BY LINDA WALDRON

MELBOURNE — Progressive activists won a victory on August 12, when the Sunshine Magistrates Court dismissed charges against Socialist Alliance activist Tony Iltis.

Iltis was charged with distributing leaflets for an anti-war protest and attempting to sell Green Left Weekly on February 11 at Footscray Station.

Iltis was accompanied to court by a group of activists carrying placards emblazoned with “Saying no to war is not a crime”, “Selling Green Left Weekly is not a crime” and “Defend free speech”.

Iltis pointed out that 250,000 people attended the rally that he was promoting, despite all the mainstream media supporting the war. “The issue of the paper I was selling had an article by journalist John Pilger exposing the lies used to justify the war”, he told Green Left Weekly. “If it wasn’t for GLW, Australians wouldn’t have access to that information until the `scandal’ about lies broke after the war.”

The charges were dismissed because the police failed to prove that the footbridge Iltis was standing on was not public space.

Encouraged by the court ruling, Socialist Alliance activists will be increasing their campaigning. Braybrook activist Russ Miles said, “We’re planning a big stall in Sunshine on August 23, to promote the Tampa Day rally for refugee rights the following Friday. We’ll be selling books, badges and newspapers of alliance affiliates, such as Socialist Worker and Green Left Weekly.” To get involved, call (03) 9687 0789.

From Green Left Weekly, August 20, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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