the mainstream media have been reporting that gordon brown has relaxed the laws governing protest around parliament. even mark thomas has been taken in, citing this and the attempted car bombs as reasons to cancel his monthly mass lone demos. well, i've got news for you all.

this is so much bullshit!

only this week, brian haw, barbara tucker, charity sweet and steve jago were all assaulted and then arrested for supposedly obstructing police officers. the police were trying to seize a genocide banner that barbara was carrying as she left westminster magistrates court on tuesday. she had been in the court that morning to defend a ridiculous charge of obstructing the highway, but the crown prosecution service, after vacating the trial twice before, decided not to offer any evidence. what a waste of everybody's time and money!

the banner was at the court for evidential purposes, but the police wouldn't listen, and when the campaigners resisted, they were savagely assaulted, bundled into vans, and then held for several hours before being charged with these ludicrous offences.

so 'socpa - the movie', which has been in the making for two years, is very pertinent just now, and it's your chance to see this one-hour movie this sunday at a west end cinema, with a question and answer session afterwards. the panel will be milan rai, from justice not vengeance and pece news, mark barrett from the parliament square picnics and peopleincommon.org, and the film-maker rikki.

the film features an original music soundtrack, and although hard-hitting and serious at times, there are moments of sheer bliss as the surreal nature of the law and its enforcement are documented (police say the silliest things!).

there's a youtube trailer now at www.socpa-movie.blogspot.com

the film starts at 1pm this sunday the 15th july

tickets are £4.50 (£3.00 members)

the prince charles cinema
7 leicester place
london
WC2H 7BY

020 74377003

box office number (25p booking charge) 0870 811 2559

cinema website  http://www.princecharlescinema.com