Campaigner’s fury over arrest of organiser at peaceful pro-Palestinian protest
A campaigner has spoken of his anger at the decision to arrest Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign founding member Mick Napier at what he says was a peaceful protest.
Edinburgh based screen writer Paul Laverty, winner of a Bafta and writer of two Palme D’Or Films in Cannes (I Daniel Blake and The Wind that Shakes the Barley) is best known for his social justice films with director Ken Loach.
He spoke passionately at Thursday’s protest outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court in support of Mr Napier.
Mr Napier was arrested and charged with breach of the peace in relation to a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament after some Conservative MSPs invited representatives of the arms industry to a reception there in February.
Mr Laverty explained: “I was there that day. The Tories in all their wisdom decide to provoke people in the middle of a man-induced famine in Gaza and invite the arms industry to a soirée in the Scottish Parliament.
“Not surprisingly, people were furious, so many went along to demonstrate against this. What I saw was a peaceful demonstration. Yes, there was the usual argy-bargy, the usual shouts, but it was peaceful and the stewards were absolutely terrific, Mick Napier amongst them, keeping people calm in the face of such provocation.
“When there’s mass murder and plausible genocide and people are invited along to a soirée in the middle of a famine, there’s little wonder anger was very high and the organisers kept everybody calm.
“Now I wonder, why are the police so tin-eared, why are the procurator fiscals so tin-eared, to make such a silly decision? And if they keep prosecuting organisers who keep things calm, they’re going to end up with a riot on their hands.
"So use your imagination and have some sense and stop wasting taxpayers’ money.”
Mr Napier was detained overnight on March 27 before appearing at court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty. The trial is likely to be in September.