Socpa
On Monday, with much planning, I did my first protest under the Socpa law more later on that, but the saga ....
The big day of mass lone protests I missed as I handed my applications for 20 demonstrations in late. So the Wednesday before Blair declared when he was to leave I applied to do a Anti Socpa demonstration outside Downing Street the next Wednesday and also applied to protest against "Our Tony" the next day, you are allowed to apply 24 hours in advance to protest if you could not of known of it before. They managed to lose that application but not the one for next week even though they were handed to the same police office at the same time!!!
I rang on the day of the second protest to confirm I had permission to demonstrate outside Downing Street as my letter of authority had not arrived. I was assured that I had permission. I turned up and they knew nothing so I could not protest on pain of threatened arrest. I called the next day I did have permission but they had given it to me for a different location by mistake!!!!! I did say the classic phrase "Help I'm being oppressed".
Well a friend from German was coming over and I thought it might be nice for a tourist to get behind the Downing Street gate and get a nice picture of No 10. We both applied, she from Germany by registered post and her's was not receive in time. Ah well her "I demand the right to arm bears" protest was lost for ever.
But I went ahead last Monday with my "say NO to Sock puppets"
I arrived and had to wait for my police officer escort to come from Charing Cross police station. I showed my passport and my property went through and an x-ray machine as did I through the metal detector, it was just like going on holiday!!
I proceeded to the press pen and made my sock puppets, as to have them on display before the prescribed time is illegal. One of Tony Blair and another of George Bush and declared " say NO to sock puppets" with that they 6 police there burst into laughter as I did. After a little wait my first customer came along. I bounded to the edge of the pen and shouted "say NO to sock puppets" and showed my sock puppets. A little while later a Cyclist came round the corner heading for the gates a quick bound and a shout.... lead to a bit of a wobble on the bike but she new I meant business. This lead to a big smile from me and the police. A little wait and three suits walked down from the business end of Downing Street a quick bound and a shout. They looked a bit bemused so I said "Yes you heard right say NO to Sock puppets" Another smile from me and the police and one from one of the suits.
One more cyclist, no wobble this time (either made of sterner stuff or the element of surprise was gone). Then my 15 minutes was came to a close. I quickly put my sock puppets away, for to hold them after the prescribed 15 minutes would be a criminal offence. I thanked the police for there time and off to dinner with my friend.
I must say it was a very amusing 15 minutes and it is something I would recommend others to do and i intend to do it again.
I like the idea of a Parliament Square meet picnic on a Saturday or Sunday with a 15 minute demonstration outside/inside Downing Street after, all on your own subjects. Anyone up for that?
The big day of mass lone protests I missed as I handed my applications for 20 demonstrations in late. So the Wednesday before Blair declared when he was to leave I applied to do a Anti Socpa demonstration outside Downing Street the next Wednesday and also applied to protest against "Our Tony" the next day, you are allowed to apply 24 hours in advance to protest if you could not of known of it before. They managed to lose that application but not the one for next week even though they were handed to the same police office at the same time!!!
I rang on the day of the second protest to confirm I had permission to demonstrate outside Downing Street as my letter of authority had not arrived. I was assured that I had permission. I turned up and they knew nothing so I could not protest on pain of threatened arrest. I called the next day I did have permission but they had given it to me for a different location by mistake!!!!! I did say the classic phrase "Help I'm being oppressed".
Well a friend from German was coming over and I thought it might be nice for a tourist to get behind the Downing Street gate and get a nice picture of No 10. We both applied, she from Germany by registered post and her's was not receive in time. Ah well her "I demand the right to arm bears" protest was lost for ever.
But I went ahead last Monday with my "say NO to Sock puppets"
I arrived and had to wait for my police officer escort to come from Charing Cross police station. I showed my passport and my property went through and an x-ray machine as did I through the metal detector, it was just like going on holiday!!
I proceeded to the press pen and made my sock puppets, as to have them on display before the prescribed time is illegal. One of Tony Blair and another of George Bush and declared " say NO to sock puppets" with that they 6 police there burst into laughter as I did. After a little wait my first customer came along. I bounded to the edge of the pen and shouted "say NO to sock puppets" and showed my sock puppets. A little while later a Cyclist came round the corner heading for the gates a quick bound and a shout.... lead to a bit of a wobble on the bike but she new I meant business. This lead to a big smile from me and the police. A little wait and three suits walked down from the business end of Downing Street a quick bound and a shout. They looked a bit bemused so I said "Yes you heard right say NO to Sock puppets" Another smile from me and the police and one from one of the suits.
One more cyclist, no wobble this time (either made of sterner stuff or the element of surprise was gone). Then my 15 minutes was came to a close. I quickly put my sock puppets away, for to hold them after the prescribed 15 minutes would be a criminal offence. I thanked the police for there time and off to dinner with my friend.
I must say it was a very amusing 15 minutes and it is something I would recommend others to do and i intend to do it again.
I like the idea of a Parliament Square meet picnic on a Saturday or Sunday with a 15 minute demonstration outside/inside Downing Street after, all on your own subjects. Anyone up for that?