Anti-war demos - Activists say they're being denied permission to protest - Royal Parks offer spot away from festival

Published: 19 November, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

ANTI-war activists have accused park authorities of trying to crack down on political demonstrations at one of London’s best known protest spots.

The Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and British Muslim Initiative are due to hold a rally at Speakers’ Corner at noon on Saturday calling for a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Last week The Royal Parks told activists they no longer had permission for the protest as it may cause an obstruction to visitors to the nearby Winter Wonderland festival.

CND chairwoman Kate Hudson said she feared park authorities were “trying to set a precedent” by stopping mass protests at Speakers’ Corner, which has been favoured by demonstrators since Victorian times. 

She said: “It’s a bit like using WMD as a reason for regime change – The Royal Parks are clutching at straws and they keep changing the reason why we can’t protest at that site. 

“First it was to do with us damaging the grass, then they said it was because of Winter Wonderland. We’re concerned that they are going down the road of trying to stop political protest there altogether.”

She added that the protest, which is expected to attract crowds of thousands, would be going ahead as planned.

A parks spokesman said: “The Royal Parks has offered event organisers a range of solutions to accommodate the start of the anti-war protest in Hyde Park on November 20. We have identified an area for protesters to use at the edge of Speakers’ Corner, and have offered to close North Carriage Drive to allow them to safely assemble in the park. 

“The entrance area at Speakers’ Corner is not large enough to safely accommodate a crowd of the proposed size (5,000-10,000) and in addition, the park will be busy on November 20 due to the opening of Winter Wonderland. As always, our priority is to ensure the safety of all park visitors.”