Soldiers solidarity

Verrall | 20.05.2010 21:33 | Terror War

Anti-war protesters scale the roof of St Margaret's Church, near the Houses of Parliament, to make their point about British troop presence in Afghanistan.

Protesters against British Troops continuing to be deployed in Afghanistan, took their message to a new height near the Democracy Village at London's Parliament Square today.

Three climbers scaled the walls and rooftop of St. Margaret's Church opposite the Village and the Houses of Parliament, where they unfurled a banner and sounded a horn.

Theirs is the third such protest since the village began to take root after the results of the UK's recent general election.

Protesters come from a variety of groups including peace activisits, anti-war protesters, guerilla gardeners and anti-capitalist groups. The community has seen its members come and go over the past week but one who had returned after a five day break said there was better communication between the various campers than when she'd left.

Brian Haw, a protester who started living at the edge of Parliament Square in 2001, remains there in protest at the Iraq government although he doesn't have much to do with his new neighbours.

"He'll talk to you when we've spoken to him. But he keeps his distance. And in respect of what he has done, we keep ours."

Verrall
e-mail: lizzydrippin@hotmail.com

Additions

Corrections

21.05.2010 08:52

A few points in this report need correcting:

"Anti-war protesters scale the roof of St Margaret's Church, near the Houses of Parliament, to make their point about British troop presence in Afghanistan."

"Three climbers scaled the walls and rooftop of St. Margaret's Church opposite the Village and the Houses of Parliament, where they unfurled a banner and sounded a horn."

Incorrect. They climbed Westminster Abbey, not St Margaret's Church. The banner read: "SOLDIERS HOME, PLEASE".

"Theirs is the third such protest since the village began to take root after the results of the UK's recent general election."

Incorrect. There have been at least NINE banner actions in recent weeks - College Green (at least twice), Downing Street (at least twice), old War Office, Cabinet Office, St Margaret's Church, Treasury and Westminster Abbey. Also, the village was set up on 1 May, i.e. five days BEFORE the general election.

"Brian Haw... remains there in protest at the Iraq government"

Incorrect. Brian's protest, which began 9 years ago next month, was initially against the sanctions against the Iraqi people, but later expanded to encompass the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and, in particular, the use of depleted uranium munitions in those conflicts.

A concerned citizen

Pics from the ground

21.05.2010 20:37

Photos of the action taken at ground level. These may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial use, if credited to D. Viesnik. For high res versions, please e-mail.

See also this short video clip: