Public events around the government consultation on repealing SOCPA

In response to continued police repression and the Government's consultation document 'Managing Protest around Parliament' Saturday 12 January has been called as a nationwide day of action to defend freedom of assembly.

If you are organising an action then please email freeassembly@lists.riseup.net so that your event can be added into the presswork and email info@repeal-socpa.info to be added to this events listing.

Saturday 19 January 2008

Freedom to Protest demonstration is being held in central Brighton meeting at 12 noon in Churchill Square. see here.

Saturday 12 January: WE OWN THE STREETS - FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY DAY OF ACTION

See here for reports and pictures from events

Unauthorised protest in central London
Assemble 1pm, Saturday 12th January at the top of Trafalgar Square, National Gallery. Bring blank placards. Those who attend will decide amongst themselves whether or not to go into the SOCPA zone and defy s.132 (by respectively either writing on, or leaving blank, their placards) etc.

In response to the call out for a day of action on January 12th against the Government’s consultation on ‘Managing Protest around Parliament’, which threatens to further restrict protests, at a London meeting it was decided to converge on the top of Trafalgar square at 1pm. We are tired of the government’s relentless determination to silence us. We must act now to stop the further erosion of our freedom to assemble, and make it clear that we will not allow our liberties to be consulted away from us. Campaign for Freedom of Assembly: freeassembly@lists.riseup.net

March through Aberystwyth, Wales featuring the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA) (2), with DIY blank placards for demonstrators to fill in. See poster opposite. Women's peace camp organised by Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp(aign) at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire. A protest in Chippenham - email for details. Cambridge: Meet on King's Parade, outside King's College on Saturday 12th between 11am and 1.30pm to protest against the Home Office's attempts to hinder protest. Bring a placard and a pen (if not, we'll have some spare) and protest about whatever is close to your heart and mind. From education to vaccination, from sweat shops to pet shops, hold up your sign and demonstrate your right to protest! See pos There are also events planned in Milton Keynes and a naked protest in the Scottish Highlands.

Aberystwyth event

Friday 11 January

Screening of 'SOCPA the movie' at the Synergy Centre this Friday at 9pm followed at 10pm by a Q&A session with the film's director Rikki and the a screening of Mark Thomas's new DVD 'Serious Organised Criminal' - his standup routine about SOCPA.

The Synergy Centre is at: 220 Farmers Road, London SE5 0TW. Nearest tube is Oval. The screening will be in the lounge with comfy sofas and a cafe/bar. In the room next door will be DJs Paddy, Lookwood, Fiend, and Dreadnaut playing eclectic party tunes until midnight. Entry is by donation, suggested £3 for those who stay the whole evening.

9 January - GATHERING OF PARTLIAMENTARIANS AND PROTESTORS AT DOWNING STREET.

See reports and pictures
See film of short interviews with MPs and other participants

Press release, 8 January 2008 (updated)

CROSS-PARTY PARLIAMENTARIANS HIGHLIGHT NEW THREAT TO FREEDOM TO PROTEST

10am, Wednesday 9 January 2008, outside Downing Street, London

Liberal Democrat Peer, Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer, Labour MP John McDonnell, Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski and Plaid MP Adam Price will be part of a group assembling at Downing Street on Wednesday morning to hand in a petition as a response to the Government's consultation on the controversial law banning unauthorised protest near Parliament [1]. Baroness Miller recently introduced a private members bill to repeal the law prohibiting protest [2]. Mr Kawczynski was recently threatened with arrest for holding a small placard outside Downing Street without police permission.

The group will also include Maya Evans (tbc), Walter Wolfgang, Mark Thomas, Brian Haw, Mark Wallinger and Jenny Jones, Green Party member on the Greater London Authority. Maya Evans was the first person to be convicted under the law when she read out names of British soldiers killed in Iraq [3]. Walter Wolfgang was charged under the Terrorism Act after being removed from the Labour Party conference in 2005 for saying ‘Nonsense” out loud during the Home Secretary’s speech. [4] Comedian Mark Thomas has been staging 'Mass Lone Protests' in the SOCPA area. [8]

The gathering wish to highlight the ominous signs that the Government is planning to further restrict the rights of demonstrators across the UK. The consultation looks set to recommend increasing police powers to control, or even to ban, public assemblies, under the guise of “harmonising” the laws regarding static demonstrations in line those governing public marches. Police permission could be required (6 days in advance) for groups of as few as 2 people to assemble or hold any placard anywhere in the country. [5]

Some of the group will read the names of protestors arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 which bans any demonstration that has not received prior authorisation by the police. The legislation was originally introduced to remove Brian Haw's continuous peace protest from Parliament Square but many peaceful protestors have been criminalised as a result [6].

Baroness Miller, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Home Affairs, said: “'Harmonisation' of the marching/assembly laws would lead to stricter rules for demonstrations in London and across England and Wales. This is unacceptable and should not be considered in the context of a review designed to relax the rules governing demonstrations around Parliament.” [7]

Maya Evans said: “The danger is that the Government will be able to score media points for repealing unnecessary and draconian legislation, whilst in reality further tightening the screws on protest and dissent around the UK.”

NOTES

1. The Home Office consultation, 'Managing Protest Around Parliament', is available from:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2007-managing-protest.

2. The Public Demonstrations (Repeals) Bill [HL 12] was introduced in November 2006 by Baroness Miller.

3. See ‘MPs condemn arrest of woman who spoke out’, Daily Mail, 8 December 2005. Maya Evans was the winner of the Human Rights Award 2007 For her campaigning work and commitment to the cause of liberty. For her courage in standing up for our fundamental rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech.

4. Heckler returns to hero's welcome, The Guardian, September 29, 2005. Walter Wolfgang is now a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.

5. For an analysis of the Government's consultation document see:
http://www.repeal-socpa.info/briefing.htm

6. For more on the history of SOCPA, see:
http://www.repeal-socpa.info/SOCPA.htm

7. The full text of Baroness Miller's response to the Government consultation on 'Managing Protest around Parliament' can be read at:
http://www.repeal-socpa.info/Baroness_Miller_response.pdf

8. http://www.markthomasinfo.com/