Gwenno Teifi (full name Gwenno Teifi Ffransis, born 1987) is a Welsh language activist from Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Wales. In February 2006 she became the first member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) to serve a jail sentence for a language protest in 11 years.[1]
Gwenno was arrested along with four other language protestors on 24 July 2004 at the studios of Radio Carmarthenshire in Narberth and charged with criminal damage.[2] She was jailed after refusing to pay the £200 compensation to Radio Carmarthenshire ordered by Carmarthen Magistrates Court.[3] She was sentenced to five days beginning 13 February 2006 at Eastwood Park Prison in Gloucestershire but released after three days for good behaviour.
She was jailed a second time in July 2007 for refusing to pay a fine in connection with a language protest at Brantano's shoe store in Aberystwyth in October 2006.[4]
Gwenno was arrested again in connection with a language protest at Morrisons supermarket in Bangor on 27 January 2007.[5] She was not jailed.
Gwenno has a degree in Welsh and International Politics from Aberystwyth University.[1]
Gwenno worked in a Christian Mission House in Amsterdam, and is currently a Youth Officer in the Presbyterian Church of Wales.[6]
Her father is long-time Welsh language activist Ffred Ffransis, currently the education spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, and her mother is another well-known activist, Meinir Ffransis (nee Evans). Thus Gwenno's grandfather was Gwynfor Evans, the first member of Plaid Cymru elected to Parliament.[1]