What do you think of the protest ban on Parliament Square in London?

Question

Necessary precaution measure or limiting citizens' freedom of speech?

Answer 1

For many years now, the Government have been trying to get rid of a peace protester in Parliament Square, so far without success, but this ban is probably designed to do it once and for all.

Since 2nd June 2001, Brian Haw has been camped out in Parliament Square protesting the treatment firstly of the Iraqis, suffering under sanctions and then against the War, human rights abuses and the use of depleted uranium, which has caused an unprecedented rise in birth defects in the civilian populations where US arms have been used.

On the 11th June 2003, an American working at the US Embassy attacked Mr. Haw and broke his nose.  Brian was hospitalised, and the attacker skipped bail.  On the 20th Sept in the same year an Israeli also attacked Brian and again his nose was broken.  Brian had to spend 5 days in hospital and have an operation on his nose in December of 2003, and the police were useless in tracking down and bring his attackers to justice.

In December 2005, Brian Haw was shortlisted for the Human Rights Award:

"For outstanding commitment to justice, by maintaining a constant vigil outside Parliament demanding the respect for the human rights of those in other countries.  For the tireless and passionate defence of freedom of speech."

There have been many attempts to remove his displays from outside Parliament, but even when new laws have been passed, the Courts have decided they cannot be applied retrospectively, and so have not given authority for them to be removed and even deemed any attempt to do so unlawful.  Despite this, the police still have a lot of Brian's display material under lock and key.  

Freedom of Speech is not a privilige, it is the right of every citizen, and as such, should not be subject to any ban imposed by the State.  To allow the Government to dictate when and where we can protest is to abdicate our responsibilty to defend our civil liberties.  

Write to your MP and tell them this is unacceptable.  You only have yourself to blame if you don't do something to prevent the steady erosion of your freedoms.  

There is no evidence whatsoever that protests of this kind are a threat to security.

Answer 2

Protest the protest ban by protesting there. lol

In the U.S., we have something new called free speech zones. Sounds like thats what they are doing in London.