Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign vigil protesting against Sir Ian Blair, the very man to whom they have to apply for prior written permission to demonstrate

| 1 Comment

On Monday 22nd August there is due to be another vigil in memory of Jean Charles de Menezes, presumably as dignified as the vigils held in July in Parliament Square, and opposite the New Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police headquarters, both of which are within the current Designated Area The vigil / service at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathederal is outside the current Designated Area, but within the "1 kilometre in a straight line" maximum extent of the Designated Area.

Monday 22nd August's vigil will be, according to the BBC,"outside 10 Downing Street at 1800 BST (1700 GMT)", which is definately within the Designated Area.

To be fair to the politicians who brokered the undemocratic "wash up" procedure, at the end of the last Parliament, after the General Election had been called, by means of which the most controversial clauses of the Seruious Organised Crime and Police Bill were dropped (those to do with "incitement of religous hatred", which have re-surfaced as a separate Bill in this Parliament), but which allowed the other controversial clauses to do with the Designated Area, and the extension of a police constables the powers of arrest to all offences to go through "on the nod" , without proper scrutiny or debate, it is unlikely that they could have forseen the Stockwell Tube station killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, and the role played by Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

The family and supporters of Jean Charles de Menezes, are understandably calling for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to take responsibility for his police force's catalogue of blunders, which lead to the killing of an innocent man, and for the subsequent media spin, disinformation and possible attempts at a coverup.

Now, in August, in order to peacefully protest at this scandalous situation, the demonstrators have now to apply in writing beforehand, to the "Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis" i.e. to Sir Ian Blair himself, the very man that they are protesting against.

More information:

Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign
PO Box 273
London E7

07956 210332 / 07931 337890

Justice4jean@hotmail.co.uk


www.justice4jean.com

1 Comment

Press Release:12Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea PartyProtest

The Founding ofthePeople’s Commons London, August 2006

Right Honourable LadiesandGentlemen

Youarecordially invited to join us for our weekly People’s CommonsMeeting/TeaParty/Picnic-Protest on the Green at Parliament Square, Westminster.We meetevery Sunday at 12 Noon on the Green in front of The HouseofCommons!

Background

We arenowbuilding on the success of our previous meetings, initially held in responsetoNew Labour’s attempt to criminalise the Right to Protest, without notice,inthe Westminster/Parliament Square area, but which appears to be morphing intosomething more than just protest. Below find information on the legislationthathas drawn us together to meet regularly and on the event itself.

Information onLegislation/Police Action

Under the newlegislation, notably s132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April2005)anyone wishing to demonstrate [howeverpeacefully and/or just]in the "designated area" around Parliament - whichincludes the Square, extends as far as the London Eye and includes all ofWhitehall and a large part ofWestminster - must apply to the MetropolitanPolice Commissioner at least 6days in advance or, if not "reasonablypracticable", 24 hours in advance.Permission must be granted but theCommissioner can impose draconian conditionson the protest including: when andwhere it can take place; how long it canlast; how many people can attend; howmuch noise can be made; and the numberand size of banners and placardsused.

In the weekssince the Act came into force (July 1st), the police have made anumber of arrests. One of the permanent Parliament Square anti-warprotestors(there is another, a Russian chap, who the police have inexplicablyleft alone)Brian Haw, to whom the Act was originally aimed, has been foundexempt from its terms. This means that under the current law, Brian is the onlyperson in the whole world who is allowed to demonstrate peacefully withoutasking permissionin front of the Houses of Parliament. In order to make theunworkability,absurdity and abuse of power inherent in this law and also as ameans to show by what means a better world might be possible, we have decidedto hold our party-protest Peoples Commons Meeting in Parliament Square everyweek (and possibly more often and/or permanently) until the law – and thesystemof neo-liberal government under which we and others around the world areforced to live - is changed.

