HA! HA! HAW! HAW! HAW!

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

14 December 2004

PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE CAMPAIGNER WINS AGAIN IN COURT

Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace protester, who has spent over
three and a half years in a continuous anti-war protest vigil opposite
the Houses of Parliament (1), had a charge of assault against him
dismissed today at Bow Street Magistrates Court. The police claimed
that Mr Haw had attempted to assault an officer yet they failed to
produce any evidence and gave conflicting accounts; the judge was not
satisfied that any attempt at assault had been made by Mr Haw. A
further
charge of 'failing to leave a cordoned area' was upheld against Mr Haw.

Mr Haw was arrested and his extensive protest display removed in a
sudden midnight police operation on 10 May 2004. The police claimed
there was a security threat in the area and said that a security cordon
had been imposed. When Mr Haw refused to move he was arrested.