This from 2005 Tom BBC NEWS | UK | England | London | Protest ban zone 'goes too far' And this is what the Head of the Met Police had to say about it today The Commissioner, Paul Stephenson, asked about the possibility of a ban, said, “That’s one of the options we have got. Banning is a very difficult step to take, these are very balanced judgments.” He said marches could be banned subject to the approval of the Home Secretary, Theresa May. But he admitted that activists would be likely to march in defiance of a ban, which could “just be inflaming the situation further.” The now Goverment was then in opposition Tom and very much against such a ban LOL
So the chief IS considering a form of martial law. True then and not spin. I suppose you think that this form of preventing peaceful protest is a good idea?
Why would you say that Tom, you asked me for info and I supplied it Also I sugest that you read up on what martial law actualy is, as it stands in this country the goverment allready have the power to ban a protest and have done so on a few occassions Add to this he said he was considering asking the Goverment to ban NOT that HE was going to ban, the police do not have that type of power in this country we are actuasly a Democracy regardless of what you seem to believe. There is also a difference between a peaceful protest Tom and one that has on two sepperate occasions now disintigrated into mindless violence but then again I suppose you condone such actions dont you
No I don't condone condone mindless violence Steve. I also don't think allowing government to mute the voice of its citizens at their discretion is a great idea either. I guess you automatically equate peaceful protest with mindless violence. I don't believe in violence in protest because once you do that, you're giving them a reason to act against you in whatever form they so choose. I believe the video camera and the web is the best weapon available to unhappy citizens while protesting. Don't know about the UK but over here, they're regularly muting (bullying) its population under the guise of security. Alex Jones documents that very well in several of his films. The camera and sound is ultimately the best tool when dealing with tentacles of the criminals. I'm glad you so happily see submission to the government a great idea. I don't....not when we have the slew of bandits and thugs we do today in it. Back to the OP, I simply asked you what the deal was since you are in the UK and thought you could provide verification of the link. You did and thank you. Sorry I ruffled your feathers.
Tom you are realy beginging to pee me off with your unilatral decision to decide what I think or care about The protests were not peaceful, I seen them in person, did you Tom? I have not once stated that I was for or against any given set of tacticts, I simply pointed out to you that this goverment when in opposition in 2005 decried exactly the same proposals put foreward by the then head of the Metrapolitan Police now if you in some warped manner can translate that into I support some form of Martial Law then you realy are crazy Also Martial law is a take over of civil and political power by the millitery not the police
Ok, the protests were not peaceful. Check. You agree with the link or no? If I post my own conclusions to your responses, it's probably because they lack the simple answer I thought I'd get. My apologies.
Tom how clear can I make it? You never asked if I agreed with the link you asked if it was truth or spin So I will say it again the GOVERMENT allready have the power as do the local council to ban or limit any protest THE POLICE DO NOT So yes the story is basicly true but the headlines and mention of MArtial law are pure spin
So then do you agree that banning protests is appropriate all the time? Who's discretion should it be left up to? That's all I'm trying to get at. I submit that it is a very bad idea most, if not all of the time. Why bother to follow the Constitution at all? Why not flush it down the toilet and start over? (I know the Patriot Act already does most of that for us but I digress).
No Tom I do not believe that blanket bans are appropriate and as to who should decide then that should be the elected politicians because if they screw it up they have to answer to the voters As for the constitution we dont actualy have one (which I think is a bad thing) Over 90% of protests in this country go ahead without any violence it is a small minority who go down the violence route and quite often the same ones at different demos.
