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MORE LONDON DEMOS

Friday 18th January saw another unannounced day of demos in the Metropolitan police area. With news filtering through about the raid this morning, we were feeling angry and determined to do a good demonstration. We turned up at AstraZeneca on Stanhope Gate at about 1145 and started a loud, meaningful demo. Normally the police turn up within about 10 minutes and, without a second thought about the lawfulness of its use, impose section 14 and 42 restrictions. In other words this means no megaphones and having to move to the other side of the road. However, on this occasion, the police took absolutely ages to turn up - over an hour in fact - so the demonstration took place as if we had a reasonable police force watching us, not the Draconian Metropolitan police. However there may have been covert monitoring of our demonstration, as one of the uniformed officers from last week's demo showed up in plain clothes this week. When the police eventually arrived, they imposed sections 14 and 42 (even though it was apparent to all present that they didn't know the laws that they were enforcing). More evidence for actions against the police in the future. We stayed there until about 130 and then departed.

We had a bit of a rest and then moved on to Pakistan International Airways nearby. This disgusting company flies primates who end up on vivisection tables in places like HLS. Many of the monkeys die on PIA flights in transport. We decided against using the megaphone on this occasion because the street is narrow and we have had enough trouble with the builders opposite that we didn't want more. Plus we wanted to give the police no excuses to move us. Again, very strangely, the police didn't show up. We stayed for about an hour outside PIA. After the hour 2 PCSOs turned up. We had already decided to leave at this point anyway, and these fake policemen were irritated that we wouldn't give them any information.

Overall a successful day of demos, most of which we policed ourselves. All we want to do is have the right to demonstrate reasonably, and we showed that we can do this in the absence of the police today.


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MORE LONDON DEMOS Friday 18th January saw another unannounced day of demos in the Metropolitan police area. With news filtering through about the raid this morning, we were feeling angry and determined to do a good demonstration. We turned up at AstraZeneca on Stanhope Gate at about 1145 and started a loud, meaningful demo. Normally the police turn up within about 10 minutes and, without a second thought about the lawfulness of its use, impose section 14 and 42 restrictions. In other words this means no megaphones and having to move to the other side of the road. However, on this occasion, the police took absolutely ages to turn up - over an hour in fact - so the demonstration took place as if we had a reasonable police force watching us, not the Draconian Metropolitan police. However there may have been covert monitoring of our demonstration, as one of the uniformed officers from last week's demo showed up in plain clothes this week. When the police eventually arrived, they imposed sections 14 and 42 (even though it was apparent to all present that they didn't know the laws that they were enforcing). More evidence for actions against the police in the future. We stayed there until about 130 and then departed. We had a bit of a rest and then moved on to Pakistan International Airways nearby. This disgusting company flies primates who end up on vivisection tables in places like HLS. Many of the monkeys die on PIA flights in transport. We decided against using the megaphone on this occasion because the street is narrow and we have had enough trouble with the builders opposite that we didn't want more. Plus we wanted to give the police no excuses to move us. Again, very strangely, the police didn't show up. We stayed for about an hour outside PIA. After the hour 2 PCSOs turned up. We had already decided to leave at this point anyway, and these fake policemen were irritated that we wouldn't give them any information. Overall a successful day of demos, most of which we policed ourselves. All we want to do is have the right to demonstrate reasonably, and we showed that we can do this in the absence of the police today.
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