Demonstrating is not a crime

This week, the first 10 defendants from the blanket arrest of people joining the UK Uncut protest in Fortnum & Mason's were found guilty, despite their actions being described by the senior police officer on the scene as "non-violent and sensible"( Report , 18 November). The judge ruled that the simple act of "demonstrating" is potentially intimidating, and therefore a crime. That ordinary people can be branded criminals for taking part in such a protest is a worrying sign; and, while the magistrates court may have found these men and women guilty, we are clear that they are not the real criminals. While the Crown Prosecution Service and the police have thrown vast sums of money at criminalising those protesting against government cuts, they have done little or nothing to capture the real criminals – those who evade taxes, and the bankers who crashed our economy in the first place. The defendants are appealing the ruling to the high court and we wish them the best of luck. Professor the Baroness Ruth Lister Dr Evan Harris Vice-chair Liberal Democrat federal policy committee Caroline Lucas MP Leader, Green party Mark Serwotka General secretary, PCS Union Dr David Hall-Matthews Chair, Social Liberal Forum Deborah Doane World Development Movement John Hilary Executive Director, War on Want Liam Burns NUS President Clifford Singer False Economy Neal Lawson Chair, Compass Mark Thomas David Marquand Mansfield College, Oxford John Harris Guardian Leanne Wood AM Plaid Cymru Jonathan Glennie ODI research fellow Gavin Hayes General secretary, Compass Howard Reed Landman Economics Willie Sullivan Labour Councillor, Fife Richard Exell William Davies University of Oxford Dr Heather Savigny University of East Anglia Kay Banyard Feminist writer & campaigner Gary Dunion Editor, Bright Green Natalie Fenton Goldsmiths, University of London Jeremy Gilbert University of East London Sunny Hundal Liberal Conspiracy Sam Tarry Labour councillor, Barking Cat Smith Next Generation Labour Stewart Wallis Dr Tim Jenkins Andrew Simms David Clark Sian Berry Michael Prior Jonathan Kent Stewart Lansley Ciaran Mundy Zoe Gannon Julia Slay Catherine Howarth Keith Sonnet Rebecca Hickman