In 2005 the UK Parliament ruled that any person wishing to demonstrate in Parliament Square would require a permit. Comedian Mark Thomas then rallied citizens to flood the London Police with requests for demonstrations concerning crises like “The Attack On Surrealism”, “Trolls For Hungerford Bridge”, “Revive The Twinkie Perm”, and the firing of the immediate supervisor of the police official whose job it is to accept protest applications. Have a listen to the show he produced for BBC Radio 4, My Life In Serious Organized Crime (after the name of the bill that introduced the rule), for his hysterical story about the ingenuity and humor used to oppose this imposition on peaceful assembly. New Yorkers may find it particularly relevant.

Thomas and company continue their work, and on April 5th over a thousand Londoners arrived at Chairing Cross police station, each armed with an application for protest.

Listen To Mark Thomas on BBC Radio 4 (RealAudio required)

(Photo by invipar on Flickr)