So far, a fewpeople (in total, 11) have been arrested since the Act came into force. LastSunday, however, the police left us alone to our own devices. Thatnotwithstanding we are – in the light of the ongoing possibility of arrestfortaking part in a picnic - taking special care to ensure that all feelwelcome tojoin us and are not unduly put off by the risk of arrest – menwomen childrenpolice officers and even MPs! Therefore to protect people wehave set up a PartyLine system, whereby those who are definitely‘protestors’ (and aretherefore willing to get arrested) are on one side of the line, and those whoare ‘supporters’, exercising their right to picnicand freely associate in apublic place in support of a better world order, are on the other. Regardless,the police appear understandably reluctant to arrest more individuals than theyhave to, probably because they know as well as we dothat the law in this caseis daft, absurd, an undemocratic abuse of power etcetc.

Information onEvent

What We Are Trying To Do: we aredeterminedto challenge the government in the context of the criminalisation ofthe Right to Protest and Freely Associate under The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act and in respect of many of theirother policies. But also we are determined to do so non-violently, so as toembody,as Mahatma Gandhi once said we must, the change we want to see in theworld. Ina nutshell, this – the safeguarding of our liberties and thegrassroots embodiment of a better world for all - is the whole point of theexercise. So,come help us fight the good fight!

What to bring: please bring whatever you candream up in order to help make the party a great success. Particularly usefulare food, drink, music, banner-making materials, games (cricket withspongeball, frisbee, croquet etc) bubbles, flowers and ideas for the future. Wewant to embody a deeper form of democracy than that peddled by the mainstreampolitical parties, because we believe a better world is both possible andnecessary, so please come along and help us show the world what democracy isreally about.

What to wear: (depending on weatherconditions) it’s a party, so let’s get those glad rags out! Please put onyour Sunday best, or better still (our continuous theme is great protestorsthrough the ages) dress as your favourite protestor; perhaps a Suffragette(MaryPoppins!?) Or perhaps Boadicca, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara. Jesus Christ?Thechoice, of course, is yours. And, in the spirit of a trulyrepresentative/participatory process, all protestors are very welcome,especially 60sRevolutionaries! (easy if you have nothing else to wear, justcome as a hippy– we just love flairs). Or alternatively, just come as themost powerful superhero of all, yourself! We want to continue with our lovepeace and happiness vibe, every week, but without losing thechallenge-the-status- quo attitude. Children and Jedis (with or without lightsabres) are of course particularly welcome! J

Regular Featuresofthe Day

Aside fromthepicnic, party/games playing vibe, three key features have already become aregular part of the Sunday event. Timings vary, and depend on weather andpolice attitude, except for the prayer which is at 4 pm.

1) The People’s Commons Meeting (towardsaDIY, non-hierarchical participatory form of democracy) in which all those whowish to take part are invited to sit together for a period of time andtaketurns in speaking their mind on whatever subject they feel moved to. Oneperson facilitates and another takes Minutes, and these roles rotate eachweek.

2) Free The Tea in which a groupofrevolutionaries walk down to the Thames and half way across the river throwteabags (PG Tips, pyramid shaped) into the river in support of a taxoninternational currency trade (Currency Transaction Tax or CTT) in order toringfence billions of pounds each year for international development. See earlyDayMotion 500 currently before the House of Commons. No CorporateRepresentationwithout International Taxation! www.tobintax.org.uk


3) Prayer Vigil for Justice and Peaceasilent/contemplative prayer asking for help in the battle for a betterworld,for individuals of all faiths and/or none. Takes place at 4pm.

So pleasecomealong and join us for more creative, beautiful, peaceful acts of defiance,and over time we will see what is possible. For more details, and a copy oflast week's Minutes, please see www1.atwiki.com/picnic (easily editable webpage in which everyone is invited to contribute ideas regarding theorganisation and direction of the event), www.parliamentprotest.org.uk (a more generalsitethat covers all aspects of the right to protest movement), www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/right-to-protest.shtml(Libertywebsite’s section on Right To Protest etc)     

In the comingweeks we have plans for a banner making workshop (this Sunday,28th),the formulation of policy (this and every following Sunday),and possibly apre-party walk along the Thames to London from Runnymede, wherethe Magna Cartawas signed in 1215 (discussion and date for this, TBA) and of course variousother imaginative shenanigans.

