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Picnic Warfare brings call for freedom to the Ministry of Justice in London

Peter Marshall | 12.09.2008 11:33 | SOCPA | Repression | London

A small group of demonstrators handed out leaflets and held a picnic outside the Ministry of Justice in Westminster on Thursday 11 September 2008. This was the first of a planned series of monthly protests about civil liberties. Photographs (C) 2008, Peter Marshall, all rights reserved.

At the entrance to the Ministry of Justice
At the entrance to the Ministry of Justice

Preparing to picnic
Preparing to picnic

Picnic Warfare banner and security men at Ministry of Justice
Picnic Warfare banner and security men at Ministry of Justice

No More War
No More War

People in Common started in Aug 2005: Against SOCPA, Parliament Sq
People in Common started in Aug 2005: Against SOCPA, Parliament Sq

The Westminster Tea Party in August 2005
The Westminster Tea Party in August 2005

Chain Reaction?
Chain Reaction?


The protest, organised by Mark Barrett of 'People in Common' ( http://www.peopleincommon.org) called on the government and those working for the Ministry of Justice to end the abuse of power which is increasingly curtailing our freedom.

In particular the leaflet demanded the scrapping of plans for ID cards and a database state and an end to abuses of power such as the use of anti-terror law against peaceful protesters. It called for a repeal of the sections of SOCPA that outlaw peaceful demonstration, an end to the powers that enable local councils and other bodies to snoop on individuals and for an end to the Counter Terror Bill which will greatly increase powers to collect information on peoples' lives.

The protesters called for a new approach to civil liberties and human rights that will allow democracy to flourish, encouraging rather than treating those engaged in peaceful protest as dangerous terrorists.

The first response of the security guards at the Ministry was to tell the press photographers present that they were not allowed to take photographs! After some short discussions, the protest continued on the wide pavement outside the Ministry with both security and police taking a sensibly relaxed attitude for the hour or so I was there.

‘People in Common’ began on 7 August 2005, when some of the hundred or so protesters who met in Parliament Square to defy SOCPA and risk arrest continued onto Westminster Bridge to throw tea bags into the Thames in a further illegal protest, a 'Westminster Tea Party' against the untaxed international speculation in currencies.

People in Common intend to organise further protests calling for civil liberties on the 11th of each month. October 11 will be part of an international event - look out for details on Indymedia.

Peter Marshall
- e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co.uk
- Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk

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