POLICE GIVE ULTIMATUM TO PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE PROTESTOR, BRIAN HAW

The Metropolitan police are threatening to take action against Brian Haw, the Parliament Square peace protester, unless he dismantles his protest by midday on Thursday 1st April 2004.

In meetings and correspondence with Brian Haw and his solicitors, Chief Superintendent Dean Ingledew and Chief Inspector Andrew Robinson of Charing Cross Police Station, have asked him to 'move', failing which they will 'consider appropriate legal action' saying that 'time is of the essence'.

Brian Haw says:
"Time is of the essence", kids, innocents in Iraq and elsewhere, theirs, ours/are suffering, dying. This has been my burden for 1033 days/nights. I miss my ex-wife and 7 glorious kids like crazy - all because I know to love my neighbour and child as my own.

"Now, sadly, pressurised police have joined the coalition of the wicked. Peers, priests, politicos, Sun-readers, GLA, Westminster City Council, hired thugs, the mis-informed gang up against me.

"Time is of the essence" police say as they unreasonably seek to remove this source of the greatest embarrassment to Bush and Blair in the whole world. They want a resolution by Thursday, not withstanding, they have yet to provide us with the legal basis for requesting me move; nor have answered my solicitors most pertinent enquiries. The "Patriot Act in USA / terrorist threat" here - is freedom of speech so easily dispensed with after 350 years of protest here on this spot? National, International law, the Human Rights Act vindicate me. Now those with utter contempt for law would circumvent this by all means foul and perverted.

"Stop killing kids, their mums and dads and kin, stop thieving, start giving and loving and I'm gone - simple. The answer is in their hands. Are you with me? If you're not yet outraged you are not paying attention. God save the people, love Brian and Co."

Brian Haw's solicitor, Michael Schwarz, said: "Brian Haw is peacefully campaigning on perhaps the most significant issue of the day at a place which is supposed to be the very heart of our democracy. It is difficult to think of a more compelling example of the deployment of the rights to protest"

Notes
1. Brian Haw has been in Parliament Square continuously since 1st June 2001 in protest against among other things the West's sanctions and then war against Iraq.

2. On 4th October 2002 Westminster City Council's High Court proceedings against him for obstruction of the highway were dismissed on the grounds that Brian was exercising his freedom of expression and assembly under the Human Rights Act; and separate proceedings by Westminster City Council for nuisance in Marylebone Magistrates Court on 30th October 2002 were discontinued.

Contact for more information: MICHAEL SCHWARZ 020 7833 4433

Emma Sangster

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