Sam Walton (peace activist)

Sam Walton (born 1980s in London) is a British peace activist and Chief Executive of Free Tibet and Tibet Watch.[1] He is most well known for his arrest on 29 January 2017 at Warton Aerodrome, Lancashire on suspicion of criminal damage after attempting to "disarm war planes" which he believed were bound for Saudi Arabia.[2]

Not to be confused with Sam Walton.

Walton is a Quaker and used to work for Quaker Peace and Social Witness.[3]

Activism

Art the Arms fair

In September 2017 Walton was a key organiser of 'Art the arms fair'[4] an art exhibition designed to coincide with the Defence and Security Equipment International arms fair, it was supported by many artists including Banksy via a donated a piece called Civilian Drone Strike.[5]

Attempted citizen's arrest of Ahmad Asiri

On 30 March 2017 Walton attempted a citizen’s arrest on Ahmad Asiri who was visiting London, citing accusations of war crimes in Yemen.[6][7][8][9] Due to the protests and attempted arrest the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson phoned Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to apologise.[10]

Attempt to disarm fighter jets at Warton Aerodrome

On 29 January 2017 Walton and Methodist minister Dan Woodhouse were arrested after entering the British Aerospace Warton Aerodrome site after an attempt to disarm by damaging the Typhoon fighter jets stored there that they believed were bound for the Royal Saudi Air Force and therefore to be used in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[11] The action was inspired by the Seeds of Hope group of the Plowshares movement who damaged a Hawk fighter jet in 1996.[12]

In October 2017 Walton and Woodhouse appeared at Burnley Magistrates court facing charges of criminal damage; both were found not guilty after successfully arguing that they acted for the greater good.[13]

Interruption of Vince Cable speech

On 26 April 2012 Walton interrupted the Business Secretary Vince Cable’s address at a UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) Symposium. Walton took to the stage to condemn the promotion of the arms industry.[14][15]

Count Me Out campaign

Throughout 2011 & 2012 Walton was involved in 'Count Me Out', a group who opposed to the company Lockheed Martin’s involvement in the UK 2011 census.[16]

Publications
  • In October 2017 Walton and Woodhouse co-authored an article "Even the UK courts believe our arms sales to Saudi Arabia are wrong – which is why we were acquitted of criminal damage this week" in The Independent's Voices section.[17]
  • In 2014 Walton authored the briefing "The New Tide of Militarism" for Quaker Peace & Social Witness.[18][19]

References
  1. "Free Tibet news Chief Executive". Free Tibet.
  2. "Two arrested over 'disarming warplanes'". 11 May 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. "Quaker peace work". Quakers.
  4. Editorial, Reuters. "Drones destroy child's drawing in Banksy protest at UK arms fair".
  5. Gayle, Damien (16 September 2017). "Banksy gives £205,000 to human rights and anti-arms trade groups". the Guardian.
  6. "Activists attempt citizen's arrest of Saudi general".
  7. Rebello, Lara (31 March 2017). "Saudi general gives crowd the middle finger after dodging citizen's arrest by London peace activist".
  8. "Saudi General dodges citizen's arrest in London over Yemen atrocities (VIDEO)".
  9. "An activist just tried to perform a citizen's arrest on a Saudi general". 31 March 2017.
  10. Asthana, Anushka; Halliday, Josh (2 April 2017). "Met police look at allegations of Saudi war crimes in Yemen". the Guardian.
  11. Association, Press (29 January 2017). "Activists try to stop warplanes leaving UK bound for Saudi Arabia". the Guardian.
  12. "An arrested activist wants the UK and Saudi Arabia on trial for war crimes". 31 January 2017.
  13. "'Greater good' pair cleared of BAE attack". 26 October 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "Protester invasion halts Cable speech to arms industry". 26 April 2012 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  15. "VIDEO: Anti-Weapons Protester Heckles Vince Cable". 26 April 2012.
  16. Glaister, Dan (26 May 2012). "Census objector granted leave to challenge Census Act". the Guardian.
  17. "Even the UK courts believe our arms sales to Saudi Arabia are wrong – which is why we were acquitted of criminal damage this week". 27 October 2017.
  18. "Challenging militarism". Quakers.
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