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Where Do You Stand : The Fight for Civil Liberties ™/ Text / Warsan Nur / Photography / Courtesy Of Farzaan Patel 13th August 2008 George Bush once again has been at the centre of controversy, this time by his mere presence alone. It is said by some that power means never having to say sorry, but in this case he don’t have to say anything, let alone sorry. On Sunday June 15 he visited London as parrt of his farewell tour. Many angered by his policies, especially foreign ones like his War On Terror feel George Bush is a war criminal and shouldn’t be welcomed here, let alone be wined and dined at 10 Downing street by Prime Minster Brown, and toured around Windsor castle by the Queen. The Stop the War Coalition along with other NGOs called for a peaceful demonstration from Parliament to Downing Street to express this view, but the demonstration was banned by the London Metropolitan Police. Not standing for what they called an ‘erosion of civil liberties’ StWC said they would defy the ban and march without the approval of the police. This was easier said than done. The march path had been blockaded off by barriers and a row of police officers, who later on got changed In to full riot gear. Behind them was even more police officers, police horses and then a row of police vans. There was no chance of getting though and being able to continue the peaceful march. As the day went by, tensions between the police force and demonstrators rose and eventually led to violence. Ironically anti-war banners had been thrown at the police who, unfortunately for the demonstrators were far better equipped with weapons, and retaliated with ruthless blows to the crowd with their batons. As a result of the violence, two protestors were hospitalised and 25 arrested. It wasn’t all bad but many peaceful moments were too quickly interrupted by violence, I nearly made the mistake in joining the sit in. Luckily I didn’t because I would have also been trampled on by a stampede of protesters trying to get out of the way of waving police batons. Eventually the demonstration fell in o shambles. Many blamed the police for being far too brutal and StWC for not being organised enough. Levels of violence escalated, the crowd had dispersed and soon it became far too surreal for most and seemed like they were only hanging around to see who’d get hurt next. When speaking to many demonstrators, worries about their freedom was the main point focused on. They feel the government are taking away their basic civil liberties and if not challenged there’s a worrying slippery slope ahead of all of us. The 42 day detention without charge bill is, they say, a perfect example of this.		Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut On Myspace