Parliament Square Garden is the public park in the middle of Parliament Square. Why are people being arrested , charged and convicted for holding a peaceful Sunday afternoon tea party or picnic ?
Surely it is one of the functions of a public park to provide a space where such picnics can be held by anyone ?
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday 30 March 2006TRIAL FOR TAKING PART IN 'TEA PARTY' WITHIN PROTEST EXCLUSION ZONE
FRIDAY 31 MARCH at 10am, BOW STREET MAGISTRATES COURT, LONDON
The trial of a man who was taking part in a free speech 'tea party' on Parliament Square will take place on Friday. Mark Barrett was arrested on 28 August 2005 under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) for being part of an unauthorised 'demonstration' (despite the fact that at the time he was having a picnic with a group of friends). [A]
Since the new law was introduced there has been a weekly picnic and 'People's Commons' discussion in Parliament Square, both of which seek to challenge the controversial protest exclusion zone introduced last year and to highlight its implications for freedom of speech and association as enshrined into UK law in the Human Rights Act of 1998. [B]
Mark Barrett was arrested while sitting on the grass drinking tea and eating cake. Although, other picnickers have been arrested (on different occasions), charges against them were dropped.
Eleven people have been convicted so far of taking part in unauthorised demonstrations near Parliament.
Mark Barrett said, 'Our picnic is a creative response which challenges the unconstitutional SOCPA legislation, which arbitrarily criminalises public behaviour and all spontaneous peaceful expression around Parliament: a huge and telling affront to our supposed democracy.'
CONTACT Mark Barrett on 07854 390408
See www.parliamentprotest.org.uk and www.peopleincommon.org for more informationNOTES
[A] Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) anyone wishing to demonstrate within 1km of Parliament must apply to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not "reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used.[B] For more details on the circumstances of Mark Barrett's arrest see http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,9061,1559299,00.html
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