Hi Kelvin and the rest,

Thank you for your reply Kelvin. I do agree with you that every free
person is worth it, and am glad to hear that you will mention
something about the co-defendants. That was my main issue and it is
good to hear you thought about that, it is always challenging how to
deal with the priviledge of being highly educated and having a
research position, and the challenge is to find the best way to use it
to use this for the better.

Best,
Sander

On 31 March 2014 14:48, Kelvin Mason <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Sander and all
>
>
>
> First, PyGyRG executive officers thought it best if letters came from
> concerned individuals with a particular academic take on the case rather
> than trying to co-ordinate a group response - with all the negotiations that
> implies and the time it would take.
>
>
>
> Second, I complete agree with Sander about the 'research participants'. Brad
> was, after all, participating in their activities; they should not be
> defined as participating in his research. I fully intend to mention my
> concern for the co-defendants in my own letter of support.
>
>
>
> The problem is perhaps framing a letter of support that, ultimately,
> reflects academic values which the law would recognise. It is all very well
> for us as critical geographers to support the ethics (and actions) of urban
> explorers, their critique of the privatisation of space and securitisation,
> but that spatial justice perspective is probably not going to cut any ice in
> law. Indeed, it's more likely to alienate a judge and jury.
>
>
>
> The question may be whether the notion of privilege is more important than
> the reality of Brad maybe being imprisoned and/or extradited. If, legally,
> Brad's best legal defence is to differentiate his position form his
> co-defendants, personally I can still find the contingent justice space to
> support him as an academic colleague doing politically and ethically
> challenging research. Having been in similar positions, I considered it a
> victory for all when a fellow activist was acquitted/released/escaped unjust
> laws under whatever rationale, rather than in any sense resenting whatever
> tactics that individual had to employ.
>
>
>
> Best wishes
>
>
>
> Kelvin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list on participatory geographies
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sander Van Lanen
> Sent: 31 March 2014 13:29
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: 'conspiracy to commit criminal damage' or PAR?
>
>
>
> Hi Kelvin and the rest,
>
>
>
> I think it is very important to support Brad, but we should not forget
>
> about the research participants either. I think the wrong message is
>
> send out if we only defend Brad because he is doing academic work that
>
> is of high value, especially since he participants are involved with
>
> this as well.
>
>
>
> If I would write a statement, I would mention the participatory
>
> methods used, but would stress that I do not want to create the divide
>
> between the researcher that is more privilegded and is allowed to do
>
> more and the 'ordinary' citizen that can get arrested and charged for
>
> the same things.
>
>
>
> Please go ahead with the letter of support, it is obviously completely
>
> up to you what you write about it. The above is my reaction to what
>
> you write, but since it is a personal letter, I can only pass this on
>
> as a comment. If something would be written from the PyGyRg group I
>
> would press harder for the inclusion of the things I said above.
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Sander
>
>
>
> On 30 March 2014 19:42, Kelvin Mason <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Dear colleagues
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> A good number of you will, I'm sure, be familiar with Bradley Garrett and
>
>> his valuable work on urban exploration ( if not, you can begin to check it
>
>> out online http://www.placehacking.co.uk/).
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> On the 17 July 2013, Brad was arrested by British Transport Police, taken
>
>> from a plane at Heathrow Airport in handcuffs and had his passport seized.
>
>> British Transport Police then broke into Brad's home and confiscated
>
>> computers, hard drives, cameras, phone and notebooks - all the research
>
>> materials from his project. Along with eleven research participants, Brad
>> is
>
>> set to stand trial on 28 April 2014 charged with conspiracy to commit
>
>> criminal damage.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Brad's case obviously raises vital issue for participatory geographic
>
>> research. Personally, I intend to write a letter of support for Brad,
>
>> stressing - in particular - the acknowledged epistemic value of
>
>> participatory action or deeply engaged ethnographic research and its
>
>> significance to society.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> If any colleagues think they too might see their way to writing a letter
>> of
>
>> support for Brad from a legitimate academic standpoint, i.e. not just a
>
>> personal message of emotional support (the law doesn't do emotion or
>
>> personal), then I have more information on the case which I will happily
>
>> pass on.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Many thanks and best wishes
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Kelvin
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Kelvin Mason
>
>>
>
>> Visiting Research Associate
>
>>
>
>> University of Liverpool
>
>>
>
>> Banc y Mor
>
>>
>
>> Blaenplwyf
>
>>
>
>> Aberystwyth SY23 4DW
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Tel: 01970 610 185
>
>>
>
>> Mob: 07817 596 285
>
>>
>
>>