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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/12/trump-protestors-threaten-legal-action-against-jittery-met
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Trump protesters threaten legal action against 'jittery' police | Trump protesters threaten legal action against 'jittery' police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Protesters against Donald Trump have said they are prepared to launch legal action against the Metropolitan police after they were denied permission for a stage and sound system at a demonstration on Friday. | Protesters against Donald Trump have said they are prepared to launch legal action against the Metropolitan police after they were denied permission for a stage and sound system at a demonstration on Friday. |
| Their anger rose as Scotland Yard continued to impose restrictions on a number of protests this weekend, citing fears over public safety. | Their anger rose as Scotland Yard continued to impose restrictions on a number of protests this weekend, citing fears over public safety. |
| More than 60,000 people have indicated they will attend a demonstration in central London on Friday against the US president’s visit. They will assemble outside the BBC’s New Broadcasting House headquarters in Portland Place and plan to march along Regent Street to Trafalgar Square, where there will be a rally organised by the Stop Trump coalition. A further 10,000 people are expected to take part in a separate women’s march along the same route on Friday. | More than 60,000 people have indicated they will attend a demonstration in central London on Friday against the US president’s visit. They will assemble outside the BBC’s New Broadcasting House headquarters in Portland Place and plan to march along Regent Street to Trafalgar Square, where there will be a rally organised by the Stop Trump coalition. A further 10,000 people are expected to take part in a separate women’s march along the same route on Friday. |
| There were also plans for protests on Thursday evening in the capital and across the UK. | There were also plans for protests on Thursday evening in the capital and across the UK. |
| Whether you are joining a planned demonstration or marking Trump’s UK visit in some other way, share your story and photographs via our dedicated callout here. | Whether you are joining a planned demonstration or marking Trump’s UK visit in some other way, share your story and photographs via our dedicated callout here. |
| You can also share your stories, photos and videos with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056 | You can also share your stories, photos and videos with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056 |
| Your responses will only be seen by the Guardian and we’ll feature some of your contributions in our reporting. You can read terms of service here. | Your responses will only be seen by the Guardian and we’ll feature some of your contributions in our reporting. You can read terms of service here. |
| The police have imposed tight restrictions on protests on Saturday in support of Trump and jailed far-right leader Tommy Robinson in an effort to prevent “serious disorder”. A “Welcome Trump” rally is expected to start at the US embassy in London and proceed to Whitehall, where it will join a “Free Tommy Robinson” rally. Restrictions have also been imposed on a counter demonstration. | The police have imposed tight restrictions on protests on Saturday in support of Trump and jailed far-right leader Tommy Robinson in an effort to prevent “serious disorder”. A “Welcome Trump” rally is expected to start at the US embassy in London and proceed to Whitehall, where it will join a “Free Tommy Robinson” rally. Restrictions have also been imposed on a counter demonstration. |
| The Met said it was imposing restrictions under the Public Order Act 1996 following violence seen at a pro-Robinson event last month, in which five officers suffered injuries and there were nine arrests. Some defenders of Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, were seen performing Nazi salutes and throwing metal barriers, bottles and other objects at police officers. | The Met said it was imposing restrictions under the Public Order Act 1996 following violence seen at a pro-Robinson event last month, in which five officers suffered injuries and there were nine arrests. Some defenders of Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, were seen performing Nazi salutes and throwing metal barriers, bottles and other objects at police officers. |
| Organisers of Friday’s Stop Trump rally said the Met had suddenly denied permission for the erection of a stage two days before their “peaceful and family friendly” protest was due to take place, a move they said was unprecedented in demonstrations they had previously taken part in. | Organisers of Friday’s Stop Trump rally said the Met had suddenly denied permission for the erection of a stage two days before their “peaceful and family friendly” protest was due to take place, a move they said was unprecedented in demonstrations they had previously taken part in. |
| The activist and Guardian columinst Owen Jones tweeted it had been suggested to him that the government was “leaning” on the Met. | The activist and Guardian columinst Owen Jones tweeted it had been suggested to him that the government was “leaning” on the Met. |
| The @metpoliceuk are also refusing to meet protest organisers the day before the actual protest, which is absolutely unbelievably astonishing.What is going on, Met? | The @metpoliceuk are also refusing to meet protest organisers the day before the actual protest, which is absolutely unbelievably astonishing.What is going on, Met? |
