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16-May-2006

Brian Haw faces eviction from Parliament Square

by: Parliament Square Peace Campaign/PN

Brian Haw supporting other SOCPA arrestees

Brian Haw, Bow Street Magistrates Court, 2005..
PHOTO: Peace News ,

London: Brian Haw started his continuous vigil opposite Parliament in June 2001 to protest against the economic sanctions that were having such a disastrous effect of people's lives in Iraq. He has continued to protest against invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. His display shows the injustice and horrors that have been suffered as a result of our government's foreign policy. Brian's message has gone out globally and people visit him from all over the world. Many have left messages of peace that now form part of his display. Just before the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA - which was initiated in order to silence Brian's protest) came into force in August 2005, the High Court made a judgement that was highly embarrassing for the Government - that Section 132 of SOCPA which bans unauthorised protest in a large area around Parliament could not be applied retrospectively and therefore did not apply to Brian. This has now been overturned at the Court of Appeal ruling on 8 May 2006. Brian will be seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords and in the meantime will be continuing his protest under SOCPA terms. The law states that authorisation for the demonstration has to be given but that a whole range of conditions may be imposed by the police. It is these conditions that could deal the final blow for Brian's protest. Amongst other conditions, the police are suggesting that Brian's protest be limited to 3 metres in any dimension - a massive reduction which would strip away most of the display. If Brian fails to compile with this he will be arrested. Also SOCPA allows any senior police officer at the site to change the conditions with immediate effect. So they could remove him altogether at some later point with almost no notice.

Solidarity protests

On Sunday 14 May hundreds of people descended on Parliament Square to show their support for Brian and their opposition to SOCPA. Eyewitness reporter Rikki Blue wrote at Indymedia UK that "it was as if there had never been any legislation passed against unauthorised demonstrations near parliament. it was as if tuesday's newspapers and monday's tv news reports, that brian haw's five year long protest was over, had never happened. it was as if bye-laws banning music, organised events, demonstrations and indeed ball games on the grass at parliament square had never been written. Another chapter in the 'alice in wonderland' world of the serious organised crime and police act was written as around a hundred supporters of free speech gathered with banners for a mass photo-call and demonstration in support of Brian at noon in the square." Today Brian is still at his usual pitch, though the situation could change very rapidly. People are being asked to support Brian in the event if his eviction. There is some risk of arrest in doing *anything* in Parliament Square (though, as noted above, there also seems to be a certain safety in numbers). You can get updates on Brian's situation from http://www.parliament-square.org.uk">http://www.parliament-square.org.uk and also at imcUK http://www.indymedia.org.uk">http://www.indymedia.org.uk (current feature story). If you do intend supporting Brian by visiting Parliament Square, please read the information at this link first: http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/staying.htm">http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/staying.htm

Source: Parliament Square Peace Campaign