British government enacts fascist ban on all protests!

LONDON, England (PNN) - August 28, 2011 - The British government has applied a blanket ban on all kinds of marches and protest gatherings in London amid fears of violence and disorder.

The Home Office announced the blanket ban on all marches in five London boroughs for 30 days starting September 2.

Home Secretary Theresa May banned all marches in Tower Hamlets, east London, and four neighboring boroughs in the capital for a 30-day period following a request from Scotland Yard Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin. The move comes amid fears of violence and disorder if the marches were allowed to proceed.

"Having carefully considered the legal tests in the Public Order Act and balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected, I have given my consent to a ban on all marches in Tower Hamlets and four neighboring boroughs for a 30-day period”, said the Home Secretary.

"I know that the Metropolitan Police are committed to using their powers to ensure communities and properties are protected,” added May. "We encourage all local people and community leaders to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined by public disorder," she said.

The British Unite against Fascism (UAF) and United East End (UEE) movements threatened to press ahead with their plan for an anti-fascist march on September 3, issuing the following statement: “We are appalled to discover that the Metropolitan Police are applying for a blanket ban on ALL marches across five London boroughs for 30 days”, said the statement. “This is a huge attack on everyone's civil liberties and prevents people's rights to oppose racism.

“Our legal advice says there is no law that says if one march has been banned all marches in that area must be banned. It is our human right to peacefully march in Tower Hamlets.”

The government's blanket ban is part of an ongoing attempt to undermine the right to protest in the UK. The coalition is designating harsh measures to silence all anti-government protests in the country.

The ban will also affect London's most important protest against the arms trade, which has been organized by anti-war activists to urge the government to shut down the world's largest arms fair on September 13.