Above: Occupy London protests for, Real Democracy outside of Parliament Square on November 22, 2014. Photo by Anthony Devlin, PA Wire. Three articles below describe how the police in London have blocked an occupy encampment on Parliament Square and how Occupy London then spent the night outside of the Supreme Court. The encampment was focused on the need for real democracy in Great Britain. It is interesting to contrast the police reaction to people assembling to redress grievances in London vs. the police reaction in Hong Kong. Which country China or England allows greater free expression? Which allows the people to assemble? Which allows people to speak in ways that the government is forced to hear them?
Iron Man said “The oppression of Free Speech during Occupy Democracy in October was so extreme this is the only way to get my voice heard.” Below Twitter shows Iron Man U-locked to Parliament Square holding a sign saying: Parliament is Closed, Democracy is Dead.
> @kaysara88: From talk 2 action. Locked on to gates/railings of Parliament #occupydemocracy pic.twitter.com/dfdPphypKl
— ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) November 23, 2014
Representative democracies are failing in most of the world. We need to move beyond western-style democracy of the UK and the United States as representative democracy no longer represent the peoples interests. New forms of democracy must be developed for the Internet age that include much greater participatory democracy — where people actually participate (not merely advise or elect representatives) in decision making — as well as greater direct democracy where people vote on critiical issues.
Occupy London activists attempt to set up camp in Parliament Square
Scuffles break out with police as about 100 protesters return to site where series of confrontations took place last month
Occupy London activists defied police warnings and gathered in central London on Friday to set up camp outside parliament.
Demonstrators converged on Parliament Square despite being told by Scotland Yard that they are banned from putting up tents or sleeping overnight by the landmark.
About 100 demonstrators formed a blockade in the road around the square, unveiling banners reading “real democracy now” and chanting “the police should be helping us”.
Long tailbacks formed along Whitehall as motorists sounded their horns, while scuffles broke out between protesters and police as the demonstration moved towards Downing Street.
Author Donnachadh McCarthy, 55, said: “It’s outrageous that in Parliament Square free speech is being suppressed by Boris Johnson’s officers. If you don’t have free speech in front of parliament, you don’t have free speech.”
After marching back down Whitehall toward the square, protesters were met by a police blockade and gathered near the Nelson Mandela statue, playing Free Nelson Mandela by The Special AKA. Nearby, around 80 activists gathered outside the supreme court.
John Sinha, one of the organisers of the Occupy protest, said he believed the police blockade of Parliament Square was illegal.
“I suspect they probably have no legality in enforcing it,” he said.
Organisers called for supporters to return to Parliament Square from 6pm on Friday until late on Sunday.
Scotland Yard insisted it had “an appropriate and proportionate police plan in place” for the event, adding it had attempted to make contact with organisers but the group had “failed to engage” with the police force.
A Section 60 AA order was put in place by the Metropolitan police in the area around Parliament Square, which gives police powers to force people to remove masks when they anticipate criminal activity.
Announcing the event on the Occupy website, a statement said: “Our votes, so hard won by the struggles of previous generations, have little value if politicians ignore the population they’re supposed to serve.”
There were a series of clashes with police on Parliament Square last month as supporters of the Occupy movement stood their ground for nine days. Green party politician Jenny Jones was among a group of arrested protesters.
Occupy protesters in bid to set up camp in Parliament Square
The pro-democracy group called on supporters to “return to Parliament Square” from 6pm this evening until late on Sunday.
Protesters are banned from setting up camp in front of the Palace of Westminster and Scotland Yard has warned that “an appropriate and proportionate police plan” is in place for this evening’s event.
Dozens of officers were stationed in front of fencing placed around Parliament Square which prevented people from accessing the site.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said it attempted to make contact with organisers but the group had “failed to engage” with the police force.
The force confirmed a Section 60 AA order was in place in the area around Parliament Square which gives police powers to force people to remove masks where they anticipate criminal activity.
Pro-democracy: police manage the demonstration in Parliament Square (Picture: YouTube/ Ruptly)
The order is in place until 2pm tomorrow, a police spokesman said.
Protester Tom Kay, 21, from Sheffield, branded the police guard around Parliament Square “a disgrace”.
He said: “Protest is legal in this country and I think we should be able to protest where we want.
“The police are unwilling to let people protest seriously.”
Announcing the event on the Occupy website, a statement said: “We’re coming together because we want genuine democracy – free from corporate influence – where our voices count.
“Our votes, so hard won by the struggles of previous generations, have little value if politicians ignore the population they’re supposed to serve.”
There were a series of clashes with police on Parliament Square last month as supporters of the Occupy movement stood their ground for nine days. Green Party politician Jenny Jones was among a group of arrested protesters.
Protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Supreme Court in London
Canning Green, a grassy area near the court, has also been closed off by police. Protesters said that they were demonstrating against the bedroom tax and the privatisation of the NHS. One protester, Raymond Obedencio, who spent last night on the square, said: “We didn’t vote for the privatisation of the NHS. We didn’t vote for TTIP (Transatlantic trade investment partnership). We didn’t vote for fracking.
“But all these things are happening. We all came together and we decided that there’s a democratic deficit. People don’t know these things so we have to keep educating them. Unfortunately the narrative is becoming more about the right to protest.”
The group was planning to hold debates and talks today. However, another protester, who didn’t want to give his full name, said that the low turnout was “disappointing”.There was a heavy police presence around the entire square. One person was arrested yesterday for criminal damage to the fence, and has now been released.
Superintendent Andy Walker of the Metropolitan Police said: “Our role here is very simply to facilitate peaceful protest. There will be a policing presence for as long as the protest takes place.” In response to concerns from protesters about tarpaulins and cardboard being removed, he said: “The Police Social Responsibility Act prohibits the use of anything for sleeping.”
At around 1pm a sofa and a carpet were carried into the area, prompting chants of ‘Whose sofa? Our sofa” and “Whose square? Our square.” The area is owned by Westminster Council, and staff were on site talking to protesters. Organisers from the Occupy movement called for supporters to gather outside the Palace of Westminster last night for the start of a three-day demonstration. But they were met by dozens of police officers and fencing guarding Parliament Square after Scotland Yard warned activists they were banned from camping at the landmark.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said last night that organisers from the movement had “failed to engage” with the force and that it had “an appropriate and proportionate police plan in place” for the event. A Section 60 AA order was enforced in the area around Parliament Square which gave police powers to force people to remove masks where they anticipated criminal activity. But that order was due to expire at 2pm today.
Last month there were a series of clashes with police on Parliament Square as supporters of the Occupy movement stood their ground for nine days. Green Party politician Jenny Jones was among a group of arrested protesters. Under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, officers can forcibly remove any protesters who decide to set up camp in Parliament Square. The legislation was introduced after anti-war campaigners spent years occupying the London landmark outside Parliament.
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Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WirePolice officers lock the gates of Downing Street as protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Ministry of Defense, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WirePolice surround Parliament Square as protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireA man is removed by police officers as protestors hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WirePolice surround Parliament Square as protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group pose with placards as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WirePolice surround Parliament Square as protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireA police officer instructs a woman to uncover her face as protestors from the Occupy group hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London. -
Anthony Devlin/PA WireProtestors from the Occupy group attempt to stop traffic in Parliament Square as they hold a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London.