DOCDAYS: BRIAN HAW AND THE ERASURE OF DEMOCRACY
Sunday 17 June 2007, 12 noon, Renoir Cinema, London
£ 6.50

SOCPA - THE MOVIE
(Director: Rikki Blue. UK, 2007. Approx. 60 mins. Premiere screening)

An important new film about section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA). This legislation was passed in order to rid Parliament Square of Brian Haw, the lone protestor who has camped outside parliament since 2001 spreading his message of peace with an ever increasing number of artistic and powerful banners, in full and defiant sight of the politicians who had voted for the invasion of Iraq. The film follows Haw’s successful battle to remain, but also shows the enormous creativity and tenacity of other campaigners appalled at the idea that we have to ask for permission to protest peacefully near Parliament. The comedy and farce of the situation is explored with Sunday picnics, space hijackers and Charlie Chaplin lookalikes, but the dark side is equally exposed with police assaults, stories of harassment and persecution, and the discriminatory application of the law for political ends. This will be a first screening of this unique documentary, but as the story still unfolds, it may not be the final cut.

also:

BRIAN HAW: PEACE CAMPAIGN
(Red Hill Films, US, 2007)

A short film bringing to life the story of Brian Haw's 6 year long continuous peace protest opposite Parliament in London.

The films will be followed by a panel discussion with Brian Haw, Rikki Blue, Maya Evans (the first person to be convicted under SOCPA and author of 'Naming The Dead - A Serious Crime'), Marc Vallée (photo journalist and hospitalised after action by police while taking photographs at a demonstration in the SOCPA zone) and Emma Sangster, Parliament Square Peace Campaign.

Renoir Cinema
Brunswick Centre
Russell Square WC1N1AW
Box Office: 0870 850 6927

To book tickets call 0870 850 6927 or they can be booked online at:
http://www.curzoncinemas.com/

for more information:
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/socpa/ (timeline of SOCPA related events and reports since August 2005)
www.parliamentprotest.org.uk (an information resource and discussion area to help organise resistance to SOCPA)
www.marcvallee.co.uk/protest_index.html (Marc Vallée's protest related photographic work)
www.repeal-socpa.info (information about initiatives to repeal the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005)

also see:

TAKING LIBERTIES FILM RELEASED 8 JUNE

A new documentary feature film, featuring Brian and many others involved in campaigning to protect our civil liberties, is being shown around the country. See here for details of screenings near you:
http://www.noliberties.com/cinema.htm

Its a very good and important film - see it if you can.

From the website:
" The shocking truth about the erosion of our fundamental civil liberties by Tony Blair's government will be exposed this summer in TAKING LIBERTIES, released in UK cinemas by Revolver Entertainment June 8th 2007.

"Right to Protest, Right to Freedom of Speech. Right to Privacy. Right not to be detained without charge, Innocent Until Proven Guilty. Prohibition from Torture. TAKING LIBERTIES will reveal how these six central pillars of liberty have been systematically destroyed by New Labour, and the freedoms of the British people stolen from under their noses amidst a climate of fear created by the media and government itself.

"TAKING LIBERTIES uncovers the stories the government don't want you to hear - so ridiculous you will laugh, so ultimately terrifying you will want to take action. Teenage sisters detained for 36 hours for a peaceful protest; an RAF war veteran arrested for wearing an anti-Bush and Blair T-shirt; an innocent man shot in a police raid; and a man held under house arrest for two years, after being found innocent in court. Ordinary law-abiding citizens being punished for exercising their 'rights' – rights that have been fought for over centuries, and which seem to have been extinguished in a decade.

"Irreverent but revelatory, outrageous but true, TAKING LIBERTIES combines these real stories of liberty loss with never-seen-before footage, cheeky stunts and comment from Mark Thomas, leading politicians, celebrities, human rights organisations, academics and lawyers. Narration from Ashley Jensen (EXTRAS, UGLY BETTY); a pumping soundtrack with tracks by Oasis, Radiohead, Stranglers and Franz Ferdinand; and the presence of Kurt Engfehr, producer of FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE add up to make TAKING LIBERTIES the most explosive and controversial film to hit screens this summer."