Fallujah, SOCPA & the Polish Pope: The day after the Fools Paradise Parade towards the Severe Organised Crime and Police Act exclusion zone in yesterday’s publish I used to be again in Parliament Sq. for one more protest in defiance of that restriction on our freedom to protest. Milan Rai and Maya Evans from the Justice Not Vengeance anti-war group had organised an occasion on Sunday 2nd April 2006 to mark the second anniversary of the main US assault on Fallujah which had begun on 4th April 2004.
The US having used overwhelming army pressure was ultimately in a position to declare victory over the few hundred Iraqi militants, nevertheless it was a propaganda catastrophe for them by way of opinion each in Iraq and all over the world, each as a result of they killed roughly thrice as many civilians – primarily girls and kids – as militants, and since the Iraqi militants they have been combating and the civilians have been largely against Saddam Hussein and his occasion.
Right here with the standard correct capitalisation and minor corrections is my piece from My London Diary written in 2006, together with one other quick publish on Polish Catholics in London marking the primary anniversary of the loss of life of the much-loved Polish Pope John Paul II.
Naming the Lifeless: 2 Years After Fallujah
Sunday’s demonstration on the second anniversary of the US assault on Fallujah on April 4, 2004 was a bigger and extra somber event.
It was additionally organised as an “unauthorised” demonstration within the Westminster Exclusion Zone, and unlawful beneath SOCPA; the organisers and people collaborating risked fines of as much as £1000.
Not less than 572 folks, primarily civilians, have been killed on this first of two assaults on Fallujah, together with over 300 girls. Throughout the 4 hours of the demonstration their names have been learn out. Individuals got here to the centre of the circle three at a time and every learn a web page of the names. As no megaphones are allowed for use within the restricted space they needed to shout to make themselves heard.
Placards aren’t allowed both, so folks had posters with names and footage of the lifeless and hung these round their necks. There have been additionally some large puppets representing Iraqi folks. In addition to the studying of the names, there was additionally a brief play, and a few readings of testimonies from individuals who have been there.
The proceedings carried on via some heavy downpours, interspersed by vibrant solar. After I made a depend, there have been about 300 current, though some got here and left all through the interval.
There have been just a few police round, largely staying on the perimeter of the realm, with a small group a little bit nearer taking notes and a police photographer with an extended lens taking footage. In any other case they appeared to be taking little discover, though I’ve since seen a report that the person dressed as Charlie Chaplin [Charlie X] and carrying a placard studying “not aloud” (see footage of him within the Fools Paradise Parade publish), had his particulars taken and was cautioned and informed he could also be prosecuted. It’s also potential that the police might use proof gathered through the afternoon to subject summonses later.
There have been fairly a couple of media photographers current, and at the least one TV crew paid a go to, so the occasion might get relatively extra publicity than most different demonstrations.
At 4 o’clock, the police famous that demonstrators left the sq., however they apparently ignored the unauthorised – and thus unlawful – march that happened behind a coffin up Whitehall to reverse Downing Avenue, the place a brief ceremony with readings happened. I needed to depart earlier than it had completed.
Anniversary of Loss of life of Pope Jean Paul II
Additionally happening through the afternoon was a march by 2000 Polish catholics to mark the primary anniversary of the loss of life of the Polish Pope John Paul II. The procession was addressed briefly by a priest from the steps in entrance of the Nationwide Gallery in Trafalgar Sq. earlier than setting off down Whitehall on its method to Westminster Cathedral.
Quite a few folks within the procession carried Polish flags or footage of the late Pope, and lots of had flowers which might be left in his honour at Westminster Cathedral.
Driving rain quickly made images tough, although it stopped and the rain got here out once we have been midway down Whitehall.
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Tags: 2 Years After Fallujah, 2006, anniversary, April 2006, civilian deaths, coffin, downing road, Fallujah, flowers, funeral procession, large puppets, Iraqi militants, Justice Not Vengeance, London, main US assault, Maya Evans, Milan Rai, army pressure, Naming the Lifeless, no megaphones, peter Marshall, Plish flags, police, Polish Catholics, Polish Pope, Pope John Paul II, second anniversary, SOCPA, unauthorised demonstration, Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Exclusion Zone, whitehall
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