A pair of activists spray painted parts of the ACC Liverpool to protest against an arms fair in the city.
Susan Ferguson and Ruth Knox were both attending the protest in October last year when they used red paint to write slogans on the walls of the complex on Liverpool’s waterfront. The pair said they stood by their actions as they appeared in court this morning supported by a crowd.
Luke Unsworth, prosecuting, told the court Ferguson, 73, and Knox, 70, were both part of the protest against the AOC Electronic Warfare event, which drew significant opposition inside and outside the city. Liverpool Council and Mayor Joanne Anderson came under pressure to cancel the event before it was held, but while Mayor Anderson said she was 'appalled' that it was going ahead, she said she was powerless to stop it.
READ MORE: Crowds of protesters gather outside court in support of anti-arms fair activists
A number of people were subsequently arrested during protests as the event went ahead. On October 2, Ferguson was seen spraying paint on to walls close to the arms fair, while Knox was seen holding a can of spray paint.
Mr Unsworth said: “Some of the group began to break off and approach the barriers, walls and windows. They were seen to place stencils on the walls and spray red spray paint, making a red square and the words ‘Stop the bloody Liverpool Arms Fair.”
He said the women admitted using the paint and having the cans to police officers at the scene and were later arrested and charged. The damage was estimated to ACC Liverpool property was estimated to be £583.76.
Ferguson and Knox, representing themselves in court, said they didn’t dispute the case against them but said they felt their protest was justified. Reading from a prepared statement, they said: “There was widespread opposition to the Arms Fair from the people of Liverpool, and from their elected representatives. There was a strong campaign where people collected signatures, wrote letters and held large demonstrations.
“However, we could not persuade either the council or ACC management to cancel the Arms Fair. That was particularly disappointing as the local government of another European city, Seville, had acted in response to a similar groundswell of opposition by cancelling the same fair.”
They said many of the companies present at the fair actively promoted weapons used in war crimes and that, combined with the fact the even was not cancelled, meant they felt they had to act.” They said: “In such circumstances, and all other methods of persuasion having failed, we felt and still feel, that it was our duty to our fellow human beings to use any non-violent means possible to highlight the obscenity of making financial profits from devastation and death.”
Ferguson, of Salisbury Road, admitted criminal damage while Knox, of Belgrave Road, admitted having possession of an article with intent to destroy property. Both were both given conditional discharge for 12 months, meaning they will receive no sentence if they don’t commit any more offences during that time.
However, each will have to pay compensation Ferguson’s amount was set at £200 while Knox’s was set at £100.
