UK Promoted Newswire Archive
Democracy Rally, Breaching the Fencing, London - Pictures.
10-10-2010 13:49
parliament square reoccupied this evening
09-10-2010 23:26
after this afternoon's 'democracy rally' (indy article to come), a group of about forty people decided to reoccupy parliament square. fences were dismantled and the security guards' tent was occupied and officially squatted. there were two arrests for alleged criminal damage, but the space was helf for nearly six hours before guards man-handled protestors out after the police had left.
at around 6pm this evening, activists raised the fences at parliament square and around 40 people peacefully entered the cordoned off square. boris's eight or so paid 24-hour security guards were unable to stop the re-occupation, and filmed the protestors while calling for police back-up.
at about half past six, spotting that the security guards' own large marquee tent (aptly bearing the logo 'freedomtrail'), was currently empty, a large group of activists ran to it and occupied the 'unoccupied existing dwelling', putting up a sign that they had seized and lawfully occupied it under section 6 of the criminal law act.
after some negotiation with inspector julien morriss, the occupiers allowed the security guards to enter and remove their belongings to a nearby park bench. the police clearly didn't want to get involved other than to prevent a breach of the peace, and after some legal discussion, suggested to the security guards that while activists sat on the ballast bags acting as tent pegs, any attempt to dismantle the tent (the guards' next plan) might lead to such a breach and was ill-advised.
so, it looked like a court order would be necessary to evict the new residents in the parliament square tent.
meanwhile, some pixies armed with appropriate spanners, started work on the fencing, and soon the south-east corner of the square was open to passers-by and the public once more.
guards pointed out two of the pixies to police, claiming that there was criminal damage, so officers stepped forward to attempt arrest. at that point a group huddle started, and although one pixie was handcuffed, both remained inside this new illegal cuddle.
there were not enough police to thwart the loving bundle, and so there was a good-humoured but resolute impasse, as both sides failed to give ground over more than an hour. police clearly didn't have the man-power to complete the arrests, and the protestors weren't prepared to give up their comrades over such a flimsy arrest. while security guards showed slightly bent clamps to the police as evidence of the 'criminal damage', it was clear that even the police were questioning the strange stand-off they'd got themselves into.
however, eventually a dozen burly cops turned up, one of them reading out a warning (not terribly eloquently - he seemed a little over-excited), and then they waded in and snatched the two arrestees, who finally stopped holding hands with their arresting officers. some people in the cuddle were briefly arrested for obstruction and then dearrested.
most of the police then disappeared off into the night again, possibly having something just slightly more useful to do.
activists got in more equipment, food, and provisions to settle for the night.
but then the police made a complete tactical withdrawal, no longer sticking around to 'prevent a breach of the peace', and the security guards began dismantling their own tent.
with activists sitting in the corners of the tent, and on the ballast bags outside, the only solution for the guards was to break some of the tent poles and damage the tent.
as the tent is probably not the property of the guards themselves, there is a strong case for criminal damage charges against them rather than any activists who might have slightly bent a clamp, but somehow i don't suppose this will come to court!
security guards then man-handled people out one by one, and the square was finally reclaimed by boris's army after five and a half hours at 11.30.
activists have of course vowed to be back - watch this space.
Sheffield Free School: How can we bring about radical change in our society?
09-10-2010 23:09
Sheffield Free School: What is a social centre?
09-10-2010 22:50
This Week in Palestine Week 40 2010
08-10-2010 18:41
Welcome to this Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, for October 2nd, to 8th, 2010
Afghanistan 9 years, Reading Names of the Dead, London - Pictures
08-10-2010 12:52
5 years on - naming the dead outside downing st
08-10-2010 00:25
on 25th october 2005, maya evans and milan rai stood opposite downing street, rang a bell, and read from a list of names of civilian and military casualties of the iraq wars. because of the new (at the time) SOCPA law, they were both arrested. the case eventually became the first one to go to court under the new act, and made front page news. today, the law still stands. it is used sporadically and unevenly by police, and in this case, they allowed the protestors to mark the ninth anniversary of the invasion of afghanistan. the protest was timely because today too, chiefs of staff were visiting the MOD and the cabinet office to fight for their budgets, and so had to pass the protest and hear the names of some of the people they had murdered while carrying out this pointless war.
at 9am this morning, peace activist maya evans began ringing a bell opposite downing street, while others used a megaphone to read names of dead, both british soldiers and afghan civilians, killed in the nine years of war in afghansitan. maya was supported by members of 'justice not vengeance', the 'catholic worker', a buddhist sect, and other activists.
back in 2005, i filmed a similar protest being cut short by the arrest of maya and her fellow activist, milan rai. they became the first people to receive criminal records under the then new SOCPA act.
nowadays, the police use the act unpredictably, and today was no exception. the protestors were soon threatened with arrest if they didn't move into the special 'free speech zone', a pen of metal fences hidden away at the back of the pavement opposite downing street. the protestors refused, despite being berated by seriously armed police at one point.
the police also warned that the use of the megaphone was illegal under SOCPA, and maya received a warning that if she didn't move in twenty minutes she would be arrested.
however, when the deadline came, police told her that if she gave her name and address, they would leave the group alone. they did not make clear this was for the purpose of a summons, so if there is any further action against maya it may well turn out to be unlawful.
