Have you seen this criminal?
Because he started his protest before the time on his permit. Makes it sound as if I live in a tin-pot dictator state, doesn't it? Friday night I joined in the first Mass Lone Demonstration in Parliament Square. Under a new law, anyone who protests within a kilometer of the houses of Parliament, without a permit, can be arrested - and people have been. It would appear that the Police also deemed a cake with "Peace" on it a political statement and insisted it be removed. So, to highlight its absurdity and the erosion of our civil liberties, over a hundred people turned up at a police station and applied for individual permits to demonstrate between 6 and 7 last night.
The comedian Mark Thomas started this campaign against SOCPA legislation, I saw it picked up by Rachel, and there are many others who also feel strongly about this.
I have a series of pictures from the event here, but there are quite a lot. A small selection of the more interesting ones are on My Other Stuff
posted by Ham at 02:09 --
Comments here: 8
Comments on "Have you seen this criminal?"
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Sally said ... (06:26) :
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Ham said ... (09:34) :
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Anonymous said ... (11:44) :
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Irredento Urbanita said ... (15:26) :
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Anonymous said ... (01:04) :
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Michael Salone said ... (15:56) :
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Nathalie H.D. said ... (06:06) :
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Meg said ... (07:01) :
post a commentFantastic action Ham. That's the sort of mass action thjat is needed to poijnt out the absurdity of such nonsense. I suppose they got sick of the anti-abortionists and bobble-hat people opposite the Houses of Parliament?? Couldn't be anything as prosaic as just wanting to stifle freedom of speech? Could it. Could it what!
But don't forgrt, Ham - we're at WAR to protect liberty, freedom and, and, and, the right to .... ummm ....not give in to terrorism?
Actually, it was enacted in a cack-handed attempt to get rid of Brian Haw. In a twist worthy of the finest farce, he is now the ONLY person who is legally able to protest and to use a megaphone in Parliament Square, because his protest predated the law. If it wasn't frightening it would be hillarious to hear them squealling "ooooo but we MEANT to include him".
Oh bravo, bravo, and good for you, Ham! It's so encouraging to see people like you with such moral courage.
People always have something to say, the problem is that they don't do it. What a small detail.
Greetings from Perú
Great photo Ham! You know something is up when the government suddenly implements these overly exaggerated policies! Hope everything will be at peace again :)
Excellent post Ham. And you in the fur was a real great photo! Who did you get to take it? Oh? It wasn't you? Loved the "other stuff".
Hi Ham, it's nice to think that photo blogging is also a chance to express ideas, and express them strongly! We're with you!
Nathalie
I realise it was a serious protest to a bad law, but some of the placards represented the very best of British wit. I hope people had fun, as well as acting for a good cause.