We the people have the right to have our rights taken away in response to terror, or so says the government. There have been blatant infringements on our rights from our leaders, such as warrant-less wire-tapping and invasive security cameras. Other rights seem to be taken away in the dark by less ostentatious methods. Sometimes we do not even realize that our supposedly inalienable rights have been stolen. We already are a nation of the “politically correct,” so freedom of speech is subsequently under attack. Though we still have the right to speak our minds (in correct terms) in just about any medium we choose (newspapers, television, blogs, megaphones etc.), our allies in Britain do not. This is why I chose to research the unusual, quirky, peaceful People in Common.
Captivating for many reasons, the People in Common interests me mostly because my British friend and tour-guide, Mark B., is one of the non-demonstrating demonstrators and founding fathers of this group. I met Mark four years ago on one of my many traipses across the Atlantic in search of new adventure and community. He works for the tour company, NETC, and is phenomenal, not only because of the force of his personality, which is brilliant, but because he genuinely wants to make the world a better place. That makes him a kindred spirit to me. When he is not on tour, Mark is a political activist, a writer, a philosopher, and a bit of a dreamer. This particular combination of traits led him and eventually me, vicariously, to the People in Common.
The People in Common hold impromptu, peaceful demonstrations in the grassy park in Parliament Square, an action that has become illegal under the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act or SOCPA. SOCPA is London’s response to fear of terrorism and stipulates that no one may demonstrate within 1 kilometer of Parliament Square without permission from the government. This law silences the collective voice of the people and restricts freedom of speech, a right that Americans take for granted. My friend Mark, along with the other People in Common, creatively and peacefully test the limits of this law every Sunday at 1:00pm by holding what they call “the Sunday picnic.” At the picnic, the People in Common, or picnickers, gather together to drink tea, eat teacakes, and play croquet. Sometimes their picnic is themed. For example, one was deemed the “Mad Hatter Tea Party” where picnickers went dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland. One time, the theme of the picnic was “King George in Drag” where picnickers went dressed…well, you get the picture. The People in Common have even spent the night in Parliament Square in coordination with the theme “Shhhh. Democracy is sleeping,” at which they wore pajamas and brought sleeping bags and tents. The picnickers carry blank banners and posters, since displaying slogans on them is illegal. They demonstrate anything, such as how to stand up and sit down, in order to test the rhetoric of the law. All of this seemingly silly behavior ironically shows how silly and ridiculous the government is being in its law making. No matter what the theme, according to Scotland Yard, the actions of this rabblerousing group are illegal. How does one arrest someone who offers them a spot of tea and a go at croquet? The police, however, have done some arresting.
Since the People in Common were organized a year ago, several of them, including Mark, have been arrested and fined for offences like having a tea party. It is appalling to me that a fully operating, democratic government would be allowed by its own people to create such sanctions against what we would call our freedoms, especially when the real criminals conspire elsewhere. It is appalling to me that there are only a few who would challenge their government in an effort to create change, especially when the cause is necessary to prevent our political leaders from inadvertently installing a 1984 society. It absolutely is terrifying to me that we are so changed by a fear that will do nothing except allow our leaders to take away freedoms in a dubious effort to “keep us safe”. If this type of governmental control is exercised in the country that is most like ours, then it can and will happen here. It is just a matter of time.