For the sake of clarity I want to properly announce that I will no longer be actively participating in the Mass Lone Demos in Parliament Square.
For a while now the pressures of touring and other work have made it very hard for me to attend every month. The Mass Lone Demos certainly galvanised support against SOCPA and continue to highlight the absurdity of the law. I will obviously support the Mass Lone Demos and hope that they continue until that part of SOCPA is changed.
For me the struggle now takes on a legal character as myself and various lawyers attempt to get the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate MPs for breaking the law, including Gordon Brown. More info is available at www.markthomasinfo.com and at www.shopanmp.com.
Massive thanks to all who joined in,
Mark
Demonstrations still take place 5pm to 7:30pm on the third Wednesday of every month, forms [MS WORD] [PDF] must be handed in or sent by recorded delivery 1 week beforehand, usually en masse at Charing Cross police station between 6 and 7pm but can be at any metropolitan police station (though we have found Charing Cross are experts at processing them).
They are still being attended by a hard core of enthusiasts, more people would be most welcome every month, though!
Map of the SOCPA zone (GIF - 700kbytes)
The red line is the perimeter of the eclusion zone.
You must have permission to demonstrate in this zone.
A recent law has made it illegal to demonstrate anywhere near Parliament without official police permission, and we are asking for people to apply for MASS LONE DEMONSTRATIONS to highlight the danger and stupidity of having this law in a democracy.
The law is essentially a ban on demonstrating as there is no point demonstrating in a location where the people you want to know about your protest cannot see you! And, as everyone knows, terrorism arises when people feel that their dissenting voice has not been heard, thus the preservation of free speech and demonstration is essential to a peaceful democracy. Remember, you don't have to demonstrate AGAINST anything - you can demonstrate FOR things too - Christmas leave to be for the mandatory 12 days, the right to wear odd socks and purchase them singly, for the Government to give more money to provide clean water in the 3rd world, the right to have free weekly therapy on the NHS... whatever..
Taking part in this is 100% LEGAL and peaceful - you're not going to get into any trouble providing you apply to demonstrate using the correct form.
The law: Under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 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.
So you want to join in? Just follow these simple steps:
Step 1 - Decide on your protest! This can be something you feel strongly about or something very silly – it’s up to you.
Step 2 - Download, print out and fill in the SOCPA application form for organising you own demonstration in Parliament square. [MS WORD] [PDF]
Step 3 - Meet on the second Wednesday of each month outside Charing Cross police station any time between: 5.30 pm-7.30 pm to hand in your SOCPA forms. The address is Agar Street, London, WC2N 4JP You have to fill in form and hand it in to the police 1 week before you protest, so everyone has to turn up at the same time to give their forms to the Police. This will mean if 100 people turn up and apply for permission, then the unfortunate police have to license and approve 100 lone demonstrations. (Yes, I know they have more important things to do. That's the whole point. It's for the long term good that we do this, so they can get on with catching baddies instead of wasting their time with this nonsense.) If you can't get there at this time you can hand your application in at any metropolitan police station or mail it in if you can't get to one.
Step 4 - The mass lone demonstrations will be 1 week later on the third Wednesday and will be from 5pm - 7.30 pm, Come along! Join in! Exercise your democratic rights! The more people who come the bigger an impression this will make!
Thanks to Rachel from North London for her assistance in publicising this.
Photos of previous demos here.