On Saturday 1st March 2008 in Trafalgar Square, London there was a large police presence and a small turnout for the 2nd Day of Action.
Bystanders
Police photographer
Photographer leaving
The first National Day of Action for Freedom of Assembly in London in January was a huge success despite several arrests, mainly because the police were caught napping, but this was unlikely to happen for a second time. So on Saturday there was a large police presence and a correspondingly low turnout. A police photographer of the so-called Forward Intelligence Team made quite sure that every protester's face was captured on camera and the cops made it quite plain that they were not going to allow the protest to go ahead, thus confirming that there is no freedom of assembly in parts of UK. This warning took place outside the forbidden zone around Parliament, which is named SOCPA and is supposed to deal with serous crime but has been adapted to also ban unconditional political protest, i.e., freedom of expression.
There followed a game of cat and mouse with the police. Protesters split into small groups and reformed in pubs then splitting up again and so on. Something which tends to moderate police intimidation is the possibility of alarming the bountiful tourists and themselves being photographed and videoed, so instead of entering the pubs, which they have done in the past, they waited outside.
After spotting one or two previously photographed faces a host of cops dutifully arrived in Parliament Square but were disappointed. It makes you wonder how much this suppression of a human right costs the taxpayer and how much better those police would be employed targeting actual criminals instead of peaceful protesters.
Video of 1st Day of Action
http://www.archive.org/details/socpa12-1-08
Video of 2nd Day of Action
http://www.archive.org/details/socpa1-3-08
More:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389354.html
There followed a game of cat and mouse with the police. Protesters split into small groups and reformed in pubs then splitting up again and so on. Something which tends to moderate police intimidation is the possibility of alarming the bountiful tourists and themselves being photographed and videoed, so instead of entering the pubs, which they have done in the past, they waited outside.
After spotting one or two previously photographed faces a host of cops dutifully arrived in Parliament Square but were disappointed. It makes you wonder how much this suppression of a human right costs the taxpayer and how much better those police would be employed targeting actual criminals instead of peaceful protesters.
Video of 1st Day of Action
http://www.archive.org/details/socpa12-1-08 Video of 2nd Day of Action
http://www.archive.org/details/socpa1-3-08 More:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389354.html 
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
well done
02.03.2008 18:35
loobie loo
15 pigs 1 camera cop
18.06.2008 03:25
there were about 100 police officers waiting for us
when we decided not go ahead there ensued a game of cat and mouse with us and the pigs
me and another protester were collard outside downing street
at first there were two of them then a van and a car pulled up then all hell kicked off he came over and said remove the balaclava are be arrested under section 44 anti terrorisms law
he then the sergeant called a fit cop and he showed his fat ugly face
th took about 30 pictures of me and the police were right nosy little bastards wanted to know where i was going how long id be ect ect
i was searched by two wankers one wearing another coppers lapels
(HE TOLD ME THAT )
WHEN IN THE END THERE WAS 13 - 15 COPPERS AT THE PLACE TO SEARCH ONE PERSON
GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE TAXPAYERS MONEY
balaclava protestor