Hope to see you there! 12 Noon, onthe Green, Parliament Square, Westminster, every Sunday.

Justbehind Sir Brian Haw’s banners.

Be there, because,  it'syour Square!  

In Universal Solidarity,

Spark

Personal Site : www.globalnation.org.uk  

Leave a comment

Parliament Protest Web Button

Either save this image and link to us, or copy the HTML code below into your web page or template:

Peaceful resistance to the curtailment of our rights to Free Assembly and Free Speech in the SOCPA Designated Area around Parliament Square and beyond

Click here for a larger version of this web campaign button graphic.

October 2008

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
      1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31  

Recent Comments

  • spark: Press Release:12Noon Every Sunday, Parliament Square London Picnic/Tea PartyProtest The read more

Campaign Button Links

NO2ID  Campaign
NO2ID - opposition to the Home Office's Compulsory Biometric ID Card and National Identity Register centralised database.

UK Public CCTV Surveillance Regulation Campaign
UK Public CCTV Surveillance Regulation Campaign

link to www.peopleincommon.org

People in Common - weekly Picnics etc. in Parliament Square, every Sunday at about 1pm.

Save Parliament: Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (and other issues)
Save Parliament - Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (and other issues)

cfoi_150.jpg
Campaign for the Freedom of Information

Please help us to find this man! He was arrested(?) in Parliament Square on 1st August 2005

This man was one of the very first people arrested in Parliament Square on 1st August 2005, but he has apparently disappeared.

link to SilentProtest.org.uk
Silent Protest - a web photo gallery "encouraging people to stage a virtual, government un-sanctioned protest. All you need to do is get a picture of yourself, or your friends, within the protest free zone. Assume the pose (hand over mouth), aim and click."

repeal-SOCPA-info_150.gif
. repeal-SOCPA.info - useful background briefings for the Managing Protest around Parliament public consultation, and model letters to MPs etc.

About this blog

This web blog has been set up as an information resource and discussion area (please be polite in the comments) to help organise resistance to the restrictions on peaceful democratic demonstrations and protests, which have been enacted by law, in a wide Designated Area around Parliament Square in London.

It appears that in order to remove the peace protester Brian Haw, who has now been demonstrating continuously in Parliament Square, day and night, for over 5 6 years, the NuLabour Government have overreacted, and have granted themselves draconian and arbitrary powers, which affect the rights of all individual British citizens to lobby their Members of Parliament, or to walk in a vast Designated Area wearing a "political slogan" T-shirt, badge, rubber wristband etc. without first seeking prior written permission from the Police.

This is an affront to democracy and is not justified even on any spurious "climate of fear" alleged "security" grounds.

Email Contact

Please feel free to email us your news, views or suggestions about this blog, and about the issues it highlights.

info @ParliamentProtest [dot] org [dot].uk

For those of you who want to send us information in confidence, here is our PGP Public Encryption Key

A low volume e-mail list (with a daily digest option) has been set up for those of you who /want to share ideas about how the restrictions on demonstrations without prior written permission etc. can be resisted legally and peacefully:

parliamentsquare-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com

Syndicate this site (XML):

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 was rushed through, "on the nod", with minimal debate, during the undemocratic "wash up" process at the end of the last Parliament when the General Election had been called.

The bulk of the Act deals with the setting up of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, but there are also sections such as:

Section 110 Powers of Arrest

From 1st January 2006 this section makes any offence, no matter how minor, into an arrestable offence. Arrests by the police these days can mean taking 10 fingerprints and two palm prints, a DNA tissue sample and processing it into a digital "DNA fingerprint", forcing you to remove any facial coverings, (even those worn for religous purposes) to take photographs of your face etc. All of these items of personal data can then be retained forever, even if you are not charged, or any charges against you are dropped, or if you go to court and are found not guilty.

These new powers are regulated by the new statutory Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code of Practice G (.pdf)

Section 128 Trespass on a Designated Site - e.g. Crown Property or National Security

Sections 132 to 138 Demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament - the controversial restrictions in detail.

