As long as it takes
"I want to go back to my
own kids and look them in the face again knowing
that I've done all I can to try and save the children
of Iraq and other countries who are dying because
of my government's unjust, amoral, fear - and money
- driven policies. These children and people of other
countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of
love as my precious wife and children."
How many must die?
Brian started his 24/7 vigil in
2001 to protest about the suffering of Iraqis during
the 1990s because of economic sanctions. He continues
because of all those who have, and continue, to suffer
as a result of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
In Oct 2004 The Lancet estimated that 100,000
Iraqis have died. In Oct 2006 it estimated that 655,000
people have died in Iraq as a result of the 2003
invasion (see
more here). And how many millions of other lives
have been blighted for ever?
LISTEN to
Brian on why he continues his protest. Powerful stuff!
Send Brian a postcard of support c/o
Parliament Square, London SW1A
This photo was taken by
Gemma Day in Dec 04 for an Independent
on Sunday article.
See all
media articles.
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defend protest near Parliament
THE
GOVERNMENT BANS ANY PROTEST AROUND PARLIAMENT THAT
DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE POLICE
In April 2005 the Government passed new legislation
as part of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA)
in an attempt to remove Brian from Parliament Square and
silence his protest. See
analysis for information on the passing
of the legislation through Parliament and the detailed provisions
of the law.
The introduction of a ban on unauthorised
protest around Parliament has resulted in many
arrests, court cases and a number of convictions. These
include Maya Evans and Milan Rai, the first to be convicted
under SOCPA, who were arrested in October 2005 for reading,
opposite Downing Street and without permission from the
police, the names of British soldiers and Iraqi civilians
killed in Iraq. In 2007 Maya won the Human
Rights Award for 'her courage in standing up for our
fundamental rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech'.
HOW
BRIAN HAS BEEN AFFECTED
On 29 July 2005, shortly before
the SOCPA protest restrictions came into force, a High
Court hearing ruled that
Brian's protest is not covered by the legislation because prior
authorisation
was only necessary for demonstrations that 'started' before 1
August 2005, whereas Brian started his protest in June 2001.
So, Brian was temporarily exempt from the
very law that was brought in to evict him. But on 8
May 2006 the Home
Office won an appeal against that decision
and Brian's protest was brought under the new restrictions. |
See how you can
show solidarity with Brian.
See News for up-to-date information
Reports
from previous demos
|
Since the restrictions
on protest around Parliament began to apply to Brian, he and
his supporters have faced a considerable amount of police actions
and harassment. However, they have stood their ground, challenging
the law and
using the law
to contest the
enforcement of SOCPA and the provisions of the legislation itself.
See more here.
SOCPA states that 'The Commissioner must give authorisation
for the demonstration' if authorisation has been applied for
but that conditions may be imposed by the police on the demonstration.
The conditions
that the police imposed on Brian's protest included reducing
his display to 3 metres long. In May 2006 the police
illegally siezed almost all of Brian's display and personal possessions
in order to force him to comply with the conditions despite there
being no power of seizure under SOCPA and no other legal justification
given at the time. Since then Brian has been contesting with
the police through the courts to have his property
returned
to
him.
The conditions also state that up to 19 supporters
can be with Brian at any time. A number of supporters have indeed
been staying with Brian since 2006. If
you would like to join them please see this information.
THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR
ALL OF US
The ban on unauthorised protest near Parliament amounts
to the police making political decisions as to who may protest
-
and
how.
Brian's
continued presence in Parliament Square is part of a lively and
ongoing
campaign to get this attack on free
speech off the statute books. There has been
a string of protests and challenges that show that this law is
unacceptable and is unworkable - see here for more.
In late 2007, faced with public and media condemnation
relating to their attack on free speech around Parliament (and
more generally), the Government launched a consultation on 'Managing
Protest Around Parliament'. For the latest on SOCPA see www.repeal-socpa.info
Brian is there for
all of us and we must be there for him! Get
involved.
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