Pledge "protest" "I will form part of a human chain around the Westminster no protest zone but only if 6,000 other people will join in." -- Richard Deadline to sign up by: 15 th January 2007 1,486 people signed up, 4514 more were needed Country: United Kingdom More details The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) bans the right of protest (unless it is cleared by a commissioner 6 days in advance) within a 1km radius of the UK's seat of government. The area covers the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, most government ministries, St Thomas's Hospital, part of the South Bank and Lambeth Palace. As such the zone presents a threat to freedom of speech in that it prevents people's voices being heard by those who make our laws. Since it would be illegal to protest about this the zone, the pledge aims to organise a 100% legal protest just outside the zone. Jonathan (and anyone else who is interested), there have been some discussions over what to do about this pledge. They have passed through the picnic mailing list, and you can see them in the archive here: This is a great idea. But... not everyone is online you know; at least 50% of Brits still get all their news in other ways. You need to publicise this through other channels, and enable people to sign up in other ways. Example: at the Stop the War march on Saturday. Then, you might get 6000.. or more. But