Join solidarity vigil for census refusers, 8 Feb, Bristol

bristol | peace | news report Wednesday February 01, 2012 00:03 by NoCONcensus noconcensus at yahoo dot co dot uk

Two veteran peace campaigners will be appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court, Marlborough St, Bristol BS1 3NU on Wed 8 February on charges of failing to complete the 2011 Census. Both have a conscientious objection to the contract to process census data being awarded to arms manufacturers Lockheed Martin.

There will be a solidarity vigil outside the court from 9am. Please support if you can.

CONSCIENTIOUS CENSUS OBJECTORS

Quaker John Marjoram, 72, Mayor of Stroud, has been a peace activist for 50 years after seeing the trauma suffered by his uncle in the First World War. He has said: "When I was 18 I refused to fire a rifle on military service... I couldn't live with myself if I collaborated with a military company." He plans to plead not guilty on 8 February.

Roger Franklin, 84, is a veteran peace campaigner from Horsley who has previously been sent to jail for refusing to pay the proportion of his tax which funds Britain's weapons of mass destruction. Rather than entering a plea, he wrote to the court explaining his moral and political objections; his case was adjourned to 8 February.

Around eight members of Nailsworth Quaker Meeting in Stroud have also refused to complete their census forms and the majority would be prepared to go to prison if prosecuted and convicted.


BACKGROUND

Mainstream news reports:

 http://mobile.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/8939735.Stroud_quakers_willing_to_break_law_and_refuse_to_fill_in_census/
 http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mayor-facing-court-refusing-census/story-14388627-detail/story.html
 http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mayor-Stroud-hot-water-failure-complete-census/story-14398403-detail/story.html
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16502319
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/27/120-convicted-census-forms-2011
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/30/pacifists-and-the-census-form

For details of other cases, see:

 https://network23.org/countmeout/court-updates/

For background, see:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/11/488424.html


CAN YOU HELP THE CAMPAIGN?
ARE YOU BEING PROSECUTED AND NEED SUPPORT?

Count Me Out and NoCONcensus are supporting census refusers across England and Wales.

If you can help with the campaign or are facing court and need support, contact:

info_AT_countmeout.me.uk
noconcensus_AT_yahoo.co.uk

Ethical Census is supporting refusers in Scotland:

 http://www.ethicalcensus.org.uk/