[JNV] Unauthorised Carol Service - Maya Evans to participate

[JNV]

UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC CAROL SERVICE IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE, LONDON
Called by BloggerHeads.com

6pm, Wednesday 21st December 2005

An unauthorised event to be attended by, among others, 
JNV's Maya Evans (the first person to be convicted for taking part in 
an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament.

(JNV fully supports this initiative but we wish to stress that Maya is,
once again, a participant in, not an organiser of the event.)

Message from Bloggerheads.com:
 
You are cordially invited to a public carol service in Parliament 
Square, London, at 6pm on Wednesday the 21st of December 2005.

This inclusive service will contain both Christian and secular verse, 
and is expected to last no more than an hour. Candles and song 
sheets will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid 
for Iraqi Children. 

The organisers humbly request that those who attend do NOT bring 
placards, banners or circulars to this event.
 
Parliament Square is located directly opposite the Houses of 
Parliament. The nearest tube station is Westminster (on the Jubilee Line)
 
PROGRAMME:
(Introduction and welcome)
Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a Manger
Little Drummer Boy
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Deck the Halls
Good King Wenceslas
The First Noel
Joy to the World
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(Message of thanks followed by a one-minute silence)
Amazing Grace
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
(The Lord's Prayer; led by Brian Haw)

A downloadable version of the song sheet will be available shortly 
at www.bloggerheads.com
 
RISK OF ARREST - LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:
Please note that if you attend this carol service, it may be classified as a
spontaneous demonstration (of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance)
and there is a very real possibility that you will be arrested under
Section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crimes and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA).

Under Section 132 it is an offence to organise or take part in a
demonstration in a public place within the “designated
area” (up to 1 km around parliament) if authorisation has not been given by
the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to whom an application has to be made
at least six days in advance, or if not “reasonably practicable”, 24 hours
in advance.

The commissioner may impose conditions on the demonstration; including where
and when the protest may take place, how long it can last and how many
people can attend, how much noise can be made and the number and size of
banners or placards used. 

Additional conditions may be imposed during the demonstration
by the senior police officer present. The new law also prohibits the use of
loudspeakers. Organisers of unauthorised demonstrations may be subject to
imprisonment for up to 51 weeks, a fine (level 4: up to £2500), or both;
participants may be subject to a fine (level 3 :up to £1000).
 
A formal warning usually precedes any action, but the Police may arrest any
person committing an offence under the Act.
 
In this instance, permission has NOT been applied for by the police (though
they've been invited to take part). We believe that the public has the right
to gather in a public place and sing Christmas carols. The police may see
things differently; we shall see.
 
FOR MORE INFO
If you require any further details, or wish to help out with music, candles
and/or song-sheets, please contact Tim Ireland via the following email
address: manic<at>bloggerheads.com
 
ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING THE CAROL SERVICE:
This is an initiative led by www.Bloggerheads.com, and it has been endorsed
by the following individuals, groups and bodies (please get in touch with 
Bloggerheads if you wish to add your name/group to this list):
 
Brian Haw (see www.parliament-square.org.uk)
Supporters of Brian Haw
Maya Evans (the first person convicted under SOCPA, see www.j-n-v.org)
Justice Not Vengeance (www.j-n-v.org)
Craig Murray (former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan)
Voices in the Wilderness UK (www.voicesuk.org)