The Public Whip website has details of how the Members of the House of Commons voted on these controversial clauses.

Designated Area

The current Designated Area is set out in: Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1537 The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Area) Order 2005

Read more about the Designated Area in our category archive.

Write to politicians

Write To Them - identify and contact your local councillors, Members of Parliament, devolved Assembly members and Members of the European Parliament

You can also write to the Home Secretary David Blunkett Charles Clarke John Reid Jacqui Smith

You can send an email public.enquiries@ homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or a letter to:

Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith MP
Home Secretary
c/o Direct Communications Unit
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Home Office Contact Us page

Mass Lone Demonstrations

Comedian Mark Thomas's website has details of Mass Lone Demonstrations which legally show up the absurdity of this law, and the bureaucracy involved in enforcing it. These multiple independent one person demonstrations take place on the third Wednesday of the month, from 5pm - 7.30pm within the Designated Area (often in Parliament Square, but not exclusively so)

Meet on the second Wednesday of each month outside Charing Cross police station (located at Agar Street, London, WC2N 4JP - see the map) any time between: 5.30 pm -7.30pm to hand in your Metropolitan Police SOCPA forms (download the optional Word or PDF forms from the Metroplitan Police) or your own personal Written Applications for Prior Permission.

Regular Protests in Parliament Square

Parliament Square - supporting the long running, 24/7, peace protest by Brian Haw in Parliament Square

Global Women's Strike who held "open mike" loudspeaker protests every Wednesday for over two and a half years, which are now banned.

London Critical Mass - group bicycle ride on the last Friday of every month, for the last 10 years, which often strays into the Designated Area.

The People's Commons Meeting / Tea Party / Picnic-Protest is now meeting every Sunday afternoon starting at 1 for 1.30pm on the Green in Parliament Square. wiki - new website PeopleInCommon.org

Website Links

Home Office - "Not fit for purpose. It is inadequate in terms of its scope, it is inadequate in terms of its information technology, leadership, management, systems and processes" - Home Secretary John Reid. 23rd May 2006.

Metropolitan Police Service

Metropolitan Police Authority - meant democratically to supervise the Metropolitan Police Service

Independent Police Complaints Commission

United Kingdom Parliament - Palace of Westminster, House of Lords, House of Commons etc.

Booking Parliament Square - Greater London Authority booking forms, terms and conditions for filming and photography for Parliament Square - "The GLA does not grant permission for demonstration, rallies and public meetings on Parliament Square Gardens".

They Work For You - a more user friendly version of the House of Commons Hansard

Pledgebank pledge:

"I will form part of a human chain around the Westminster no protest zone but only if 6,000 other people will join in."

Repeal-SOCPA-Info has useful briefing material for the Public Consultation into the laws restricting demonstrations, marches and assemblies, sample letters to MPs etc..

Blog Links

Spy Blog - Privacy and Security and Civil liberties campaigning

Mayor of London Blog - unnofficial comments on the Mayor of London and Greater London Assembly

Fuel Crisis Blog - Petrol at £1 per litre ! Protest !

Bloggerheads graphics of the 1km zone and the actual Designated Area

Charity Sweet - who has been harrassed for reading a copy of the Independent newspaper outside Downing Street etc.

BBC Travel Jam Cams

BBC Radio London has some links to Traffic Monitoring CCTV cameras, which they publish every 5 or 10 minutes, not usually in real time.

Whenever there is an "incident" or a march or demonstration, these online images are deliverately censored i.e. "not available for operational reasons", This is despite the images being of too low a resolution to identify anybody, and, the effect of not diverting traffic away from the incident, which should be the whole point of the online Traffic Cam images in the first place.

Whitehall / Parliament Square - this camera view sometimes shows Brian Haw's peace camp, and the new GLA fence around Parliament Square Gardens. (now removed, for the time being)

Northumberland Avenue / Victoria Embankment

Trafalgar Square (on the edge of the Designated Area)

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here