00:00An activist known for playing loud music outside Parliament has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
00:08Steve Bray, also known as the Stop Brexit Man, was found not guilty of breaching restrictions on using amplified sound in Parliament Square.
00:15The case related to an incident on March 20th last year when Bray played music including edits of The Muppet Show
00:21and Darth Vader's theme song The Imperial March ahead of then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's arrival for Prime Minister's questions.
00:28Police approached Bray shortly before midday and gave him a notice and map outlining areas where amplified sound is prohibited.
00:35The court heard that Bray disputed the map and continued playing music intermittently until officers eventually seized his speakers.
00:42Bray, who represented himself in court, argued that the music was part of his right to protest and that it was played only at intervals.
00:50Westminster Magistrates Court heard that he had not been arrested previously and that his equipment was battery powered and limited in volume.
00:57Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock accepted that the protest was peaceful and non-violent and ruled that Bray's actions were covered under his rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
01:09He added, lampooning the government through satire has a long tradition in this country.
01:14But the judge also noted Bray should have reflected on how he interacted with officers at the scene.
01:20Outside court, Bray said today is a very important day, not just for us as protesters, but for everybody's freedom of expression and their right to protest, regardless of what side of the fence you're on.
01:32Whatever your protest is, this is a victory for you.
01:35When asked if he was going to continue, he said he wouldn't make any more noise, but stay at the same level.
01:40J.P. Watkins reporting for Local TV.
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