http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/422754.html). With two megaphones and leaflets, the handful of protesters from No Borders, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, Global Women's Strike and All African Women's Group managed to draw some attention from neighbours, passers-by and, of course, cops.
- Beside reading out the leaflet and the usual chants ('No borders, no nations, stop deportations'; 'Asylum rights are human rights'...), protesters shout repeatedly: 'Italian government, racist government, Italian government, fascist government', which sounds much nicer in Italian.
- The manager of the next-door building, which's empty and being decorated, objects to hanging banners on his wall. Having been ignored, he crosses the street, takes out a small digital camera (or one of those expensive mobile phones) and takes some pictures of the protesters.
- Police arrive after about an hour and try to end the protest, claiming at first it doesn't have permission from the Westminister Council, and then that it might distress neighbours.
- Two cops are arguing whether it's Section 4, 12, or 14 of the Public Order Act that the protest is breaching. No, Section 2. No, no, 4...
- Another cop arrives and asks a protester to give him a leaflet. When this refuses, the cop applies Section 44 of the Terrorism Act and wants to search him and take his details. Why? Apparently because he's leafleting outside a 'prominent government building'. The situation is de-escalated by another protester and the cop gets his leaflet.
- One protester comments on the cops' outnumbering the protesters: If your protest is small, don't worry, the police will make sure it is visible.
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