August 2005 Archives

The Guardian reports:

Picnicking protester arrested outside parliament

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent
Tuesday August 30, 2005

A free speech activist arrested after a weekend "tea party" on Parliament Square has vowed to continue the campaign against new laws which restrict the right to protest outside the House of Commons.
Mark Barrett was arrested on Sunday after a midday picnic on the grass opposite Big Ben, aimed at demonstrating the severity of the clampdown on unauthorised protests.

Today he said the Sunday tea parties - which he claims are not demonstrations, but "Mad Hatter's Tea Party meets Speaker's Corner" and therefore are not subject to the new law - would continue.

Press Release: 12 Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea Party Protest

Press: More Info at 0785 439 0408

"The Founding of the People’s Commons London, August 2005

Right Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen

You are cordially invited to join us for our weekly People’s Commons Meeting/Tea Party/Picnic-Protest on the Green at Parliament Square, Westminster. We meet every Sunday at 12 Noon on the Green in front of The House of Commons!

On Monday 22nd August there is due to be another vigil in memory of Jean Charles de Menezes, presumably as dignified as the vigils held in July in Parliament Square, and opposite the New Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police headquarters, both of which are within the current Designated Area The vigil / service at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathederal is outside the current Designated Area, but within the "1 kilometre in a straight line" maximum extent of the Designated Area.

Monday 22nd August's vigil will be, according to the BBC,"outside 10 Downing Street at 1800 BST (1700 GMT)", which is definately within the Designated Area.

To be fair to the politicians who brokered the undemocratic "wash up" procedure, at the end of the last Parliament, after the General Election had been called, by means of which the most controversial clauses of the Seruious Organised Crime and Police Bill were dropped (those to do with "incitement of religous hatred", which have re-surfaced as a separate Bill in this Parliament), but which allowed the other controversial clauses to do with the Designated Area, and the extension of a police constables the powers of arrest to all offences to go through "on the nod" , without proper scrutiny or debate, it is unlikely that they could have forseen the Stockwell Tube station killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, and the role played by Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

The family and supporters of Jean Charles de Menezes, are understandably calling for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to take responsibility for his police force's catalogue of blunders, which lead to the killing of an innocent man, and for the subsequent media spin, disinformation and possible attempts at a coverup.

Now, in August, in order to peacefully protest at this scandalous situation, the demonstrators have now to apply in writing beforehand, to the "Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis" i.e. to Sir Ian Blair himself, the very man that they are protesting against.

More information:

Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign
PO Box 273
London E7

07956 210332 / 07931 337890

Justice4jean@hotmail.co.uk

www.justice4jean.com

There will be another Peaceful Protest Picnic starting at 12 noon, this Sunday 21st August 2005 in Parliament Square, to protest against the iniquitous restrictions on protests without prior written permission.

All demonstrations and protests, even by a single person, no matter what the cause or politics, are affected by this disproportionate legislation.

For the technically proficient, there is now a WiKi which has been set up which people can edit or post to (no registration or password required):

http://www1.atwiki.com/picnic/

Hopefully this event will not have to become a regular one, and the Government will see sense and repeal this stupid law, before it is forced to do so by a legal challenge under the Human Rights Act.

The "Parliament Square 10" , are , in fact now the Parliament Square 11, as Chris Coverdale was arrested last Sunday.

The 60th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the end of World War 2, will make this year's Remembrance Sunday on November 13th particularly important.

However, is wearing a Royal British Legion Red Poppy before, during or after the annual Remembrance Sunday demonstrations and ceremonies, within the Designated Area i.e. Whitehall and the Cenotaph War Memorial, without individual prior written permission, now illegal ?

Even if the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, actually wanted to exempt everyone who was wearing a Red Poppy from having to apply for prior written permission, there is no legal mechanism for him to do so. He must automatically grant such permission once it has been applied for in writing, and may choose not to apply any further conditions, but he has no discretion under the Act as it has been enacted.

