Code Pink lead the march to the Cenotaph
The sit-in forms
Police remove non violent protestors
Another removal
Crowd starts to lock arms
Police frustration starts to build
Removals get unpleasant
As they tried to corral demonstrators into manageable groups, those returning from the Cenotaph formed ranks and sat down in the road. Confusion broke out amongst the police and by the time they realised what was happening the road was blocked.
As police re-formed and started to try to carry people away, the crowd formed squares and locked arms. Clearly non-violent action workshops are now making their mark in the leafy shires of England.
The action came as part of a peaceful protest in Parliament Square against imminent action in Fallujah.
Code Pink, Surrey’s street theatre ensemble made a stunning and sobering funeral cortege, ultimately leading the crowd down Whitehall. After the sit in, the demonstration moved to Downing Street where Baghdad correspondent Jo Wilding’s Letter to the Troops was read out to the crowd, after which a 2 minute silence was observed.