THREE protestors arrested last year for scaling the UK Government building in Edinburgh and raising the Palestinian flag have been found not guilty.
The activists gained notoriety after replacing the Union Jack with the Palestinian flag and painting the UK Government crest red on Queen Elizabeth House in Holyrood.
Two others were arrested and convicted, of whom one was admonished and the other given an absolute discharge.
On Friday, three defendants were found not guilty of breach of the peace and malicious mischief for their actions which took place almost exactly a year ago.
Many came out to show support for the five outside the Edinburgh Sheriff Court, as Pro-Palestine solidarity groups celebrated the verdict as a “glimmer of hope”.
The activists were part of This Is Rigged, a direct-action campaign that targets the Scottish government’s lack of action on issues such as the climate crisis and cost of living crisis.
The group are also responsible for three climate activists smashing the glass case holding what is believed to be William Wallace’s sword in Stirling.
This is Rigged posted to social media on Friday announcing the court verdict: “Result for Palestine flag raisers – three found not guilty.
“A year ago today, four people with This is Rigged scaled the UK Government building in Edinburgh to call attention to the UK’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine.
“They replaced the UK flag with a Palestine flag, and painted the UK Government crest red. A fifth person was arrested for filming in the area.
“Today, in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, three defendants were found not guilty of breach of the peace and malicious mischief.
“Of the two convicted defendants, one was admonished (no punishment received) and one given an absolute discharge.
“This verdict is a glimmer of hope as people throughout the UK face increasingly stringent bail conditions, prison time and police harassment for refusing to let their government facilitate genocide in peace.
“As we celebrate this verdict, the Palestinian people continue to face ethnic cleansing. It has never been more urgent that we continue to resist, as world leaders make themselves wilfully complicit in genocide.
“Speaking after their acquittal, Fred Spoliar said all that needs to be said: ‘I’m proud of what we did and would encourage others to do the same.’
“Free Palestine. F**k the UK Government. History will not forgive you. People will not forget.”
Fred Spoliar is one of the three protestors who scaled the building last year, along with Ruby Hamill, Daniel Knorr, and Catriona Roberts who sprayed the glass at the front of the building with red paint.
To be admonished is to be found guilty and given a warning but no other penalty, and absolute discharge occurs in exceptional circumstances when the court believes that it is not necessary to inflict punishment on a defendant.