The War on Dissent


Scoop

By Hidari, Section Anti-war tactics
Posted on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:22:58 AM EST

The story is simple: as has been the case frequently in the past, the anti-war movement will be holding a peaceful march on Monday 8th October to protest against Britain's continuing presence in Iraq. These marches and demonstrations are invariably peaceful with a low number of arrests (if anyone is arrested at all), and are an essential part of the democratic process given that the supine media have now forced the war off the front pages and replaced it with endless stories about Diana and Madeleine.

The March that is proposed for Monday, however, will be different, because the British Government has banned it.

'The Government has decided to ban a peaceful march called by the Stop the War Coalition on 8 October. The protest has been called to demand all the troops withdrawn from Iraq immediately. The police have said all protests within one mile of Parliament are now prohibited. This is an affront to democratic rights and contradicts the Prime Minister's commitment to liberalising protest laws. We urge the authorities to review this decision.'

The Govt is using a law dating back to 1839 to protect our poor, intimidated MPs.

However the Stop the War Coalition is committed to having the march anyway, which will now, unbelievably, in a democracy, constitute an act of civil disobedience. I would urge all readers (even those who normally aren't the marching type) to attend this demonstration, which assembles at 1pm at Trafalgar Square. If you wish to add your name to a petition protesting against this decision email: admin@stopwar.org.uk.

Given the unprecedent onslaught on civil liberties in the UK (not least the disgraceful 'terrorism act') it seems that the British people's right to engage in peaceful protest is to be the next casualty of the 'war on terror'. It is therefore vitallly important to make a stand here, before even more of our rights and liberties are taken from us.

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