Downing Street: First Arrest Of 'Organiser' Under New SOCA Laws Looms
Milan Rai, Justice Not Vengeance | 23.10.2005 15:46 | Anti-militarism | Repression | London | South Coast
Over a dozen people have been arrested so far for *participating* in unauthorised demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. Now the police are promising to carry out the first arrest of an *organiser* under the new SOCA laws - on Tuesday 25 October.
At 9am on Tuesday 25 October, Justice Not Vengeance plans to hold an unauthorised bell-ringing ceremony opposite Downing Street to mark 100,000 deaths in Iraq since the invasion, despite a police threat to arrest organiser Milan Rai under the new SOCA laws.
SOCA
This would be the first arrest of an *organiser* under the new legislation, which bans unauthorised demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament.
The maximum penalty for being a *participant* in an unauthorised demo is 1000 pounds sterling, while the maximum penalty for an *organiser* (according to the police) is up to 51 weeks imprisonment.
As far as we know, 17 people have been arrested as 'participants' in unauthorised demos, and all but one have been charged so far (source: Voices in the Wilderness UK).
100,000 RINGS
This protest is part of a JNV-co-sponsored international project entitled '100,000 Rings for the people of Iraq' .
So far we have rung a hand bell 250 times in the middle of Brighton. On Monday we plan to ring the bell another 250 times outside Northwood, in North London, the military base commanding British forces in Iraq.
We'll keep you posted.
SOCA
This would be the first arrest of an *organiser* under the new legislation, which bans unauthorised demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament.
The maximum penalty for being a *participant* in an unauthorised demo is 1000 pounds sterling, while the maximum penalty for an *organiser* (according to the police) is up to 51 weeks imprisonment.
As far as we know, 17 people have been arrested as 'participants' in unauthorised demos, and all but one have been charged so far (source: Voices in the Wilderness UK).
100,000 RINGS
This protest is part of a JNV-co-sponsored international project entitled '100,000 Rings for the people of Iraq' .
So far we have rung a hand bell 250 times in the middle of Brighton. On Monday we plan to ring the bell another 250 times outside Northwood, in North London, the military base commanding British forces in Iraq.
We'll keep you posted.
Milan Rai, Justice Not Vengeance
e-mail:
info [at] j-n-v [dot] org
Homepage:
http://www.j-n-v.org
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Solidarity
23.10.2005 17:40
activefist
e-mail:
activefist@hotmail.com
total solidarity
23.10.2005 22:52
we invade iraq 'to bring the freedom to protest', and yet you are not allowed to ring a bell in this country.
what better example of duplicity, repression, and utter hypocrisy could we possibly have?
rikki
Arrested
27.10.2005 10:59
The update is that I was arrested as an organiser on Tuesday. Maya Evans of JNV was arrested as a participant.
Maya was charged, I was bailed to reappear at Charing Cross station on 10 November to find out if the Crown Prosecution Service will authorise prosecution. I think this is just a formality.
Maya is in court on Tuesday, we are both in touch with the defendants' group and Maya is represented by a lawyer at Bindmans in London who is handling a lot of these cases.
Thanks for everyone's support, and especially Rikki for turning up and making a short film.
Cheers
Mil
Milan Rai
e-mail:
milanrai@btinternet.com
Homepage:
http://www.j-n-v.org
solid-arity
30.10.2005 22:13
Well done, it is so good that the memorial bell ringing of 1000,000 Iraqis was held. You were right not to ask.
Planning goes ahead for a similiar non-protest memorial resistance event in the Southampton area.
This event (London) will send out many good deep roots, like the roots of the fig (when searching for water) capable of overturning structures and uncovering what lies below the surface.
I for one felt truly inspired and I believe that many others will continue to pick up the baton of proactive NONVIOLENT resistance to all war and the ongoing occupation of Iraq.
Lets 'fig'ure on remembering the people of Fallujah.
It really is time that the bloodshed comes to an end all round.
Take care and lets all keep up the community,
SHaLoM, deepest respect and love,
Les
(Vine and Fig Planter Community)
Les (Vine and Fig Planter)
well done!
13.11.2005 16:14
Sam