Anyone in London up for a mass lone demonstration?

[muriel_volestrangler]

The point being to show up the absurdities of the banning of demonstrations around Parliament. Everyone plans a legal demonstration, consisting of just themselves, which all just happen to be at the same time. You need to be in the Charing Cross area this Thursday and the next, around 6pm, so only really suitable for those who work in London (though it says you can give your application to someone else to hand in, if you get it to them in time for this Thursday). Since I'm not in London, I can't say I'll be there, but it might interest someone. Organised by Mark Thomas, and Rachel from North London:

A recent damn-fool law has made it illegal to protest anywhere near Parliament without official police permission, and comedian Mark Thomas is organising a stunt to highlight the danger and stupidity of having this law in a democracy.

Please note that taking part in this is 100% LEGAL, and the whole purpose of the stunt is to overload the system by dozens of people all asking for permission to protest all at the same time.
...
Stage 2 - Meet on Thursday 24th August outside Charing Cross police station any time between: 5.30pm-6pm to hand in your SOCPA forms. The address is Agar Street, London, WC2N 4JP and a map is attached. You have to fill in form and hand it in to the police 1 week before you protest, so everyone has to turn up at the same time to give their forms to>the Police. This will mean if 100 people turn up and apply for permission, then the unfortunate police have to license and approve 100 lone demonstrations. (Yes, I know they have more imprtant things to do. That's the whole point. It's for the long term good that we do this, so they can get on with catching baddies instead of wasting their time with this nonsense.) If you can’t make it to hand the forms in but want to demonstrate on the 31st, post them to: Ben Stern S2S Suite Z009 Old Truman Brewery 1 Brick Lane London E1 6QL.

Stage 3 - The mass lone demonstrations will be 1 week later on Thursday 31st Augustand will again be at 6:00pm for 1 hour, so this event is open to those with day jobs. Come along! Join in! Exercise your democratic rights! The more people who>come the bigger an impression this will make!

http://rachelnorthlondon.blogspot.com/2006/08/help-defend-free-speech.html

[D-Notice]

1. I'm going

http://d-notice.blogspot.com/2006/08/lone-protestor.html

[D-Notice]

4. I went and registered

http://d-notice.blogspot.com/2006/08/protest.html

let's see what happens next Thursday...

[Taxloss]

5. Me too.

I was the guy in the grey jacket with the short blond hair, 28, 5'10", slim build, carrying a copy of the Guardian and a disposable camera.

[D-Notice]

6. Must've missed you

I was queueing from 5:45 - 6:45! I was wearing a black suit & white shirt...

It'd better be worth it.

I'm proteting about ID cards, you?

[Taxloss]

7. I was quite early, and near the front of the queue.

I'm protesting the erosion of civil liberties. I'm making a placard that says "FREEDOM* (*requires assembly)" - protesting the protest law.

[Taxloss]

2. Sounds like fun. I'll be there. Anyone up for meeting? n/t

[Taxloss]

3. Well, I'm all set for tomorrow.

Paperwork filled in, Thermos topped up, ready for action. I'll report back.

[D-Notice]

8. I've been approved!

http://d-notice.blogspot.com/2006/08/permission-granted.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Well, it got a short piece in The Guardian

Westminster demonstrators put case for unlicensed protests

They came in their scores to the mother of parliaments, armed only with moral indignation and the appropriate licences from Charing Cross police station.

Their causes were many and various, from Goth Pride to demands for free tampons on the NHS. But the 200 demonstrators who flocked to Westminster yesterday had one law in their sights: the ban on unauthorised protests within one kilometre of parliament.
...
But Doug Jewell, campaigns coordinator for the human rights body group Liberty, warned that the measure was indicative of a wider tendency for politicians to separate themselves from the public.

The law is widely believed to have been passed to evict anti-war protester Brian Haw. Police later authorised him to continue his vigil, but he is due in court shortly charged with breaching conditions placed on his demonstration.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,1862717,00.html

Nice pics, english guy!

[D-Notice]

10. Thanks

I'll find others that are dotted around t'internet - which have me, obviously ;) - and post 'em on my blog over the weekend.

Also on the BBC. Click on the video "Hear a row about the exclusion zone" on the right hand side for a report which was on BBC London.

Taxloss: were you there?

[Taxloss]

11. I too was there.

http://www.markthomasinfo.com/photo/1996_20060831LoneDemo/slides/_DSC0087.html

More pics:

http://www.markthomasinfo.com/photo/1996_20060831LoneDemo/index.html

I saw English Guy, but of course had no idea it was English Guy. Sorry about that, English Guy! :hi: (belatedly)

[D-Notice]

12. I remember

seeing you as well...

Going to the one this month?

From what I've heard we queue up on the 15th with 2 forms & the protest's on the 22nd.

[Taxloss]

13. A couple of nice pics of us:

http://www.chris-king.org.uk/Photo/mlp/html/968B9992.html

http://www.chris-king.org.uk/Photo/mlp/html/968B0011.html

My film is being developed at the moment - I went to pick it up this afternoon, however, and Snappy Snaps reported that although it was developed, their card machine was broken, and I would have to pay by cash. I was processing a lot of films (c. £60-worth), didn't have the cash on me, so it will have to wait until Monday. T'choh!

I'm certainly planning to come along to the next one, and Mrs T will be tagging along as well. This plan is subject to change, but I hope to see you there!

[D-Notice]

14. I'm cheerful!

What's wrong with me? ;-)

There's another one of me one the last page of his slide-show, which I prefer as it makes me look studious!

http://www.chris-king.org.uk/Photo/mlp/html/968B0057.html

[Taxloss]

15. KICK: The protest is being repeaed tomorrow & on the 22nd.

Charing Cross police station at 6pm, if you're available. I hope to be, but possibly not because I might have to go and pick up a book I'm meant to be reviewing.

[D-Notice]

16. I've signed up again

http://d-notice.blogspot.com/2006/09/applying-for-permission.html