The appeal by Democracy Village after last week's High Court ruling will be heard at 10.30am this Friday (9th July) at the appeals court. In the meantime the camp is still going on strong, having started 'Operation Rolling Thunder', more – an ongoing programme of non-violent direct action. The village is calling out for people to come down and help on multiple fronts: to come and do actions, to help with the site, keep it tidy and maintain the gardens. There is a particular call-out for those with direct action skills and experience.
Protesters at the Democracy Village occupation in Parliament Square – which began at on May Day this year, had a High Court ruling against them last Tuesday (29th) to vacate by 4pm last Friday (2nd July) (see SchNEWS 729). However minutes before this, solicitors for the village managed to lodge an appeal, giving a temporary reprieve – until this Friday.
They're appealing on grounds that the ownership of the land is far from clear-cut - and the judge had bent the law to give Boris Johnson and the GLA the right to evict. (see SchNEWS 728)
After the appeal was lodged last Friday, the village – surrounded by press – took the protest off the square and moved towards parliament. Two managed to climb onto the lawns at the front of the Houses of Common, and stayed for 20 minutes before being nicked. Meanwhile a group of about 40 – and these numbers were more than doubled by participating tourists, as well as press, spilled out onto the road and blocked the road outside the Commons for up to an hour. Pics: 1 2 Video: 1
The protesters then left and moved up towards Downing St. Whitehall was blocked for 15 minutes leading to eleven arrests for obstruction.
Taken to court the following day (Saturday), four Democracy Village activists were jailed at Westminster Magistrates Court because they refused to pay the £40 fines following the actions. One of them, Simon, was also done for contempt of court after waving a peace banner in court and was handed a 20-day sentence. The other three got 7-day sentences. Other arrestees received cautions and fines. For more see: 1 2 Prisoner support: 1 2
If the appeal is lost, it could be a matter of days for Democracy Village before bailiffs come in. In the meantime all are urged to come to help and support the village. However if it is lost, the campers are saying that Democracy Village will turn into Democracy City , with anti-war actions and civil disobedience across the capital as Operation Rolling Thunder rolls on.
* See democracyvillage.blogspot.com and democracyvillage.org or Facebook site. Site mobile phones 07981877462, 07722444146
* Upcoming event: Peaceniks Piknik on Wednesday 14th July at 7pm
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Press release from Democracy Village, Parliament Square
08.07.2010 18:06
Appeals have been lodged in the case of Rebecca Hall vs the Mayor of London, and a number of other appellants from the Democracy Village, against the order for repossession granted by Justice Williams on June 29, 2010. The High Court ruled that bye-laws and flower beds mattered more than soldiers’ and civilians’ lives. This judgement threatens peaceful protest on public access land anywhere in the country. Only those with money to pay public liability insurance will be able to apply for permission to demonstrate. Four people from Democracy Village have already been imprisoned for total 41 days for peaceful protest. If the Appeal Court upholds the possession and injunction orders, more people may go to prison simply for assembling on Parliament Square.
The appeals are due to be heard on Friday July 9 at the Royal Courts of Justice. Our case is that the Mayor has no paper title to the land, and therefore cannot lawfully possess it. Further, any eviction order would breach our human rights under articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Should the appeal fail, we will be calling concerned citizens to come to Parliament Square on Friday evening to prepare a campaign of mass civil disobedience, known as Operation Rolling Thunder.
Email:- democracyvillage [at] gmail.com or ring the village mobile 07981 877462, Mike 07799 887008, Camilla 07962 889459 or Phoenix 07769 791387.
WEBLINKS:
Follow us on Democracy Village Facebook Group
Note
Democracy Village has been occupying Parliament Square since May 1, 2010. The High Court ordered us to leave and served injunctions on us on Friday July 2. That same afternoon we successfully lodged an appeal and our eviction was stayed for at least a week. What happens if we lose the appeal? ‘Democracy Village’ then goes up a level. We become ‘Democracy City’ – a rolling programme of occupations, banner-drops and non-violent direct actions across London. As we said from the very start: we’re not going anywhere until the soldiers come home from Afghanistan.
Concerned citizen
Does Democracy Village still support the English Defence League?
11.07.2010 17:32
anon
Get on it come support
13.07.2010 13:20
It is very easy to sit on sidelines and comment from cyberspace.
This is an open perimeter protest camp that has people come from all walks of life and areas of our society as well as international tourists.Never doubt we have raised a massive amount of awareness in the last 10 weeks of full on direct action.Much more help needed from activist and peace groups come on down and give support.
The EDL incident referred to was some weeks ago when there was a march past of only about 100-150 EDL.After the main march a small group of younger EDL and one older guy went around the square chanting some agro chants.The activists at the village did not want to provoke any incidents as we are very open and vulnerable to attack at any time.
One younger village member went and threw compost over some of them which led to a 1-2 hour stand off and aggressive close to kick off situation.It was the older 50-60 EDL members just down the road at the pub that were threatening to come that was of concern to all at the peace camp.
After some hours the situation was calmed from what could have been a full on old style football ruck bloodbath and the continued threat of attacks on the peace camp was averted.
The older guy said we had changed some of his attitudes.and brought some of the heavy mob down later saying he had learnt a lot from us.
LETS BE CLEAR most of the residents at THE DEMOCRACY VILLAGE DO not in any way support EDL.But when u are in a frontline situation and some of us have been on years of protest camps and also seen some of the bad old days of football violence ,you must do what u can to ensure the camps safety and security of the brave men and women who choose to be there to support the cause of Peace.
In short, come on activist community and peace groups this is the best opportunity the peace movement has had for change and to affect a swifter end to the war.It is much easier to critisize than to organise.Get out of cyberspace and come on down and support.Network operation rolling thunder ,or help with the democracy city actions if/when we evicted.
This wed 7pm 14th July Peaceniks picnic bring music and support.
Take action and network for a peacefull future.
on it activist
e-mail:
democracyvillage@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://democracyvillage.org
Lets Do More Actions Like This
16.07.2010 10:58
change can only happen if we are all prepared to do our bit.
Those who cannot come on down to the village, (many cant for various reasons) do whatever else you can to support it and other such actions.
The stop the war organisation cant do it because of insurance and other reasones but that shouldnt stop individuals within STW from joining in.
Organisations such as STW cant do this type of action so its down you, me, us.
Sept 11th 2001 was an excuse to wage wars.Even Thomas Kean one of the 911 commissioners, and John Farmer, legal council for the commission said that at some level of the US govt it was decided not to tell the commission and the public the truth! So 9yrs on and we still dont have a proper investigation as to how and why those attacks happened. On that Anniversary lets do something to bring thislink with 911 and the present indefinte wars along with our loss of civil liberties, to the attention of the masses.
malatesta's sister
please can you remove my email address
16.07.2010 12:23
annamaria
Eviction tonight!
19.07.2010 20:50
Anon
Good kicking
21.07.2010 21:14
SPG
big up democracy village
27.07.2010 00:26
bellow