Make money doing the work you believe in
Ellie Kamio of the Filton 6 satirically gives herself a “terror award”
Satire in the face of draconian state oppression is always commendable, but when the person undertaking it is a notable victim of that oppression, it’s even more commendable. This satirical image was posted on Instagram by Ellie Kamio, an activist outrageously sentenced as a terrorist by an Israeli-owned judge working in cahoots with the Israeli-owned British government, along with the text that I’m sharing below.
Ellie Kamio is one of the Filton 24, activists who undertook direct action in August 2024 at a factory in Bristol run by Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer, which produces the armed quadcopter drones that have been so central in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
After being held on remand for over a year (far exceeding the usual time limits) and treated as terrorists in prison, Ellie and five co-defendants were put on trial in November 2024, but acquitted of most serious charge of aggravated burglary in February this year, when the jurors were unable to reach a verdict on other charges of criminal damage and, in three cases, violent disorder.
Undeterred, the government launched a retrial, which took place in June, when jurors convicted four of the six for criminal damage, unaware that, at the sentencing phase, the judge, Mr. Justice Johnson, intended to augment their sentences through the application of a “terrorism connection”, introduced in the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, which was not disclosed in court, and was subject to a gagging order.
Ellie received a six-year sentence, minus 45 days, but, like her co-defendants, is likely to serve most of her sentence without the prospect of early release, because of the “terrorism connection.” In addition, even when they are released, all four will be dogged for years by restrictions on their freedom as a result of having been sentenced as terrorists.
In an Instagram post two days ago, Ellie mocked the government’s draconian actions, posting a photo of herself receiving a terror award, accompanied by the following defiant message. The post, understandably, has gone viral.
my acceptance speech for the award of terror connection.
wow wtf who would have thought that the girl from swansea who grows veggies and likes to party would earn this title. i’m flattered that the state thinks i’m this annoying. this is a label that has been given to so many who have fought against apartheid and genocide throughout history. if opposing genocide makes me a terrorist then so be it. because it was an honour to dismantle 40 weapons that would commit war crimes.
i’d like to thank my mum and the rest of my family. to the people who raised me and the ones who shaped how i see and move through the world. but most importantly i need to thank palestinians because when i think of your liberation, it is worth it.
i’m grateful to everyone who has been here, physically and spiritually, who has written, prayed, cast spells and sends us love. you lot have given me strength for prison round 2 😛
on the morning of the 12th of june it was clear from judge johnson’s giddiness that he had prewritten a wild sentence, that completely disregarded sentencing guidelines and quite frankly the law. no surprise there lol. now i know what the worst case scenario is. it sucks but i can do it.
the crown prosecution aptly named our case ‘operation recomply’. we were arrested under counter terror powers on the 7th august 2024. this was always their plan. to use our convictions to justify the proscription of palestine action. to intimidate britain into complying. to stay ignorant or lose hope. has it worked?
so long as there is a hole in my arse my spirit cannot be crushed. it is not the time to despair. it is the time to work together and channel our rage into something productive. because when the state moves as weird as it has been, it means that liberation is close.
celebrate moog’s hung jury! pull up for the next wave of filton 25 (major babes) who are currently on trial at the old bailey. they need you now so please show them the same love we received. meanwhile us four will be back at it again to appeal sentencing.
