CAMPAIGNERS against ID cards and other aspects of increasing state control got their point across in Worthing, Sussex, on Saturday May 6.
Despite continuous rain, a dozen activists gathered with a banner delcaring "Defend Freedom" in the town centre shopping area and addressed the public through a megaphone, also handing out several hundred leaflets.
Most important, though, was probably the many conversations they held with people passing the event. These revealed that, contrary to what some might imagine, folk out there ARE concerned about the steps we're taking towards a police state.
Many, though, are also severely underinformed about just how far the ID card scheme has now gone and how far-reaching are its measures. Ihe lesson, then, is that people share many of our fears but are in urgent need of more information.
As a footnote, two local community police felt the need to stick their noses into the event, deciding after a long conversation into their radios that the use of megaphone was illegal in the town centre. When it was pointed out that the whole protest was about people's right to freedom, including the right to protest, they countered: "You are depriving these people of the right to shop."
Most important, though, was probably the many conversations they held with people passing the event. These revealed that, contrary to what some might imagine, folk out there ARE concerned about the steps we're taking towards a police state.
Many, though, are also severely underinformed about just how far the ID card scheme has now gone and how far-reaching are its measures. Ihe lesson, then, is that people share many of our fears but are in urgent need of more information.
As a footnote, two local community police felt the need to stick their noses into the event, deciding after a long conversation into their radios that the use of megaphone was illegal in the town centre. When it was pointed out that the whole protest was about people's right to freedom, including the right to protest, they countered: "You are depriving these people of the right to shop."