SQUARING UP TO 'EM

AS PROTESTERS PREPARE TO GIVE THE TORYS A WARM WELCOME...

Only four days into the brave new Libservative era and the population is getting into the national coalition-building mood - a rag-tag rainbow alliance of the disaffected is set to pitch up in Parliament Square this Saturday (15th). But will it be a strong, stable protest in the national interests?

Rave Against The Machine 2 - Parliament Square street party and sound clash, 4pm-11pm. “A smashing good day out!” Enjoy the carnival and spectacle of a country pissed off with its ‘leaders’! “Just like the last party, invite your friends, and bring booze!” Fuck The Torys! Fuck The Lib Dems! And Fuck Labour!

The Democracy Village was established in Parliament Square on May 1st (see SchNEWS 721) demanding on behalf of the majority of people that the war in Afghanistan is ended and the troops are brought home with immediate effect. The village is still going on strong - all are welcome to get involved. (see http://democracyvillage.blogspot.com for more details)

Guerilla Gardening - Brighten up Parliament Square - which is in desperate need of colourful flora. Starting at 12pm - bring plants, flowers and picnic food. From 4pm there will be live music, an open mic, and a discussion forum. http://democracyvillage.blogspot.com

Purple Patch - At 2pm a purple ‘coalition’ (mostly pissed-off Lib-Dem supporters) will assemble at Parliament Square for the Take Back Parliament protest. This campaign has marshalled its forces surprisingly quickly and now there’s purple protests all around the country. www.takebackparliament.com

Nakba Protest - Outside 10 Downing St will be a Nakba* commemoration Free Palestine Demonstration 12pm-5pm, called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Initiative, Stop the War Coalition, CND, Palestinian Forum in Britain. www.palestinecampaign.org

* Arab name for the forced mass exodus of the Palestinian people in 1948

Party At The Pumps Part 2 – The Canadian wilderness is the threatened by Shell’s massive tar-sands mining .. Three days before the corporation’s AGM, come to a party on the forecourt and help shut down Shell Hell. Meet 1pm at Oxford Circus for Party At The Pumps Part 2 – with sound system and samba band. Bring a zone 1-2 tube ticket, make some noise. There will also be a special Party at the Pumps Critical Mass which will begin at Marble Arch at 1pm, moving to the location of the party. http://no-tar-sands.org

Climate Emergency Overnight Vigil - outside Parliament. The event will ‘kick off’ with a candlelit procession down Whitehall, with people assembling at 11pm outside St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. www.campaigncc.org
One permanent fixture at Parliament Square is the Peace Camp, featuring long-term resident Brian Haw. June 2nd is the 9th anniversary of Brian’s initial camp – he’s still there, just as are troops in Afghanistan. www.parliament-square.org.uk