tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755834342571488774.post5277343234565507507..comments2024-03-20T08:05:26.167+00:00Comments on Bracknell Blog: Democracy Village gone so how about a Democracy AreaMark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755834342571488774.post-17615650432418599362010-07-18T21:33:55.353+01:002010-07-18T21:33:55.353+01:00The plan wuld have no pens. no gates. No walls. Bi...The plan wuld have no pens. no gates. No walls. Big groups and small groups could turn up. I dont Really see a problem as long as their near the area then whats the problem.<br /><br />But I do agree that it should be anyway however this is a compromise which would still allow any protest.dazmandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859994295771083457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755834342571488774.post-44221303704051863872010-07-17T17:46:35.771+01:002010-07-17T17:46:35.771+01:00This reminds me of a joke candidate at a past stud...This reminds me of a joke candidate at a past student union election who, in response to building occupations by pro-Palestine protesters, promised to concrete over the campus gardens and create a dedicated Protest Square.<br /><br />The point behind this humour is that to be penned to a defined location destroys the point of the protest. Yes, Parliament wanted Democracy Village moved for its visual effect on visitors - because it's presence there was designed to emphasise the negative impact of the protest on Government. To be put in a little concrete pen off to the side somewhere (and I don't know how well you know Westminster but there's really not an awful lot of spare building space lying around) would be just as ineffective in creating an impact as being moved off to some other part of London.<br /><br />You would maybe get a few tame media appearances there or something, but the spirit of Democracy Village grew out of its right to be wherever it wanted to be and make the message it wanted to make. if you try to create some sort of soft, legitimised equivalent then people would pay no heed and you probably wouldn't even garner the interest of the protesters. What we need is the return of the freedom to protest anywhere we want - including Parliament Square!Kristofer Keanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11134422616153941386noreply@blogger.com