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
Press Release:12Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea PartyProtest
The Founding ofthePeople’s Commons London, August 2006
Right Honourable LadiesandGentlemen
Youarecordially invited to join us for our weekly People’s CommonsMeeting/TeaParty/Picnic-Protest on the Green at Parliament Square, Westminster.We meetevery Sunday at 12 Noon on the Green in front of The HouseofCommons!
Background
We arenowbuilding on the success of our previous meetings, initially held in responsetoNew Labour’s attempt to criminalise the Right to Protest, without notice,inthe Westminster/Parliament Square area, but which appears to be morphing intosomething more than just protest. Below find information on the legislationthathas drawn us together to meet regularly and on the event itself.
Information onLegislation/Police Action
Under the newlegislation, notably s132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April2005)anyone wishing to demonstrate [howeverpeacefully and/or just]in the "designated area" around Parliament - whichincludes the Square, extends as far as the London Eye and includes all ofWhitehall and a large part ofWestminster - must apply to the MetropolitanPolice Commissioner at least 6days in advance or, if not "reasonablypracticable", 24 hours in advance.Permission must be granted but theCommissioner can impose draconian conditionson the protest including: when andwhere it can take place; how long it canlast; how many people can attend; howmuch noise can be made; and the numberand size of banners and placardsused.
In the weekssince the Act came into force (July 1st), the police have made anumber of arrests. One of the permanent Parliament Square anti-warprotestors(there is another, a Russian chap, who the police have inexplicablyleft alone)Brian Haw, to whom the Act was originally aimed, has been foundexempt from its terms. This means that under the current law, Brian is the onlyperson in the whole world who is allowed to demonstrate peacefully withoutasking permissionin front of the Houses of Parliament. In order to make theunworkability,absurdity and abuse of power inherent in this law and also as ameans to show by what means a better world might be possible, we have decidedto hold our party-protest Peoples Commons Meeting in Parliament Square everyweek (and possibly more often and/or permanently) until the law – and thesystemof neo-liberal government under which we and others around the world areforced to live - is changed.
So far, a fewpeople (in total, 11) have been arrested since the Act came into force. LastSunday, however, the police left us alone to our own devices. Thatnotwithstanding we are – in the light of the ongoing possibility of arrestfortaking part in a picnic - taking special care to ensure that all feelwelcome tojoin us and are not unduly put off by the risk of arrest – menwomen childrenpolice officers and even MPs! Therefore to protect people wehave set up a PartyLine system, whereby those who are definitely‘protestors’ (and aretherefore willing to get arrested) are on one side of the line, and those whoare ‘supporters’, exercising their right to picnicand freely associate in apublic place in support of a better world order, are on the other. Regardless,the police appear understandably reluctant to arrest more individuals than theyhave to, probably because they know as well as we dothat the law in this caseis daft, absurd, an undemocratic abuse of power etcetc.
Information onEvent
What We Are Trying To Do: we aredeterminedto challenge the government in the context of the criminalisation ofthe Right to Protest and Freely Associate under The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act and in respect of many of theirother policies. But also we are determined to do so non-violently, so as toembody,as Mahatma Gandhi once said we must, the change we want to see in theworld. Ina nutshell, this – the safeguarding of our liberties and thegrassroots embodiment of a better world for all - is the whole point of theexercise. So,come help us fight the good fight!
What to bring: please bring whatever you candream up in order to help make the party a great success. Particularly usefulare food, drink, music, banner-making materials, games (cricket withspongeball, frisbee, croquet etc) bubbles, flowers and ideas for the future. Wewant to embody a deeper form of democracy than that peddled by the mainstreampolitical parties, because we believe a better world is both possible andnecessary, so please come along and help us show the world what democracy isreally about.
What to wear: (depending on weatherconditions) it’s a party, so let’s get those glad rags out! Please put onyour Sunday best, or better still (our continuous theme is great protestorsthrough the ages) dress as your favourite protestor; perhaps a Suffragette(MaryPoppins!?) Or perhaps Boadicca, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara. Jesus Christ?Thechoice, of course, is yours. And, in the spirit of a trulyrepresentative/participatory process, all protestors are very welcome,especially 60sRevolutionaries! (easy if you have nothing else to wear, justcome as a hippy– we just love flairs). Or alternatively, just come as themost powerful superhero of all, yourself! We want to continue with our lovepeace and happiness vibe, every week, but without losing thechallenge-the-status- quo attitude. Children and Jedis (with or without lightsabres) are of course particularly welcome! J
Regular Featuresofthe Day
Aside fromthepicnic, party/games playing vibe, three key features have already become aregular part of the Sunday event. Timings vary, and depend on weather andpolice attitude, except for the prayer which is at 4 pm.
1) The People’s Commons Meeting (towardsaDIY, non-hierarchical participatory form of democracy) in which all those whowish to take part are invited to sit together for a period of time andtaketurns in speaking their mind on whatever subject they feel moved to. Oneperson facilitates and another takes Minutes, and these roles rotate eachweek.
2) Free The Tea in which a groupofrevolutionaries walk down to the Thames and half way across the river throwteabags (PG Tips, pyramid shaped) into the river in support of a taxoninternational currency trade (Currency Transaction Tax or CTT) in order toringfence billions of pounds each year for international development. See earlyDayMotion 500 currently before the House of Commons. No CorporateRepresentationwithout International Taxation! www.tobintax.org.uk
3) Prayer Vigil for Justice and Peaceasilent/contemplative prayer asking for help in the battle for a betterworld,for individuals of all faiths and/or none. Takes place at 4pm.
So pleasecomealong and join us for more creative, beautiful, peaceful acts of defiance,and over time we will see what is possible. For more details, and a copy oflast week's Minutes, please see www1.atwiki.com/picnic (easily editable webpage in which everyone is invited to contribute ideas regarding theorganisation and direction of the event), www.parliamentprotest.org.uk (a more generalsitethat covers all aspects of the right to protest movement), www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/right-to-protest.shtml(Libertywebsite’s section on Right To Protest etc)
In the comingweeks we have plans for a banner making workshop (this Sunday,28th),the formulation of policy (this and every following Sunday),and possibly apre-party walk along the Thames to London from Runnymede, wherethe Magna Cartawas signed in 1215 (discussion and date for this, TBA) and of course variousother imaginative shenanigans.
Hope to see you there! 12 Noon, onthe Green, Parliament Square, Westminster, every Sunday.
Justbehind Sir Brian Haw’s banners.
Be there, because, it'syour Square!
In Universal Solidarity,
Spark
Personal Site : www.globalnation.org.uk