Brian Haw peace camp placard with the TOWN SQUARE TEST written on it with notes, displayed with many other placards facing the House of Commons. Parliament Square, Westminster, London, UK, 4th April 2006
PS: This placard references Condoleezza Rice speech in 2005 when she quoted Natan Sharansky. The placard has additional critical protester commentary added between the lines in small lettering.
“The World should Apply The
‘TOWN SQUARE TEST’
If a person cannot walk into
the middle of the town
Square and express his or
her views without fear of
arrest, imprisonment, or
physical harm, then that
person is living in a fear
society, not a free society.
We cannot rest until every
person living in a 'fear'
society’ has finally won
their freedom."
Condoleezza Rice 2005
Town Square Test failed in UK, it is highly embarrassing for Tony Blair’s government who created an offensive to curtail the above happen without police permission. Indeed this very placard was confiscated amongst about seventy the majority of Brian Haw’s demonstration placards and displays by the Metropolitan Police on 23 May 2006. Police were using the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) which introduced restrictions on protests in the vicinity of Parliament. It was introduced into the House of Commons on 24 November 2004 and was passed by Parliament and given Royal Assent on 7 April 2005.
Date: 04/04/2006
Location: Parliament Square, London, UK
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