the rest of the day passed uneventfully, and apart from a short break for refreshments, the protestors kept up a steady stream of names for eight hours - a depressing roll-call of wasted lives and murdered civilians.
today, by chance, all the military chiefs of staff were in town, with meetings at the ministry of defence and the cabinet office. they passed the protest in all their military regalia, hearing the names of just a few of the civilians killed by their sordid campaigns in afghanistan. while they argued against budget cuts in the cabinet office, eventually doing a deal over aircraft carriers, the list of names resounded on and on across the road.
today's mainstream news hints at power-sharing deals with the taliban, making the last nine years a pointless waste of lives, time, and resources.
it's time the killing stopped.
justice not vengeance website
Palestine Today 10 07 2010
07-10-2010 17:03
Birmingham Tory Party Conference demo - in photos (continued)
07-10-2010 15:44
Birmingham Tory Party Conference demo - in photos
07-10-2010 15:34
Video and photo report from the Tory Party Conference protest
06-10-2010 23:44
On Sunday 3rd October, around 6000 people gathered to protest against the cuts planned by the Tory government at their party conference in Birmingham. The entire area around the ICC (International Convention Centre) became an exclusion zone with 15ft high metal barriers erected. West Midlands police had originally agreed that the march organised by the Right to Work campaign could go ahead, but soon reneged on their promise. On the day the march was of a standard A to B affair: colourful banners, a variety of blocs from different unions, but it took a ramshackle route through Birmingham city centre's side streets, resembling a tour of the 'city living' upmarket apartments more than a visible and vocal protest march. It was obvious to all present that political manoeuvring had taken place to minimise the political efficacy and visibility of the march. This was not helped by the Right to Work campaign stewards 'liaising' with West Midlands police to compromise protesters who identified themselves as anarchists. Chris Banbury, an SWP member and RTW steward allegedly threatened protesters holding a banner with 'arrest' if they did not move from the front of the march.
Palestine Today 10 06 2010
06-10-2010 18:28
An Account Of The Right To Work March And Rally In Words & Pictures
06-10-2010 16:49
War recruiters disrupted in Oxford
06-10-2010 16:39
This evening, the Officer Training Corp (OTC) stall at Oxford University Freshers' Fair developed a conscience, grew legs, and walked away(!), leaving the organisation severely lacking in propaganda with which to indoctrinate young minds..Palestine Today 10 05 2010
05-10-2010 18:20
Have the EDL gone mad?
05-10-2010 16:44
In response to the Home Secretarys ban on the EDL their leadership have announced that they are going to "pull all police liaison", "remove all stewarding" and "will still march in one way or another". It seems like the moderates have thrown in the towel and the extremists are coming to the fore. It also looks like a bad tactical move for the right wing group.
The move seems to be a way of heading off frustration amongst members who are fed up of being "caged" by heavy policing and want to be out on the streets having a fight. The EDL Bradford demo turned into a farce with members attacking their own stewards because they were the only targets on offer. Their leaders want to avoid a repeat of the infighting and want to throw a sop to those who are tired of playing along to the OB's tune and want to kick off.
Having turned down the offer of a static demo they have basically made their presence in Leicester illegal. While it will certainly give the complacent Leicestershire cops a headache trying to stamp out any illegal march or demo it will also give them much wider powers to disperse the EDL when they arrive. As is being pointed out in the media, organisers and participants of illegal marches can be given prison sentences and heavy fines. Trying to do a flash march in this situation, with 1400 police in town, looks like a big financial risk.
It also makes things a lot less safe for EDL turning up in dribs and drabs rather than as a big mob. They were already sounding cautious about the Leicester demo on their forum because they know they will face a large and angry opposition from local people. Now, rather than having safety in numbers on a big demo, it looks like they will be drifting around in small groups leaving many members vulnerable.
There is a lot of bravado and unlikely plans being hatched on the forum. People are throwing around ideas about flash mobs and last minute demos in other towns. The fact of the matter is that after Bradford the EDL need a big demo to show they've still got the numbers and support. A few hundred members turning up in Market Harborough looks like a big flop and they know it. There's also the question of whether after all the arrests of members, including the leadership, and infiltration by police and opposition groups, they have a secure communications network or not. Given how quick some of them are to reveal all their plans on the internet it seems unlikely that they are all in the loop. To securely organise a big flash mob they wouldn't be able to get the numbers.
It seems like the end of the "peaceful, law-abiding" front of the EDL and a sure way of alienating the more moderate members in their midst. We'll have to wait and see.
Palestine Today 10 04 2010
04-10-2010 18:11
Continuing Conflicts that Create Refugees, September 2010
04-10-2010 10:45
October 2010 WatchlistConflict Risk Alerts - None
Conflict Resolution Opportunities - None
International Crisis Group
http://www.crisisgroup.org/
Human Rights of Migrants without papers (irregular migrants)
04-10-2010 08:14
Statement of the Global Migration Group on the Human Rights of Migrants in Irregular SituationPRESS RELEASE: Anti-nuclear campaigners blockade EDF's Hinkley Point nuclear power plant
04-10-2010 07:17
Since 7am this morning, anti-nuclear campaigners from different anti-nuclear groups which are part of the Stop Nuclear Power Network [1] are blockading the access road to EDF's Hinkley Point nuclear power station in protest against EDF's plans for nuclear new build and what they are calling a flawed consultation.