As the Canary previously reported, last December Neil Goodwin did a one-man protest outside the Carriage Gates of the Houses of Parliament, in his mime character of Charlie X – in horror at Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.
He was arrested, bizarrely as Bella Ciao, the Italian anti-fascist classic, belted out from a nearby protest sound system, to be beautifully recorded on the arresting officer’s body cam:
Up before the beak
Then, on Wednesday 1 May – workers solidarity day and of course the ancient festival of Beltane – Neil went before the beak.
He had one witness: impeccably besuited, silver-haired videographer Paul, who bears an uncanny likeness to the late and beloved journalist Paul Foot.
Charged with obstruction and failure to obey a lawful instruction under the oxymoronically named Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, Neil stood his ground, metaphorically coz he can’t walk.
Beltane mayhem wafted through the stifling court. ‘Your name’s not on the list, proceed to court 3.’ ‘Your name’s not on the list because it’s a different court.’ ‘Oh you can’t get in the other court in a wheelchair. So the judge, the clerk, the cop, and the CPS will all come to you.’ Neil is a magic man.
The British government: complicit with Israel
The judge was strict, with a shimmer of kindness.
The CPS prosecutor gamely made his case, though with some weird swerves:
Why didn’t you go to the Israeli embassy?
Neil:
It’s scary there, and the disabled facilities at Westminster are pretty good. My protest was also against the British Government for failing to call a ceasefire and for facilitating arms exports.
The tech failed, so the CPS had to show their footage of Neil’s arrest twice on laptop, once to the cop and once to the judge.
Bella Ciao reverberated through the room. I could barely contain my chuckle at this beautiful juxtaposition.
‘What has Guernica got to do with this? Why have you got a picture of your grandparents?’ demanded the judge. Bombs, Nazis, war crimes, the Blitz, refugees, horrors of war, Neil got it all in there.
Neil’s closing argument (self representing with the excellent assistance of a Green and Black Cross McKenzie Friend, a lovely woman called Ruth) a powerful and tearful testimony of murdered and maimed children which compelled him to act.
Synchronicity
To target the British government on a Wednesday during Prime Minister’s Questions to achieve maximum newsworthiness – hoping to draw press and public attention to war crimes being committed in Gaza with the compliance and cooperation of the UK state.
Adjourned for lunch, we stepped and wheeled out of the court, to find Palestinian flags waving in the wind, held aloft by two women. Neil whipped out his home made Palestine/Guernica placard and joined the photo opportunity.
After some confusion, it became apparent they were there to show solidarity with another woman, a young student, charged with criminal damage against war profiteers Lockheed Martin, as part of a Palestine Action group. Of course it transpired that the lovely Ruth of Green and Black Cross was also to attend this trial in support.
What amazing synchronicity we all agreed.
Hastily scoffing hot paninis we returned for the Judgement.
A heartfelt act of solidarity
Barely begun, our new comrades unexpectedly joined us in the public gallery as their case was inexplicably adjourned.
Her honour continued, she agreed with the law, the instruction was lawful, case lost we thought.
She laboured on through the various aspects of the defence, demolishing every one. Until the last, lawful excuse and proportionality. Was it proportionate to find Neil guilty of a criminal offence? We waited for the hammer to fall.
And then:
The CPS and the Police have failed to prove that there was any detrimental impact to anybody, therefore, the case is dismissed.
Hushed, astonished, and gleeful glances exchanged, we could barely believe it.
Neil, cheeky Charlie Chappy that he is, pipes up:
Judge, can you please say the words not guilty?
The judge obliges:
As I have just explained, the lack of evidence leads me to say the case is dismissed [a little smirk, the aforementioned shimmer is shining now] in other words you are NOT GUILTY! And by the way, no need for receipts, we’ll send you a cheque for your travel expenses.
Unfuckingbelievably, this happened on Mayday 2024.
We posed again for photos outside, whilst we all understand this is a little victory in the face of such atrocities, it is a victory nonetheless. A glimmer of hope for good people of conscience who stand up, and a heartfelt act of solidarity from us, the little people – because what else can we do?
Featured image via Saskia Kent
