From Iceland — Activist Charged Again

Activist Charged Again

Published February 8, 2011

A perennial protester against US militarism is facing charges of disobeying a police order, Vísir reports.
Lárus Páll Birgisson is no stranger to the law. He has previously faced similar charges, and was found guilty but not given any punishment.
The charges this time around stems from an incident on 4 November, when police in front of the US embassy in downtown Reykjavík told Lárus to leave the area and he refused to go.
Not that this has or will deter him. Just last December, he was involved in another protest, where he was given the same order to leave. Lárus told Vísir at the time, “I have repeatedly asked on what legal grounds we can be told to vacate the area and have not received any answer.”
Lárus was also a witness at the Reykjavík Nine trial. At the time, he gave his testimony on the events that transpired in December 2008. When the questions were finished, Lárus said, “Wait, is that it? I should also be charged.”
The judge told Lárus that this was neither the time nor the place for such a statement. “Am I not in a courtroom?,” Lárus responded, provoking laughter in the crowd.
Formal charges against him were filed at Reykjavík District Court today.

Support The Reykjavík Grapevine!
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!

Show Me More!