Smash EDO's "moral duty" to protest (From The Argus)

Smash EDO's "moral duty" to protest

3:00pm Thursday 5th April 2012 in News By Anna Roberts , Crime reporter

Anti-arms group Smash EDO say it has a “moral duty” to protest in the city even though its “summer of resistance” will hit the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

As communities across Brighton and Hove prepare for Jubilee parties, Smash EDO members are preparing for a march in the city on June 4.

The group has been criticised for its protest plan, with some arguing it is a deliberate attempt to cause controversy – Smash EDO has denied this.

Smash EDO said: “We regret that the date of our demonstra- tion clashes with people’s celebrations but believe it would be wrong for us to silence our protests because the Queen is celebrating 60 years of inherited power.

“We have absolutely no intention of disrupting or ruining anybody’s day off and our aim is not to bring chaos and violence on to the streets of Brighton but to highlight the complicity of certain members of our community in international war-mongering.

“We hope that everybody is able to have a fantastic long-weekend and enjoy their well deserved break but also want to remember those around the world that won’t be able to take part in festivities because they are feeling the brunt of the British war machine.

“We do not wish to bring violence to Brighton but wish simply that companies would stop fuelling imperialist wars around the world.

“If we fail to march and protest against these companies we would be letting down the victims of war the world over. We believe that it is our moral duty to resist.”