About 60 people in all probably, half of them are media, half of those independent media and campaign groups media.
At about 12.30, the police turned up and the officer in charge said he thought this was an illegal demonstration and read out the offensive law (which I cant remember what exactly it is called) and told people that if they had not dispersed by 1.15 then they would all be arrested.
None of the people there are demonstrating! they told the cop that this was a social gathering and had little to do with a demonstration but he would have none of it.
Its now 1.05 we shall see what happens.
Background :-
The government has introduced an exclusion order for the area around Parliament this exclusion zone prohibits demonstrations, even one-person demonstrations, unless the police expressly permit them. Failure to comply can lead to arrest. The zone covers a very wide area around Parliament as far as the London Eye, Charing Cross embankment and up to (although not including) Trafalgar Square. This zone is ostensibly to deal with one protest, Brians the exclusion order’s range will prohibit a large number of other protests outside parliament, Downing St and government buildings.
http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_Sheehan
Comments
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The law is an ass
11.12.2005 17:43
There was a good piece on the front of the Independent on Saturday yesterday regarding Brian Haw and other peace demonstrators who have been arrested and charged for 'breaches of the peace' which were in fact protests against the greatest breach of the peace of all - war.
http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/articles.htm
"Unnecessary laws weaken the necessary laws" - Montesquieu
Matthew Edwards
e-mail: matthewedwards999@yahoo.co.uk
Laugh In Their Faces
12.12.2005 05:52
Through Inaction, They Have Lost Their Legitimacy