It is impossible for anyone to argue that the whole purpose of the Centaph War Memorial, to demonstrate solidarity and remembrance with the victims and participants of various wars, the wreath laying ceremonies, the purchase and wearing of Royal British Legion Red Poppies, the "two minute silence" etc. are not an "organised demonstration". Therefore these activities within the Designated Area must fall foul of the Act, even though they are entirely traditional, peaceful and highly laudable.

Surely there must be equality before the Law, and it must be equally and fairly applied to everyone ?

Will the Metropolitan Police enforce the law against the Members of Parliament, the members of the Royal Family, VIPs and other dignatories who attend the Cenotaph ceremonies on November 13th ?

Surely the Government must repeal this stupid law before such a shameful national disgrace is allowed to happen ?

The BBC reports. without much detail, that:

Demo ban protesters deny charges

Ten anti-war activists have appeared in court accused of defying a ban on unauthorised protests near Parliament.

Ann Clancy, 70, from Harrow, north-west London, was among those arrested in demonstrations days after the ban came into force at the start of August.

All of the accused denied charges under laws which prohibit protests, without prior police approval, within half-a-mile of Westminster.

Bow Street magistrates bailed all 10 until a hearing later this month.

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act effectively bans all spontaneous protests near Parliament"

PRESS RELEASE
15 August 2005

ACTIVISTS IN COURT OVER NEW ANTI-PROTEST EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND PARLIAMENT

Bow Street Magistrates Court, 9.30am, Tuesday 16 August: Ten people arrested earlier this month during unauthorised demonstrations in the new anti-protest "exclusion zone" around Parliament will appear in court on Tuesday morning to plead "not guilty" to charges of participating in an unauthorised protest in the zone "without lawful authority or reasonable excuse." Among other things the ten - who will be outside the court at 9.30am with a banner reading "Defending the Right to Protest" - are expected to challenge the legality of the zone, which effectively removes the right to meaningful protest within 1km of the House of Commons.

Five of the defendants were arrested during a 1 August protest in Parliament Square organised by the Stop the War Coalition [A]. The remainder were arrested during a 'Mass Act of Defiance' in the Square on 7 August [B]

Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) anyone wishing to demonstrate in the "designated area" around Parliament - which includes the Square, extends as far as the London Eye and includes all of Whitehall and a large part of Westminster - must apply to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not "reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used [A].

One of the defendants, Emma Sangster said: "The new Act allows the police to make political decisions as to who may protest - and how - near Parliament, something clearly unacceptable in a free society. Protest and dissent are the source of many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today and have played a crucial role in helping to end injustices such as Apartheid. We intend to challenge the legality of this zone and to expose just how unjust and draconian it is."

PRESS CONTACTS
Prasanth Visweswaran 07838 101491, Emma Sangster 07791 486484

NOTES
[A] See http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,9061,1540521,00.html
[B] See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4742589.stm
[C] For more information on the Act see
www.parliament-square.org.uk/defend.htm and www.parliamentprotest.org.uk

"MORE BEAUTIFUL ACTS OF DEFIANCE!
London Calling For the Right to Protest, 12 Noon, 14 August, Parliament Square
Urgent Call to Action!

what u shoutin 'bout blog has published a short Quicktime video of the demonstration on Sunday 7th August 2005, protesting against the unecessary loss of our freedoms and liberties caused by the restrictions on even peaceful protests within the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square.

Hairy Jedi reports on Sunday 7th August's Parliament Square demonstration against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond.

The BBC is reporting that today's Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square has led to more arrests.

"Last Updated: Sunday, 7 August 2005, 13:44 GMT 14:44 UK

Arrests at Parliament protest ban Protest

Six people have been arrested as about 100 campaigners staged a protest in Parliament Square against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.."

A legal briefing leaflet has been produced, ahead of tomorrow's Mass Act of Defiance demonstration in Parliament Square, starting at noon.

