Blair & Gender Politics

international | crime and justice | news report

Friday January 20, 2006 17:15

by iosaf

"F4J leader Matt O'Connor announced last night (January 17) that he was suspending the operations of the group pending enquiries into allegations contained on the cover of this mornings Sun Newspaper that 'extremist sympathisers' associated with the group had planned to kidnap the Prime Minister's Son, Leo Blair.

F4J say they condemn any such action unreservedly and that the group is increasingly having it's name 'hijacked' by a growing number of militant extremists and that it would seriously consider the long term viability of the campaign.

The group say that ex members have reportedly been in contact with the Anti-Terrorist Unit SO13 from Scotland Yard who said that activists would be shot on sight if engaged in any protests in Westminster."
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What the group F4J do is "gender politics".
& they did it in a way which attracted commercial media attention to their antics without equal attention being given their arguments.

There are very few "little groups" who have managed to draw as much publicity and interest in the Westminister borough of London. And on their website they describe their recipe for protest as being "after Greenpeace". In fact many of their actions owed more than a small debt to the "school" of street politics which began life as "london greenpeace" and developed over time into many groups - some of which remain and some which are now gone. I am proud to have been associated with one of those little groups. & I believe that might qualify me to pass comment on the current situation J4F find themselves in.

On the 19th of May 2004, protesters flying the "J4F" banner gain entry to the "Irish peers' son" gallery in the House of Commons at the UK parliament. They then used that gallery to throw condoms filled with purple dye at Tony Blair. It was a stunt which most definitely attracted attention (occuring on live tv) not only to the group J4F but also the then security arrangements in Westminster. The "Irish peers´sons" gallery had no armoured glass, a flaw which was promptly rectified. That was the penultimate protest in history in the British parliament. The last which followed quickly saw the Countryside Alliance manage to get a few yobbish oiks in, but then look really foolish as they couldn't think what to do or say once there. By which time J4F sent a team member up the Buckinhham palace balcony in a Bat man costume-
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=66561

At that point it really was quite apparant to even an untrained observer that J4F had friends. They had in a short time scored so many impressive goals, that their logistical, legal, intelligence and social connections
were pretty tippy toppy, except of course (obviously) as regards their kids.

The British then changed the law on protest in Westminster. It is now illegal to protest in the Houses of parliament or "linger with protesting intent" in the square outside. Its a small square where much protesting history has been made. After so much media attention and security scare mongering, ("why Al Qaeda would throw condoms filled with raicin!!!") their campaign objectives had not been met, and they had contributed to provoking one the most serious restricitions on _ancient liberties_ which offered others-
without such connections to protest in the past.

I don't feel I need labour the point that that particular result didn't go down well in my circles.

Leo, is but a wee lad, and hopefully will not be influenced by the idea that there were others prepared to mask up and kidnap him. And it is repugnant that anyone would think so. But it must be remembered that Blair's children have long been the butt of jokes.

At a time of very serious concern at the constant erosion of "ancient liberties" in early 2005 when the "anti-terror" laws went to the Lords to vote, and the Labour party rebelled in the Commons, Leo's name came up here .-
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=68829#comment101632
But that was a joke.

he won the election.

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