One of the most important parts of our protest is that we live as much as possible as destitute Asylum Seekers over the 2 weeks we are at Parliament Square. As well as only eating the contents of a Red Cross food parcel, we will also be “sleeping rough”.
Many refused Asylum Seekers end up destitute, sleeping under bridges or in phone boxes etc. Ben and I have decided that in solidarity with their plight, we will sleep outside, not at a friends house or my wife’s parents flat.
I called the Special Events Team at Charing Cross Police Station a few days ago to let them know what we are planning and to see what we might need to do to get any permission we might need. The officer I spoke to was very understanding about our protest and not in any way antagonistic. He simply told me what we ought to expect if we were to sleep in tents at Parliament Square.
He pointed out that there were byelaws from Westminster Council and the Greater London Authority banning the erection of tents at Parliament Square. This is the Westminster Council Byelaw is here and the Greater London Authority Byelaw is here.
Because of these byelaws, the police officer said that our tents could be searched at any time and removed if found without its owner. If Westminster Council decided to prosecute us, then of course we could be arrested.
Brian Haw and his supporters currently sleep in tents on the pavement on the East side of Parliament Square which is managed by Westminster Council. Many attempts have been made to legally force them off the Square, but none have succeeded. So we will join Brian’s protest. He has already said that we can join him and that he supports our protest aims.
Brian has lived at Parliament Square since 2001 and passionately protests against the British War machine, particularly our acts of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Brian has expressed deep concern for people fleeing threatening situations and coming to Britain and is appalled, like many people, at how the Asylum system in Britain treats such Asylum Seekers. Our shared concern and anger at how our country treats foreign people, both in their own nation and in our nation, means that our protests are very closely linked.
Ben and I know of a number of people who have said that they would like to come and join our protest for a night or two during our 2 weeks. We can only point out the above information and that it is at your own risk, though any support is muchly appreciated!
