protest info

[Anarchic Tribes]

Mass Act of Defiance to the ban on unauthorised protests near
Parliament, assembly 12 noon, THIS SUNDAY (7 AUGUST), Parliament Square.
Message from Global Women's Strike re. their weekly anti-war community
picket in Parliament Square

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Dear friends, Voices supporters and fellow anti-war campaigners,

Following Brian Haw's court victory last week, he is now the only person in
the country who is NOT liable for arrest for unauthorised protest near
Parliament. For everyone else the new law applies. Five arrests were made on
Monday 1 August, the first day that the new law was in force, at a Stop the
War demo. in Parliament Square (see
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4734665.stm).

In the wake of the London bombings, protest is one of the few options left
open to us for effecting the radical shift in direction that a genuinely
“anti-terror” policy requires – and is therefore more important than ever.
The latest moves to crack down on it - of which the ban forms just one
part - is therefore even more deeply disturbing and could, potentially, be
the thin end of a very long wedge, *unless they are strongly contested at
their outset*.

We therefore urge you to consider taking part in this Sunday's MASS ACT OF
DEFIANCE in Parliament Square (see below) and / or supporting the weekly
anti-war picket in Parliament Square which will be taking place as usual
this evening (see below).

Finally, the latest Voices newsletter is now available (and will be on-line
shortly). Free hardcopies are available free on request. E-mail
[e-mail].

Best wishes,

Gabriel
Voices UK
www.voicesuk.org

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MASS ACT OF DEFIANCE: For the Right to Protest
Assemble 12 noon, Sunday 7 August, Parliament Square

The new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) makes all
unauthorised protests within 1km of Parliament illegal after 1 August. Five
people have already been arrested under the new law and the weekly Anti-war
Community Picket of the
Global Women Strike (also in the Square, see below) is likely to be its
next target. However the law affects *all* activists and campaigners.

PLEASE JOIN US ON 7 AUGUST: Bring your banners, leaflets, placards and
campaigns for peace, human rights, asylum rights, labour rights, animal
rights, social justice, international solidarity, the environment etc... to
this action to defy the new anti-protest legislation and defend the right to
demonstrate near Parliament.

PLEASE NOTE:
[1] THERE IS A RISK OF ARREST AT THIS ACTION, since it is an unauthorised
protest against a law which makes such protests illegal. Please read the
legal briefing below before deciding to attend.
[2] THIS IS A PEACEFUL PROTEST: participants should not harm or dehumanise
any human being at this event.

Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group. For more info. e-mail
[e-mail].

THE SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME AND POLICE ACT

Under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act it is an
offence to organise or take part in a demonstration in a public place
within the "designated area" (up to 1 km around parliament) if authorisation
has not been given by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to whom an
application has to be made at least six days in advance, or if not
"reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. The commissioner may impose
conditions on the demonstration; , including where and when the protest may
take place, how long it can last and how many people can attend, how much
noise can be made and the number and size of banners or placards used.
Additional conditions may be imposed during the demonstration by the senior
police officer present. The new law also criminalises demonstrations by a
single person - a section targeted at Brian Haw - and prohibits the use of
loudspeakers.

Organisers of unauthorised demonstrations may be subject to imprisonment
for up to 51 weeks, a fine (level 4: up to £2500), or both; participants
may be subject to a fine (level 3 :up to £1000).

Liberty have described these measures as restrictive and disproportionate,
and the restrictions placed on place, time
duration and noise as neutering protest. They are incompatible with Article
11 of the Human Rights Act (right to freedom of peaceful assembly and
association), which requires any restrictions on this right be legitimate,
reasonable and proportionate. The act - both in the determination by the
Police Commissioner and the imposition of conditions - may also be seen as
arbitrary, limiting the rights of some and not others to protest.

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MESSAGE FROM GLOBAL WOMEN'S STRIKE RE. THEIR WEEKLY ANTI-WAR COMMUNITY
PICKET IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Join us on our continuing Community Anti-War Picket & Open Mic,
organised by the Global women?s Strike, this Wednesday 5.30-7pm, on
Parliament Square.

Since February 2003, our picket has given a voice to many who cannot
stay silent in the face of mass killing in Iraq or elsewhere. Called by
women, under the theme Invest In Caring Not Killing, it highlights the
often hidden struggle women make for the survival of families and
communities against war, coups & occupations.

Since 1 August, new legislation (Serious Organised Crime & Police Act)
has criminalised peaceful protest in and around Parliament Square.
Police can impose draconian conditions on protests 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.

However, on Friday 29 June, Brian Haw, who maintains a 24 hour-a-day
anti-war presence outside Parliament, won in court against the
government's attempt to evict him using the new Act. The judges ruled
that the Act does not cover 'continuing' protests such as Brian's. We
intend to establish that we are also a ?continuing? demonstration and
are therefore exempt from the new law. Please join us. We appreciate
your support.