Hundreds say Hugs not Drugs in London
Undercurrents | 14.09.2002 23:25
Demonstration by mental health survivors demanded their human rights be protected in peaceful march.
Hundreds say Hugs not Drugs in London
Saturday Spetember 14
A three foot plastic syringe was shaken in front of Downing street, London as a petition was handed in to stop the new Mental health bill becoming law.As demonstraters dressed as doctors danced to the energetic samba band, banners were waved with 'hugs not drugs' emblazed across them.
Campaigners believe the bill to be flawed as the governments plan includes powers to detain people with dangerous personality disorders.They could be locked up indefinitely in secure mental hospitals, without the need for evidence that they committed a crime.
Despite the major Mental health charities pulling out of the demonstration due to concern that the public could misunderstand their outrage, at least 150 people took to the streets. Afterwards on the site of the old bedlam asuylum, pensioners, parents,young men and women told their stories of life in Britains' mental wards. One woman read out a list of people who have died while locked up for mental disorders.
Undercurrents is video training one survivor who was sectioned, forced fed drugs, and locked up. She is now seeking alternatives. Her story will be released in 2003.
END
An online petition can be signed here
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/629187504?ts=1032045798&sign[partnerID]=1&sign[memberID]=740941454&sign[partner_userID]=740941454
A three foot plastic syringe was shaken in front of Downing street, London as a petition was handed in to stop the new Mental health bill becoming law.As demonstraters dressed as doctors danced to the energetic samba band, banners were waved with 'hugs not drugs' emblazed across them.
Campaigners believe the bill to be flawed as the governments plan includes powers to detain people with dangerous personality disorders.They could be locked up indefinitely in secure mental hospitals, without the need for evidence that they committed a crime.
Despite the major Mental health charities pulling out of the demonstration due to concern that the public could misunderstand their outrage, at least 150 people took to the streets. Afterwards on the site of the old bedlam asuylum, pensioners, parents,young men and women told their stories of life in Britains' mental wards. One woman read out a list of people who have died while locked up for mental disorders.
Undercurrents is video training one survivor who was sectioned, forced fed drugs, and locked up. She is now seeking alternatives. Her story will be released in 2003.
END
An online petition can be signed here
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/629187504?ts=1032045798&sign[partnerID]=1&sign[memberID]=740941454&sign[partner_userID]=740941454
Undercurrents
e-mail:
underc@gn.apc.org
Homepage:
http://www.undercurrents.org
Comments
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what happened to the original demo?
15.09.2002 21:41
that this action was happening. i was told that the
mental health alliance cancelled the original demo on
14.9 due to assumed fallout from the cambrideshire murders.
this is a good reason for the original demo to occur in the
first place not cancelling it!!!Can anyone clarify what
led to the cancellation of the original demo,what events and actions are happening against the bill in the near future.
attack
psychenaut