/quote
A flashmob in Washington has felt the full force of the law, by being forcibly arrested by police - for dancing in public. They'd gathered at the Jefferson Memorial in defiance of a ban on dancing at the monument. Among those held were RT America presenter Adam Kokesh, who says he was slammed to the ground by officers. The ban came in during 2008 when an activist sued police for arresting her for public dancing. The group say they were paying tribute to her as a champion of the First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom, and in response to US District Judge John D. Bates' ruling that denounced dancing on the site.
/end quote
The Americans can go over board but it couldn't happen here could it?
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/press-release.asp?id=2233
/quote
POLICE in Birmingham have obtained a dispersal order for the city centre.
...
Under the order, officers will have the power to move on any group of two or more people deemed to be acting anti-socially. Officers can also arrest anyone in breach of the order.
/end quote
So if the police decide a couple bopping in th street in Brum is anti social they can be dispersed or arrested.
And some people think the west is free :(
h/t to Captain Ranty and OH.
Free? No.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zt98ys08vo
ReplyDeleteI hope that link works. I'm sure you have already seen this. To paraphrase the cop 'some pro-monarchy people are coming into the square and I fear a breach of the peace, so you need to go'. Surely their job us to protect and supervise, intervening when necessary, not to disperse people on the basis of spurious conjecture and remote possibility? This group was holding a 'zombie wedding' themed picnic. Hardly violent intent.
There was a lot of police activity around the royal wedding. For example:
ReplyDeletehttp://bastardoldholborn.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-02T10%3A13%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOli98fgBP0&feature=player_embedded
Can't let the monarchy know that not everyone loves them. And the UK media has an attitude about North Korea.