[pagan-magik] Fwd: Mass Act of Defiance: organising meeting this Wednesday evening.

[sean]

To those in or near london -

Unauthorised demonstrations will soon be (1st August) illegal within 1km
of parliament house...  Consider forwarding on this information about a
Mass Act Of Defiance...

Sean

-------- Original Message --------

>Dear friends,
>
>A Mass Act of Defiance to the new ban on unauthorised demonstrations within
>1km of Parliament - due to come into effect on 1 August - is currently being
>organised for Sunday 7 August (see below).
>
>The next planning meeting for this will take place THIS WEDNESDAY (20 July)
>at 7.30pm, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX (nearest tube King's Cross).
>Please turn up on time, since we intend to start promptly!
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Gabriel
>
>*******************************************
>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. The
>first targets of the Act are likely to be Brian Haw's 4-year 24-7 peace
>vigil in Parliament Square and the weekly Anti-war Community Picket of the
>Global Women Strike (also in  the Square), but the law will affect *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.
>
>NVDA WORKSHOP & LEGAL BRIEFING
>A nonviolent direct action (NVDA) training workshop and legal briefing for
>the Mass Act will take place on Sunday 31st July:  11.30am to 5pm, St
>Martins Community Centre, 43 Carol Street, London NW1 (nearest tube Camden
>Town). Please note that there is NO parking near the centre.  If you're
>planning to come on 7 Aug and have never been arrested before or if you're
>intrigued but feel you lack the confidence or knowledge to take things
>further then this is the workshop for you. All welcome!
>
>Called by the Mass Act of Defiance Group. For more info. e-mail
>massactofdefiance at fastmail.fm.
>************************************
>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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