Packer protesters face trial

People charged over their involvement in a February protest outside PM John Howard's state memorial service at the Sydney Opera House for media mogul Kerry Packer have called a protest demonstration on the first day of their three-day trial, which begins on October 27.

"We are calling for all charges against the Packer protesters to be dropped", group spokesperson Alex Bainbridge told Green Left Weekly. "The protest in February was peaceful, with street theatre, poetry and speeches. It was quite some distance from the Opera House entrance and should have been allowed to proceed unhindered by police", he explained.

"Other people are entitled to their views about Kerry Packer and the appropriateness of a state memorial service for him. But we are entitled to our views also, and we have the right to express them", Bainbridge said.

He added: "The charges we face — operating a small speaker box in my case and, for others, failing to comply with police instructions to close down the protest and the dubious charges of 'resisting arrest' and 'hindering police' — directly contradict basic principles of free speech. That's why the charges should be dropped."

The demonstration will be held at 8.30am on October 27 at the Downing Centre Local Court, 143 Liverpool Street, Sydney. For more information or to offer support, phone Alex on 0413 976 638.

From GLW issue 687