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Shoot first, ask questions later.

 
 
pointless and uncalled for
07:04 / 12.05.04
No, it's not the handling of Iraqis, but it is very close.

After nearly three years the government has finally decided that Brian Haw has to go. With no actual legal footing they have opted to arrest him, remove the protest displays and detain him at Charing Cross Police Station until they can find some reason why his freedom to protest should be revoked.

The "hands up if you're suprised" crowd have reported a shocking decline in numbers.
 
 
Our Lady Has Left the Building
07:58 / 12.05.04
Well, the good news is that he was released a few hours later and returned to his customary site, last I heard. But compare it to when Bush visited Sedgfield, all the anti-protesters were cordoned well away from where Blair or Bush would see them, a lone protester with a sign saying something like 'Welcome President Bush, these people don't speak for me' was allowed MUCH closer. We have the freedom to demonstrate sure, but the establishment will make it more difficult for people who don't support their views.

Expect these sorts of actions to increase as long as public support for Government action drops.
 
 
Jester
15:59 / 12.05.04
Why did they arrest him? I would have thought he's been there long enough to know all of the minor things he has to do to avoid that.
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
06:16 / 13.05.04
There are better details here

I suspect that the case for assault is very thin indeed but in a one word against another scenario it will be very hard for a judge to accuse a police officer of fabrication of any kind.

As for the security alert, no names or further details have been provided which makes me think that this could well have been a set-up. Some bright spark probably thought that this would be a nice easy way to circumvent the usual obstacles in preventing freedom of speech.
 
 
Our Lady Has Left the Building
14:21 / 13.05.04
Can I ask what the relevence of the title of this thread is?
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
06:27 / 14.05.04
The reported general attitude of the police in this whole incident. i.e, to act and then find a reason to do so afterwards.
 
  
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