Boris Johnson trying to ban protest & free press in Trafalgar & Parliament Squares

[threeleftfeet]

Got till the end of Feb to make objections against this (if you want to) ...

A notice was published yesterday detailing Boris Johnson's plans to get a byelaw passed for Trafalgar square and Parliament Square which will effectively outlaw protests and ban media reporting in the squares, other than those sanctioned in advance by the Mayor.

It would make it an offence to do the following (among other things) without written permission in advance:

• make or give any speech or public address

• take pictures or film on behalf of a business or organisation --- (does he mean to suppress the media as well as protesters with this one?)

• make audio recordings or transmissions (even if not affiliated to an organisation)

• ?organise or take part in any assembly, display, performance, representation, parade, procession, review or theatrical event?

• display any sign / notice / "pictorial or printed matter"

• erect or keep erected any tent or similar structure

• intend to use any kind of "sleeping equipment" there

(.. and a whole load of other stuff about not feeding the birds / jumping in fountains etc.)

It also makes it an offence to fail to comply with a reasonable direction given by "an authorised person" to leave the square.

Seeing as just about every protest in London ends up in Trafalgar Square and/or Parliament Square, isn't this a direct attack on democracy and the freedom of the press?

It was published today for "consultation" at www.london.gov.uk/consultation/confirmation-byelaws-trafalgar-square-and-parliament-square-garden

And apparently mentioned in the notices in the Evening Standard, hidden in the jobs section: sturdyblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/thou-shalt-not-demonstrate/

The "consultation" is open until February 29th for objections (details via the links above).

When Brian Haw started his protest, many commentators, much of the media and plenty of politicians were still trying to pretend there had been some justification for war in Iraq. Now we know he was right all along. Yet he was persecuted, instead of Blair being prosecuted.

Brian Haw's protest was honourable, it was right and it was decent. The quisling local and national politicians who tried to silence him, and silence any other protesters pointing out the deadly price innocent people had paid for Blair's lies, should be doing public penance. Instead national and local politicians are continuing to try to suppress and outlaw protest. They dishonour this country and the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to keep us free from oppression.

He was a great man who unwittingly highlighted the hypocrisy of this country with the constant costly court cases being levied against him just for saying what we all know and displaying information outside the seat of power that we can all readily access on the internet any time we like.

Whats that website where you can make petitions that get debated in the house is they get over 10,000 signatures? we need a petition to stop the flagrant miss use of the word "honourable" within in the house of commons.

Ryoko-

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/

Many thanks.