For more info contact the Mass Act of Defiance Group:
e-mail: massactofdefiance@fastmail.fm

Download the Legal Briefing (.pdf)

Text of the Legal Briefing leaflet:

Tim Ireland at Bloggerheads has a detailed article on the Parliament Square demonstrations against the new restrictions on demonstrations in the Designated Area around Parliament Square on the 1st August 2005.

The warning leaflet which was handed out by the Police with a map of the area was quite interesting. It does look like "www.streetmap.co.uk" like, but that is not necessarily the case, as the online version does not zoom out to cover the same area , without switching to an Ordanance Survey style map without strreetnames. It also looks like the slightly larger view (which includes a compass rose) Collins Bartholomew type map which Charing Cross police station sent us by post with Form 3175A. It may well be that the Metropolitan Police are licensed to use this copyrighted map, if not , then they should pay the royalty fees.

The concept of a warning leaflet is similar to the procedures used to enforce an Anti-social Behavior Dispersal Zone, where Police Officers or Communitry Service Support Officers
can tell "groups" of people who might look "threatening" to move out of the Zone and not come back for 24 hours. They first give you a leaflet and then tell you to disperse and then arrest you if you do not comply.

Some other independent accounts and photos (and here and also here) have been posted to Indymedia, of some of the people who were arrested. It still seems to be unclear how many were arrested under the provisions of the new law. Does anyone have any details ?

Some other blogs which cover this demonstration:

Kitty Killer

Blurred Clarity

The BBC reports that 5 demonstrators have been arrested at today's Stop the War Coaltion protest in Parliament Square, protesting against the draconian Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Designated Area.

"Last Updated: Monday, 1 August, 2005, 15:57 GMT 16:57 UK Arrests over Parliament demo ban

Five anti-war activists demonstrating against a ban on unauthorised protests near Parliament have been arrested.

A ban on protests within half-a-mile of Westminster which have not been cleared by police came into force at midnight.

However, about 50 people wearing black gags to symbolise the "infringement" of their right to protest have gathered in Parliament Square in defiance.

Ministers say planned protests can be held but the rights of protesters and workers in the area must be balanced.

But campaigners say the move restricts an established right to protest.

More than a dozen police officers were at the scene, and arrests were made around an hour after the protest begun."

These restrictions do not just apply to "anti-war" protestors, (apart from Brian Haw who is exempt), they apply to everyone else, of whatever political or religous opinions.

Today, the controversial sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Security Act 2005 which curtail free democratic demonstrations or protests in the Designated Area around Parliament Square, have come fully into force.

This means that even if you have applied for, and received prior written permission from the Metropolitan Police for your
"demonstration" (a term which is itself unclear legally), then arbitrary Conditions can be applied including, but not limited to:

"(a) the place where the demonstration may, or may not, be carried on,
(b) the times at which it may be carried on,
(c) the period during which it may be carried on,
(d) the number of persons who may take part in it,
(e) the number and size of banners or placards used,
(f) maximum permissible noise levels."

These arbitrary Conditions can be modified, or new Conditions imposed, by the senior Police Officer on the spot.

The criminal penalties for demonstrating without prior permission, for refusing to obey these any Conditions even if you have got prior written permission, or for any use of loudspeakers (as defined by the Act) have all come into force today.

The Stop The War Coalition has called for a demonstration in Parliaemnet Square from 2pm onwards, to protest against these excessive restrictions on spontaneous demonstrations without prior written permission by the Metropolitan Police.

Will the Parliament Square Jam Cam which gives a periodic snapshot vire of Parliament Square, including Brian Haw's peace protest magically devlop a fault, or go offline "for operational reasons", during the Stop the War demonstration ?

See if you can spot any of the Metropolitan Police Public Order Unit, will be able to police this demostration properly, and determine exactly who has, and who has not, got prior written permission to demonstrate.

Will there be any of the peaceful demonstrators be arrested ?