Day 248 - 13 May 96 - Page 52
1 can you see that?
2 A. I do.
3
4 Q. "Let us show that opposition to injustice can never be
5 silenced and that any empire built on exploitation,
6 suffering and lies can be undermined. Censorship and
7 intimidation must never be allowed to succeed".
8
9 What comment do you have about that so far as your
10 Company's position is concerned and the reasons why you put
11 out your own press releases?
12 A. I am not here to censor. I am not here to intimidate.
13 What we did and what we said was to counter balance that
14 which had been said by the Defendants or their agents.
15 That was the sole purpose.
16
17 Q. Then do you see "Appeal"; just above the box there is a
18 heavy type "Appeal"; do you see that?
19 A. I do.
20
21 Q. "1. Please step up the protests against McDonald's. Send
22 us reports, leaflets in bulk from Veggies"; do you see
23 that?
24 A. I do.
25
26 Q. "180 Mansfield Road, Nottingham", and I remind you that
27 this is put out by the McLibel Support Campaign. Do you
28 have any comment about that apparent connection between the
29 Defendants and Veggies?
30 A. It is very worrying.
31
32 Q. If you turn over to the next document it is a short
33 document, "Update, 11th January 1994". I will not ask you
34 about that. It is merely a summary of the previous one.
35 I will ask you about the next one, "Pre-trial mail out at
36 the end of January 1994"; do you see that?
37 A. "Pre-trial mail out", yes.
38
39 Q. Yes. There is more of the same, so I will not bother with
40 that; but towards the bottom above the word "Appeal" in
41 heavy black type, there are some words in capital letters
42 beginning, "The most important thing"; do you see that?
43 A. I do see it.
44
45 Q. "The most important thing is to pledge now to continue to
46 circulate and distribute the leaflets (available in bulk;
47 see enclosed leaflet) whatever the verdict at the end of
48 the trial". Mr. Preston, does that bear in any way upon
49 your decision to press forward with this action?
50 A. It most certainly does.
51
52 Q. Then over the page, whether it is a continuation of this
53 leaflet or another one I do not know because the top of
54 mine is cut off. It says, "Calling all London area
55 activists and supporters". Underneath the black line in
56 the middle of the page where it says "Saturday, 26th
57 February, 1994", as it is, "Mass leafleting day of action
58 at McDonald's stores throughout the country to publicise
59 the trial on the first day's demonstration" -- 28th
60 February, that is.
