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Sam Walton (peace activist)

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Not to be confused with Sam Walton.

Sam Walton
Profile of Sam Walton at a vigil
Sam Walton at a vigil
Born
Sam Walton

1980s[1]
UK
Occupation(s)Peace and human rights advocate
Years active2011 - present
Known forPeace activism, CEO Free Tibet

Sam Walton (born 1980s in London) is a British peace activist and, as of March 2020, Chief Executive of Free Tibet and Tibet Watch.[2] 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.[3]

Walton is a Quaker and used to work for Quaker Peace and Social Witness.[4][5]

Activism

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Art the Arms fair

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In September 2017 Walton was a key organiser of 'Art the arms fair'[6] 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.[7]

Attempted citizen's arrest of Ahmad Asiri

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On 30 March 2017 Walton attempted a citizen’s arrest on Ahmad Asiri who was visiting London, citing accusations of war crimes in Yemen.[8][9][10] Due to the protests and attempted arrest, the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson phoned Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to apologize.[11]

Attempt to disarm fighter jets at Warton Aerodrome

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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.[12] The action was inspired by the Seeds of Hope group of the Plowshares movement who damaged a Hawk fighter jet in 1996.[13] The pair managed to get beyond fences, closed doors and sensors and were "just metres" from allegedly disarming Saudi Arabia-bound fighter planes with a hammer.[13] These actions gave Sam promince in Yemen.[14]

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.[15][16]

Protests for human rights in Bahrain

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In 2018 Walton supported Ali Mushaima's hungerstike outside Bahrain's London embassy to call for his father Hasan Mushaima's release.[17][18][19][20]

In 2017 Walton was outside of the Bahraini embassy when someone from within the embassy threw boiling water on the protest he was involved in.[21]

In 2014 Walton tried to get into the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to protest weapons sales to the dictatorship in Bahrain.[22]

Interruption of Vince Cable speech

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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.[23][24]

Count Me Out campaign

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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.[25]

Publications

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.thetimes.com/article/protester-invasion-halts-cable-speech-to-arms-industry-63wj06csf35
  2. ^ "Sam Walton takes the helm at Free Tibet and Tibet Watch". Tibet Watch. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Two arrested over 'disarming warplanes'". BBC News. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Quaker peace work". Quakers. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Interview: Peace crime". Reform Magazine. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Drones destroy child's drawing in Banksy protest at UK arms fair". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  7. ^ Gayle, Damien (16 September 2017). "Banksy gives £205,000 to human rights and anti-arms trade groups". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. ^ Manji, Fatima (3 April 2017). "Activists attempt citizen's arrest of Saudi general". Channel 4 News. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  9. ^ Rebello, Lara (31 March 2017). "Saudi general gives crowd the middle finger after dodging citizen's arrest by London peace activist". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  10. ^ Worley, Will (31 March 2017). "Anti-war activists attempt citizens arrest on Saudi general visiting London over alleged Yemen war crimes". Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  11. ^ Asthana, Anushka; Halliday, Josh (2 April 2017). "Met police look at allegations of Saudi war crimes in Yemen". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Activists try to stop warplanes leaving UK bound for Saudi Arabia". The Guardian. Press Association. 29 January 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  13. ^ a b Walker, Peter (31 January 2017). "British Quaker 'prepared for jail' after allegedly trying to disarm Saudi Arabia-bound fighter jet". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  14. ^ Buchanan, Rose Troup (29 October 2017). "Meet The British Quaker, Famous In Yemen, Who Tried To Smash Up Some Fighter Jets". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  15. ^ "'Greater good' pair cleared of BAE attack". BBC News. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  16. ^ Reid, David (27 October 2017). "Quaker and Methodist minister acquitted of BAE criminal damage after 'greater good' defense". CNBC. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Hunger-striking Bahraini activist hospitalized in London". Gulf Cultural Club. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  18. ^ Areeb Ullah. "Bahraini activist is in hospital after month-long hunger strike". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Int'l Activists, Doctors Ask Ali Mushaima and Zainab Al-Khawaja to End their Hunger Strike". Bahrain Mirror. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Ali Mushaima, Zainab Al-Khawaja asked to end hunger strike over health concerns". AhlulBayt News Agency. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  21. ^ Gani, Aisha (20 January 2017). "Protesters Say Staff At The Bahrain Embassy Chucked Hot Water On Them From A Balcony". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  22. ^ Gallagher, Paul; Palumbo, Daniele (16 May 2014). "Prince Andrew under fire for hosting King of Bahrain, whose regime stands accused of human rights abuses". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Protester invasion halts Cable speech to arms industry". The Sunday Times. 26 April 2012.
  24. ^ "VIDEO: Anti-Weapons Protester Heckles Vince Cable". HuffPost. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  25. ^ Glaister, Dan (26 May 2012). "Census objector granted leave to challenge Census Act". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Netpol launches 'Restricting the Rebellion' report". The Network for Police Monitoring. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  27. ^ Walton, Sam; Woodhouse, Daniel (27 October 2017). "Even the UK courts believe our arms sales to Saudi Arabia are wrong – which is why we were acquitted of criminal damage this week". The Independent. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Challenging militarism". Quakers. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Sam Walton". Open Democracy. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Sam Walton". Novara Media. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Walton, Sam". Peace News. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Sam Walton". Ceasefire Magazine. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
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