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IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Saturday 13 May 2006

BRIAN HAW SUPPORTERS TO GATHER IN SOLIDARITY WITHIN PROTEST EXCLUSION ZONE

SUNDAY 14 MAY, 12 noon, PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Supporters of Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace protestor, will gather this Sunday in Parliament Square to show solidarity with him and to celebrate his achievement of speaking out against the government’s foreign policy on Iraq for nearly 5 years. [A]

Earlier this week the Home Office won its appeal against a High Court judgement last year that Section 132 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA), which bans unauthorised protest in a large area around Parliament, could not be applied retrospectively and therefore did not apply to Brian. [B] This has now been overturned at the Court of Appeal ruling on 8 May 06 and the law does now apply to Brian. [C]

However, Mr Haw still remains with his display in Parliament Square. After the judgement on Monday, Mr Haw was given permission by the police to continue his protest and they issued him with a list of conditions with which he must comply. The very comprehensive conditions include a limit of 3 metres on the size of Mr Haw’s display and that no article can conceal or contain other items, and they must be arranged in such a way that it is possible to tell at a glance that there are no suspicious items. As Mr Haw has not as yet complied with these conditions he has been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service and they will decide what action to take.

Maya Evans (26) - who recently became the first person to be convicted under SOCPA – will be attending the event. She said, “We expect a large number of people to gather on Sunday which will reflect just how much support Brian has. He has continued to stand day and night for what he believes in and for what many, many people believe in. He may be alone on this pavement most of the time, but he is not alone in spirit.”

INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Contact 07791 486484 for more information.
www.parliament-square.org.uk

NOTES:
A. Brian Haw started his continuous vigil opposite Parliament on 2nd June 2001 to protest against the economic sanctions that were having such a disastrous effect of people's lives in Iraq. He has continued to protest against invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. His display shows the injustice and horrors that have been suffered as a result of our government's foreign policy. Brian's message has gone out globally and people visit him from all over the world. Many have left messages of peace that now form part of his display.

B. For more on the High Court ruling, 29 July 2005: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4725907.stm

C. For more on the Court of Appeal judgement, 8 May 2006: http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1770145,00.html

D. Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) anyone wishing to demonstrate within 1km of Parliament must apply to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not "reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used. In addition, any senior police office can change the conditions with no notice.

E. See 'MPs condemn arrest of woman who spoke out' (Daily Mail, 9 December 05) and 'Acts of defiance against war turned ordinary people into criminals' (Independent, 8 December 05).