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"I will commute past Westminster on a bike wearing a vest that says "SOCPA sucks" but only if 10 other local people will do the same."
— Nik Shah, Kentish Town cyclist
Deadline to sign up by: 14th February 2007
9 people signed up, 1 more was needed
Country: United Kingdom
Place: London (view map)
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The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) has outlawed protest within 1km of Westminster. My company is moving to Victoria in February so I will be cycling past the houses of Parliament and through the SOCPA protest exclusion zone more or less every day. I'll start from then onwards, but if anyone wants to start earlier, feel free.
If nothing else, it'll put a smile on Brian Haw's face. He is the brave man who has spent the last 5 years protesting against the Iraq war outside parliament.
This is an update of an old pledge. I was never going to do it until February anyway, but I couldn't work out how to do a 2007 date. now I can, so happy new year everyone, and here's already looking forward to St Valentine's SOCPAsucks day.
I have a vision of Big Ben ticking 9.25, and a stream of cyclists entering the zone from Millbank, Whitehall and the Embankment, and all charging towards Parliament Square. Stationed there (once they see it happening a few times) will be hundreds of bike police, waiting to apprehend the civilly disobeying horde. We'll all enter the junction at once, taking them by surprise. Spinning off in our various directions, the confused Keystone Kops in hot pursuit, we hurtle 1km towards the border as though it were Mexico, zooming through while the Police are forced to pull up short, shaking their fists at the sky.
"If the bike protest gets enough people, I might print some vests in exchange for a round number of pounds, with any profits going to buy Brian Haw a Thermos flask. I probably won't though, cos I'm a lazy shit, so if anyone would like to do this themselves, get in touch, as I've got a list of everyone here's email addresses."
That's what I wrote before. Now, a kind man named Max has got in touch to say:
"I've got keen and made a t-shirt already. Not very cheap (22.50 plus postage), but its in huge reflective lettering so all the bus drivers can read it and printed on a reasonably ethical t-shirt. If anyone is interested in one of these, let me know via Nik."
As the man says, let me know. I'll see about cheaper options and post them in the comments page if I find any.