I was outside Westminster City magistrates’ court today as it was Alfie Meadows’s hearing. Alfie was appearing in court charged with violent disorder. Apparently, he will return on July 19 for a hearing date to be set at a crown court. The fact that Alfie was even charged with violent disorder is utterly ridiculous. The man had to have emergency brain surgery after being struck by a police baton on the Dec 9th student demo. But there has been a whole tradition of charging people with criminal offences who have been injured by police violence.
Mr Meadows, a philosophy undergraduate, said: “I exercised my right to protest against something I feel strongly about. I ended up in hospital after being struck on the head with a police baton. I am now being prosecuted for violent disorder at that protest.
“I strongly deny the charge. The outcome of the investigation of my complaint against the police is due shortly.
“I hope it results in lessons being learnt by the police for the future policing of protests so that no one will ever endure what my family and I have. I am extremely grateful for all of the expressions of concern and support for me by members of the public.”
Tomorrow there will be further protests outside the court. Please come along and show solidarity.
Why is it a ridiculous charge? The fact he got injured by the cops doesn’t mean he wasn’t doing anything wrong. According to the papers he was throwing a metal barrier and kicking a policeman when he got injured?
Its this type of attitude that encourages this type of behaviour by the police! Did it ever occur to you that the media are being puppetered by the bloody government!