after this afternoon's 'democracy rally' (indy article), a group of about forty people decided to reoccupy parliament square. fences were dismantled and the security guards' tent was occupied and officially squatted. there were two arrests for alleged criminal damage, but the space was held for nearly six hours before guards man-handled protestors out after the police had left.



see past reports on …

on 25th may this year, when the queen visited parliament for the state opening, several democracy village citizens attempted to get past massive security and scale the building with banners. just one (known as "Sky Warrior") succeeded, and here is their rather inspiring and wonderful first-hand account of the day.

yesterday afternoon, citizens from the democracy village held a people's assembly, open to all, in victoria tower gardens next to parliament. this was followed by non-violent direct action to reclaim parliament square and disobey high court injunctions. after dozens of incursions, eventually one person was arrested.

democracy village activists cordially invite all to an open tournament of fence jumping in parliament square

80 days ago the democracy village set up on parliament square. Now it has gone. After losing the court hearing on 16th July (press release), and sending a call out to stand up for democracy, the eviction started just after 1am in the night of Monday 19th July. The public square was fenced in and democracy out (pics | video), and the two people in D-locks couldn't stop this. No one was arrested, b…

eviction over - huge green fences erected all round the grass, and even over some of pavement restricting access to the remaining pavement area where brian haw is. around 25 activists on the pavement there with little police presence.

the square is fenced off. three activists remain in resistant positions. no arrests. brian haw still there, and unaffected by operation. villagers have declared two call-outs for action. tomorrow (tuesday) and on saturday.

two people are locked on to a huge scaffolding edifice. people escorted off the square are coming back on with little trouble. an activist in on top of the 'peace strike' box with a megaphone. there are call-outs for civil disobedience tomorrow and a people's assembly on saturday.

around 60 bailiffs from private security firm 'gemini' have begun the eviction of the democracy village tomight just after 1am

The Democracy Village lost its appeal against eviction on Friday. They are awaiting the final order papers from bailliffs acting on behalf of Boris Johnston and the GLA, after which they expect a police/bailliff operation to clear the Square and put up fences. Ironic that Boris is claiming the Square will once again be free for tourists when in fact he's going to stop it being used by anyone! The …

A quick video glimpse of the village on a relaxed sunny afternoon.

The village called a people's assembly/peace rally following the loss of its appeal. Still undaunted the villagers have been able to maintain their camp right in front of The Houses of Parliament for more than 11 weeks since May 1st. Depending how you look at it, it is either an amazing Mayday demo or a massive cock a snook at an …

the high court rejected the democracy village appeal this morning. the way is open for bailiffs and police to attempt an eviction. the village has called a people's assembly/peace rally for tomorrow afternoon (saturday)

below is their press release / call-out

after delaying a further week, at 9am tomorrow morning the high court will hand down the ruling on the appeal by the democracy village against eviction.

Parliament Square Westminster

After today's high court verdict, the democracy villagers have made another call-out for experienced activists to join them at the start of a new campaign of non-violent direct action against the government's illegal wars.

The democracy village has survived against all odds in parliament square for nearly two whole months now.

the high court today gave the right to the GLA to evict the democracy village from the grass at westminster parliament square. five of the campers are launching an appeal on points of law, and the camp will be safe until at least the weekend while that process begins. villagers are also calling out for experienced activists to join forces with them to resist an eviction and to confront the governm…

Parliament Square Westminster London

On Mon Jun 14 in the High Court began the trial of the Mayor of London claiming repossession of Parliament Square from Democracy Village. This prime piece of real estate had been seized from the enemy class on Mayday, and a Village of over thirty tents, kitchen facilities, compost toilet and peace garden established over the course of the next six weeks.

From the outset, the villagers declared th…

The Parliament Square Democracy Village faces a new eviction hearing date at the High Court starting on Monday 14th June at 10.30. The case is expected to last several days. Villagers are also calling out for help from other activists as this protest goes from strength to strength and establishes its credentials as a fresh and exciting direction for the peace movement. Read more ... | See Democrac…

the notice of trespass brought on the democracy village by the GLA has been adjourned once again at a high court hearing. further argumants will be heard on friday at the high court.

after the democracy village eviction hearing was adjourned this afternoon at the high court, 3 protestors scaled the building and dropped banners 100 feet above the strand. police are in attendance.

the banners call for peace in afghanistan, no more war, and respect for soldiers but not for war.

the hearing itself was adjourned for further legal arguments and will continue on monday, with a prob…

hearing adjourned till this afternoon. boris dropped part of battle for now.

some pics from last night's critical mass

the democracy village has mounted a legal challenge to their imminent eviction, and it will be heard at the high court next thursday at 10am - supporters are urged to attend in numbers

democracy village activists have scaled big ben and dropped another peace banner this morning

later, activists blocked the front gates of parliament for some time with a large 'soldiers home now' banner, but police re-inforcements finally closed this down mid-afternoon

as parliament was state-opened today, the democracy village carried on with its main campaign to bring the troops home from afghanistan. the papers have gone apoplectic saying there should be no "permament" protest, but as the camp is clearly a protest about an admittedly long, but ongoing issue, there is no reason for the camp to remain indefinitely. with more and more troops coming out and agree…

in another direct action planned from the democracy village, a man climbed onto the treasury building with a banner this morning

guerilla gardening, open mic, music, anarchy and partying on a summer's afternoon

well it's probably not the real actual queen, but it's a chance to put up some pics from this week's actions around parliament square

a long brewing rift between protestors in parliament square has recently emerged very publicly in articles, comments, and malicious disinformation on uk indymedia. the arrival of the democracy village in the square has brought to a head a serious communication breakdown between the 'parliament square peace campaign' which brian haw established almost a decade ago, and the 'peace strike' which is m…