At the gates of
Buckingham Palace
Monday 17 November
2003
Neither Anni nor Lindis were able to go
to the 'Stop the War' demonstration in London on Thursday 20 November in
protest at the State visit of George W Bush.
Instead Lindis went down to London on
Monday morning. There was no visible security, apart from a few
police patrolling in the Mall and the usual police presence at the open
gate to Buckingham Palace. At the time the Union Jack was flying above
the Palace but later the Royal standard flag replaced it indicating that
Elizabeth Windsor was at home.
Contrary to press reports, this was a
CAAB protest therefore Lindis wore a CAAB reflector jacket and took with
her a US flag (upside down) with the words 'ELIZABETH WINDSOR AND
CO......HE'S NOT WELCOME' written on it.
It was raining and there were some
tourists about. Lindis climbed to the top of the Main gate and
tied on the upside down US flag. It was a very safe protest and at
no time was Lindis or anyone else in any danger. A man in the
small crowd that had gathered encouraged her to continue climbing and
then said 'the police are coming'.
A lone police officer arrived and asked
Lindis to get down. She gently declined and said why she was there.
Soon several police cars with flashing lights arrived. The area
was cordoned off by the police and people were moved back beyond the
statue of Victoria.
A senior police officer arrived and urged
Lindis to come down, having asked who she was. A fire engine
later arrived.
A police 'negotiator' talked to Lindis
from inside the Palace courtyard to try to pursuade her
to come down. She said many times that she would come down
in her own time.
Another fire engine arrived with a
'cherry picker' platform and Chris Charney the police 'negotiator' was
taken up to Lindis' level. Later he went away and returned with
another person (Nigel Truscott) who said he was a friend of Chris'
(apparently Nigel was a police officer too).
During the time Lindis was at the top of
the gate she had very interesting conversations with the police and
police 'negotiators' and generally discussed the issue of the
pending visit of George W Bush and the US plans for the world.
At no time was anyone in any danger and
Lindis was at pains to try to reassure the police that she was quite
safe. It was not necessary to 'cling' on to the gates as
reported in the press.
After just over two hours Lindis decided
to come down. She untied the flag (no 'ripping' it off) and let it
float to the ground. She climbed down and was immediately
arrested for 'suspicion of criminal damage' by PC Christadoolu and PC
Rose. She did not resist arrest as reported in the press, but said
that she understood that she was under arrest, she would walk to the
waiting police van and there was no need to forcibly hold her arms.
She was however 'assisted' to the van.
Lindis was taken to Charing Cross police
station, detained and later released without charge. The arresting
officer said that he had also arrested Lindis under s.68 'aggravated
trespass' (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act). This Lindis
disputes. She is bailed to return to Charing Cross police station
on Wednesday 10 December.
It was interesting to see how this
incident was reported by the press. There was no 'breach' of
security as there was no visible security. Lindis did not 'storm'
the gates. She did not deliberately put on the yellow 'camoflage'
reflector jacket to 'merge' in as a contractor who were preparing for
this visit and she did not 'rip' the flag off the gate. In fact it
was all very peaceful.
Lindis took full responsibility for her
actions and was insistant that she came down in her own time and without
assistance.
Thank you so much to everyone who sent
messages of support. Particular thanks to Anni who as usual dealt
with many press enquiries in her unique and superb way.
George W Bush should not have been
invited or afforded the pomp and ceremony of a State visit.
However this visit did not go all his own way. The world was made more
aware that thousands upon thousands of people in the UK are deeply
unhappy about the continuing US led occupation of Iraq.
Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy
--
Joint Co-ordinators
