Edward Bauer, Vice-President of Education of the Guild of Students at the University of Birmingham, has been granted bail by a Birmingham magistrate after spending 10 days in prison. Along with two other men he unfurled a banner reading “Traitors Not Welcome, Hate Clegg Love NCAFC” on the opening day of the Liberal Democrat conference on Friday 16th September. He was arrested and charged with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and then remanded in custody at a hearing of Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday 19th September where his co- defendants were bailed.
Speaking in support of his bail application in court Mr. John Hemming MP, a local Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley, said: “Whilst I do not believe he should have put the banner there in the first place, the protest was peaceful and placid and I think it is dis-proportionate to keep him in prison any longer.”
Outside the court over 50 people attended a ‘solidarity’ demonstration organised over social media websites. They repeatedly chanted “free ed bauer”, which could be heard within the court room as Mr Bauer’s defence was introduced. Claire Lister, a student at Birmingham University attending the demonstration, said: “I came here to show my support for Ed being granted bail today. I’m very happy that the magistrate has seen that he is not a danger to the public and there would be no reason to continue his imprisonment for what was basically peaceful protest against the government. He is an important member of the University community and has a lot of support amongst students and staff for the stand he has taken defending our education.”
Ed will now reappear, along with his co-defendants, at Birmingham magistrates’ court on 31st October for committal.
Well done Ed.
Shame on the establishment for trying to silence any and all dissent. I find it very sinister.