Rage against Sharon brings new life to Parliament Square
Rebel W | 21.05.2004 23:24 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
After Brian Hawe's arrest, the square picks up again, this time with help from members of Palestine Solidarity Campaign and International Solidarity Movement. Numbers have varied from night to night, but Friday's was the lowest, with around 20 taking part.
Numbers have varied from night to night, but Friday's was the lowest, with around 15 taking part. Numbers were running in the high twenties earlier in the week, making a big visual impact, and gaining support from drivers and bus passengers alike. Brian himself has been chatting with the visitors, which must be a relief seeing as only last week was he arrested and the police trashed the camp he has been running for nearly 3 years. Posters calling for sanctions and messages of rebuke to Blair (mostly scrawled on what appeared to be empty Pizza take away boxes!) were held up in the hope that it would catch the attention of the many drivers who pass through the area. Two different postal vans slowed to wave and sound horns, and one driver leaned from his window shouting "Arab's will never give an inch more land..." (the rest was incomprensible). Overall, there was only a tiny amount of resistance, mostly from a car with a Milwall FC flag (the blue and white flag causing confusion amongst the protesters).
Earlier in the day, an activist was stopped and searched under the anti-terrorist laws brought in by Blunket after 9-11. This was due to the activists misunderstanding of details put out by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, calling for a picket outside the Israeli embassy. "The police were very polite, and the whole affair seemed surreal. While i might not have had to do everything they asked I took a line of least resistance, and they were satisfied not to find any bomb making material or firearms". Protesters aiming to attend the Israeli embassy should note that the street outside the embassy is in fact royal property, and protests are best kept to Kensington High St.
Tomorrow, activists from across the region will assemble by Embankment Tube at 11am for an emergency demonstration called by stop the war. Two Italians who accidently bumped into tonights parliament sq picket indicated that they would attend. Hopefully this will see Italian chants alongside English chants as the march makes its way to Trafalga Sq. At 2:30pm PSC will be assembling on Whitehall to protest again about the situation in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, an activist was stopped and searched under the anti-terrorist laws brought in by Blunket after 9-11. This was due to the activists misunderstanding of details put out by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, calling for a picket outside the Israeli embassy. "The police were very polite, and the whole affair seemed surreal. While i might not have had to do everything they asked I took a line of least resistance, and they were satisfied not to find any bomb making material or firearms". Protesters aiming to attend the Israeli embassy should note that the street outside the embassy is in fact royal property, and protests are best kept to Kensington High St.
Tomorrow, activists from across the region will assemble by Embankment Tube at 11am for an emergency demonstration called by stop the war. Two Italians who accidently bumped into tonights parliament sq picket indicated that they would attend. Hopefully this will see Italian chants alongside English chants as the march makes its way to Trafalga Sq. At 2:30pm PSC will be assembling on Whitehall to protest again about the situation in Gaza.
Rebel W