOLATES LAW AND MENTAL HEALTH: Earlier this year. Earlier this year, a young member of Just Stop Oil, Xavier Gonzales-Trimmer, took his own life after being jailed, and before facing another trial at Inner London Crown Court @bmj_latest

bit.ly/3RrdEOd

7. PUBLIC STEPS UP TO DEFEND TRIAL BY JURY: In response, concerned members of the public, including numerous health professionals, have taken to demonstrating against these measures outside Inner London Crown Court and other courts

8. THREAT FROM SOLICITOR GENERAL: In July, Solicitor General, threatened the first person to hold up such a sign outside court, Trudi Warner, with contempt of court proceedings

bit.ly/43JOU6f

9. PUBLIC RESPONDS: In August, 40 members of the public who have all held up similar signs, wrote a letter to the Solicitor General to say, “If you prosecute Trudi Warner, you should prosecute us too.”

bit.ly/3ZjfrXj

10. STAKES RAISED HIGH: The stakes have now been raised, with those who have followed Trudi Warner now under investigation for the more serious offence of perverting the course of justice.

11. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. @paulpowlesland says: “It’s absurd overreach and an appalling assault on freedom of speech for the police to threaten members of the public with serious criminal charges just for holding up signs with the law on them."

12. NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: The right to trial by jury is too important to let go. Join #DefendOurJuries for a national day of action on 25 September



@GoodLawProject @Pal_actiondefendourjuries.org