Following an eventful day in the High Court, Occupy London – part of the global movement for social and economic justice – is setting its aim firmly at the one per cent as trials at Occupy Justice begin today (Thursday 19 January). From 10am – 4pm daily, Occupy Justice will hold a unique set of three trials over the next three days, intended to air cases that the established legal system cannot  – or will not –  take on for the benefit of the public at large.

These trials will be the last to be held in the former abandoned Old Street Magistrates Court at 335-337 Old Street, which Occupy London recently liberated before it is turned into a hotel.

Emily Klein of Occupy London said: “Today’s proceedings in the case of the City of London Corporation v Occupy London have shown that the justice system is more interested in penalising protesters who are highlighting the fundamental inequality in our economic system, instead of the activities of those in power. As of tomorrow, we will be proving that Occupy is firmly part of the political landscape when we take up trials that no court in Britain would dare to. This is a damning indictment in itself of the complacency that exists towards the one per cent.”

War – Thursday’s hearing – from 10am – 4pm – will take the form of an inquiry into Tony Blair and the British government’s involvement in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. An inquiry chair will oversee presentations by counsel and expert witnesses, some with first-hand experience of the conflicts and seek to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring forward charges of war crimes. George Bush and Tony Blair were recently found guilty of war crimes for the Iraq war at a tribunal in Malaysia. [1]

Squatting – From 10am – 4pm on Friday 20 January, the Court of Public Opinion will look at how the law abiding could be criminalised if provisions in the Legal Aid Bill currently passing through Parliament come into law. [2] An introduction to the Legal Aid Bill will be followed by testimony of some who could find themselves at risk.

Banking – 10am – 4pm on Saturday 21 January, Occupy London’s Criminal Investigations Unit will bring a case against RBS to court in a public-interest prosecution to assert the rights of the major shareholders of the bank – the general public. Is the RBS guilty of fraud? And should they be be paying out extravagant bonuses, as is expected this week following news of Goldman Sachs’ bonus pay out? [3] [4]

Occupy Justice will be aided by legal professionals in bringing these cases to trial – participants will be named on the day. Proceedings will also be live-streamed. [5]

While the hearings take place in Occupy Justice’s grade II listed courtroom, there is also an exhibition in the cell block, using audio and visual media to explore ideas of law and order in a highly unusual setting.

Occupy Justice began its occupancy at the former Old Street Magistrate’s Court on 20 December, while Occupy London Stock Exchange was making its own case at the High Court. At the beginning of this year, Occupy Justice reached agreement with the owners of the building, Mastcraft Ltd, that they could continue to occupy the building until 23 January.

Notes