After the Home Office won its appeal on 8 May, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) does now apply to Brian. Although Brian is still in Parliament Square, the police now have his protest in their control along with everyone elses!

PEOPLE WILL GATHER ON PARLIAMENT SQUARE ON SUNDAY 14 MAY AT 12 NOON

TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH BRIAN AND TO CELEBRATE HIS ACHIEVEMENT OF SPEAKING OUT 24/7 FOR NEARLY 5 YEARS.

Lets all come together to show just how much support he has - that he is not alone!

Brian masks will be provided. You could bring: placards and banners in support of Brian, food and drink, festive activities....

RISK OF ARREST
There will be some risk of arrest at this gathering if the police decide that a demonstration is taking place. If they decide to call it something else or there are enough media and enough people down there then they may not arrest, but everyone should be forewarned. See here for details regarding the legal situation and what do to if you are arrested.
 http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/staying.htm

BACKGROUND ON BRIAN AND THE LAW BANNING UNAUTHORISED PROTEST NEAR PARLIAMENT
Brian Haw started his continuous vigil opposite Parliament in June 2001 to protest against the economic sanctions that were having such a disastrous effect of people's lives in Iraq. He has continued to protest against invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. His display shows the injustice and horrors that have been suffered as a result of our government's foreign policy. Brian's message has gone out globally and people visit him from all over the world. Many have left messages of peace that now form part of his display.

Just before the law (which was initiated in order to silence Brian's protest) came into force in August 05, the High Court made a judgement that was highly embarrassing for the Government - that Section 132 of SOCPA which bans unauthorised protest in a large area around Parliament could not be applied retrospectively and therefore did not apply to Brian. This has now been overturned at the Court of Appeal ruling on 8 May 06.

Brian will be seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords and in the meantime will be continuing his protest under SOCPA terms. The law states that authorisation for the demonstration has to be given but that a whole range of conditions may be imposed by the police. It is these conditions that could deal the final blow for Brian's protest.

Amongst other conditions, the police are suggesting that Brian's protest be limited to 3 metres in any dimension - a massive reduction which would strip away most of the display. If Brian fails to compile with this he will be arrested.

Also SOCPA allows any senior police officer at the site to change the conditions with immediate effect. So they could remove him altogether at some later point with almost no notice.

For more information on Brian and how to support him, particularly in the event of his eviction, see  http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/