| Another organiser, Michael Chessum, said the police refused to meet organisers on the eve of the protests. He said a letter had been sent to the Met about potential legal action. | Another organiser, Michael Chessum, said the police refused to meet organisers on the eve of the protests. He said a letter had been sent to the Met about potential legal action. |
| “The police knew well in advance that we were planning to put a stage in the beginning of the protest,” said Chessum. “At two days’ notice, they’ve cancelled permission for that stage and effectively for a sound system because they said no vehicle can come anywhere near the area.” | “The police knew well in advance that we were planning to put a stage in the beginning of the protest,” said Chessum. “At two days’ notice, they’ve cancelled permission for that stage and effectively for a sound system because they said no vehicle can come anywhere near the area.” |
| The Met issued a statement saying it had received a notification last week from the organisers of their intention to bring a vehicle-mounted stage into Portland Place. “As is usual, the Met asked the organisers for a crowd management and safety plan which as organisers they have overarching responsibility for,” it said. “The Met received diagrams of where the vehicle was to be positioned, with no mention of stewarding for this particular aspect of the event. This was not a formal notification of how crowd safety would be managed. | The Met issued a statement saying it had received a notification last week from the organisers of their intention to bring a vehicle-mounted stage into Portland Place. “As is usual, the Met asked the organisers for a crowd management and safety plan which as organisers they have overarching responsibility for,” it said. “The Met received diagrams of where the vehicle was to be positioned, with no mention of stewarding for this particular aspect of the event. This was not a formal notification of how crowd safety would be managed. |
| “At the heart of our policing operation is the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest. However, we equally have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the public and this current time we do not feel that the proposal from the organisers ensures safety of a crowded place.” | “At the heart of our policing operation is the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest. However, we equally have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the public and this current time we do not feel that the proposal from the organisers ensures safety of a crowded place.” |
| Chessum said the statement was “ridiculous for a number of reasons”. He said: “They never asked us for a stewarding plan for the stage itself, we could easily have provided that. We have a huge stewarding operation in place. | Chessum said the statement was “ridiculous for a number of reasons”. He said: “They never asked us for a stewarding plan for the stage itself, we could easily have provided that. We have a huge stewarding operation in place. |
| “They’ve got a point to the extent that a stage is a static object against which a crowd crush can happen. But in terms of preventing nasty crowd situations, as a steward I can get on a stage, I can have a vantage point. I can direct the crowd and communicate with them. If there’s an emergency, I can use the big PA system.” | “They’ve got a point to the extent that a stage is a static object against which a crowd crush can happen. But in terms of preventing nasty crowd situations, as a steward I can get on a stage, I can have a vantage point. I can direct the crowd and communicate with them. If there’s an emergency, I can use the big PA system.” |
| Part of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Chessum added, was that “the police and the state cannot place totally arbitrary and unreasonable limitations on a protest, and that’s what we’re looking at here”. | Part of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Chessum added, was that “the police and the state cannot place totally arbitrary and unreasonable limitations on a protest, and that’s what we’re looking at here”. |
| “I’ve organised many protests over the years. I was chief steward on most of the student demonstrations of 2010. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the police quite this jittery and unreasonable. We will use all avenues to challenge this decision.” | “I’ve organised many protests over the years. I was chief steward on most of the student demonstrations of 2010. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the police quite this jittery and unreasonable. We will use all avenues to challenge this decision.” |
| The @metpoliceuk are now intimating that they will refuse to meet @UKStopTrump & @NoToTrumpUK on the eve of Friday's huge protests, after having withdrawn permission for us to use a stage at 2 days' notice. Not having a stage is stupid - and dangerously compromises operations. | The @metpoliceuk are now intimating that they will refuse to meet @UKStopTrump & @NoToTrumpUK on the eve of Friday's huge protests, after having withdrawn permission for us to use a stage at 2 days' notice. Not having a stage is stupid - and dangerously compromises operations. |
| Organisers said Friday’s protest would be family-friendly and peaceful. | Organisers said Friday’s protest would be family-friendly and peaceful. |
| But the US embassy warned Americans in the UK to “keep a low profile” during Trump’s visit over fears that demonstrations could turn violent. “Be aware of your surroundings [and] exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent,” the embassy warned. | But the US embassy warned Americans in the UK to “keep a low profile” during Trump’s visit over fears that demonstrations could turn violent. “Be aware of your surroundings [and] exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent,” the embassy warned. |
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