I missed this when it happened because I was living it up at my parents' and not wasting work time keeping up with current affairs, but thought it worth sharing, especially as there are some great pictures
here credited to
London Daily News.
Background:
Brian Haw started a protest against sanctions against Iraq in 2001. He was protesting in Parliament Square - in front of the House of Commons. There were various attempts to move him, but as he was breaking no law he remained.
Until the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act was passed last year. Some cynics claim that the section dealing with protest in Parliament Square was specifically written to get rid of Brian, who has become a hero to both the anti-war and freedom of speech movements. It is pointed out that protesters can demonstrate after obtaining a permit to protest from the police. Therefore any terrorist (especially a suicidal one) can trip merrily along to the police station, get a permit and then blow themself up six days later, before the wheels of bureaucracy have even started turning.
Brian challenged the law claiming it could not be applied retrospectively - therefore making him the only person legally allowed to protest without a permit. I believe this is still going through appeals processes.
Anyway - to Lone Protest Day. People were invited to submit applications to the same police station, on the same day and protest in Parliament Square on 31 August. 120 turned up, protesting a number of different causes - the Croydon Loony Party called for 'Free Chocolate For Students, Pensioners and the Unemployed', a campaign to have Robbie Williams exiled for crimes against music and a call to have wanking banned because 'every time you masturbate, God kills a Tory'. Amongst others of course.
What can I say - yay for the lone protesters who were busy trying to save us from our own Govt while I was getting drunk with my Mum & Dad. A quintessentially English way of going about it too, imo.