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defence of freedom to protest in parliament square tonight - pics

rikki | 07.02.2005 23:07 | Indymedia | Repression | London

under the guise of the 'serious organised crime and police bill', we are losing our right to protest outside parliamentary buildings in the vicinity of parliament, whitehall, and buckingham palace. as the bill was debated this afternoon and evening, protestors gathered in the square to protest against this law, which would make brian haw's long-running peace protest opposite parliament illegal.

brian haw speaking at the protest

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sambaistas outside parliament

temporarily closed for business

protesting our rights

reclaim the streets

reclaim the streets 2

brian haw's three and a half year, 24 hour a day protest outside parliament against the war is the first target of new measures being debated today to severley limit freedom of speech and assembly within one kilometre of parliament. the law will affect protests outside whitehall, downing street and parliament as well as buckingham palace, and the draconian powers threaten up to a year's imprisonment if a constable deems a protest "illegal" under the new legislation.

protestors gathered all afternoon and evening to bring attention to this assault on freedom.

sambaistas provided a lively soundtrack to the evening's protest, and succesfully took over the space on the pavement right outside parliament for some time, catching police unprepared and forcing the closure of the gates to parliament before stopping traffic on their return to the main protest in the square itself.

here are some pics from this evening.

rikki

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more info

07.02.2005 23:33

you can find more info and future protests at www.parliament-square.org.uk

rikki
Homepage: http://www.parliament-square.org.uk

As Long As It Takes

08.02.2005 11:48

Just watched this moving short film about Brian.

Connect with Brian and the injustice of war

http://www.wiredvideo.net/pages/portfolio/films/brian.html#

AS LONG AS IT TAKES

In June 2001 Clint Eastwood lookalike Brian Haw pledged to remain on the pavement of Parliament Square, outside Westminster until there was an end to the 12 years of sanctions and bombing which doubled the infant mortality in Iraq.

This film completed just before the US led invasion of Iraq offers a fascinating perspective on subsequent events.

15 mins, DV February 2002, dir.Raj Yagnik

Defend our right to inform and protest

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defence of freedom to protest in parliament square tonight - pics

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more info

As Long As It Takes

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