The London Anti Pope March And Rally 2010

Saturday's Central London Anti Pope Rally must have suprised the Police, with more people turning out than expected. The Rally started off at Hyde Park Corner and ended with speeches on a platform by Downing Street in Whitehall.
What was interesting was that very little of the Rally was covered on the news later that evening. The BBC seemed more keen to show the other side of the coin where thousands happily gathered at Hyde Park to see The Pope.

While the March was waiting to start off I watched and stood by while various activist including Peter Tatchell were interviewed by Sky TV and The BBC. And some of these interviews went on for quite a while, yet scanning the news channels later all we saw was about 20 seconds of one or two of the main campaigners that lead the March. You wonder why they even bother.
Tonight the BBC seemed to be going along with the Vatican's conclusion that The Pope's visit to the UK was a huge success. Was it taking sides again as it so often does in matters of politics.
To me it doesn't change anything. I still believe that in modern day Britain that The Church is a dying institution and The Pope said nothing to appease his critics.
One news observer on the BBC said tonight that The Pope won many admirers because he smiled and kissed babies. How shallow and pathetic. Some now see the BBC as some kind of national Police force, like a sort of Mother of The Nation. It has too much power and the quicker they abloish the tv licence the better.
Oh sure I might like some of it's cultural output on tv and radio, but as for it's news coverage and presentation, well I can barely watch it. It's seems to have become the national centre for political correctness. So naturally it didn't want to burst The Vatican's bubble. It almost seemed to be rubbing it's hands in glee that The Popes visit went by without any incidents, although it's not clear yet why a group of cleaners were arrested on Friday in connection with a threat on The Pope's life. In other words the Papal visit was a success because there was no major disruptions or fatalities.

But at least in Whitehall on Saturday I was able to spend time with thousands of like minded people where we were reminded of the crimes that The Vatican is concealing, plus the Pope's anti gay statements that have turned him into a figure of hate, and not forgetting of course it's appalling stance on contraception which has effected millions around the world, particularly in Africa and The Philippines where people have been terrorized through religion into believing that contraception is sinful.

But in Whitehall at the rally after only watching half a dozen speakers, the Police seemed to want to rush the proceedings, and being that I was right next to the speakers platform I was standing right next to the Officer that asked the platform organizer to wind things up and finish. The announcer of course was frantic, saying that he had four more speakers to come on. So after a bit of arguing (bottom right picture) and an intervention by Peter Tatchell the Police agreed to give those last speakers one minute each, which of course none of them kept to.
I wonder if it wasn't partly to do with polititian Geofrey Robertson QC who went on for quite a while. He seemed to be enjoying the moment too much and found it hard to wind up and let the next speaker come on. The platform announcer nervously held his arm promting him to finish, which he wouldn't.
But many people I suspect were there to see and hear Richard Dawkins. A man who is winning many admirer's with his theories that Science and Evolution created the beginning of life, and not a Divine Creator.

But rather than going down the path of all the obvious critisisms, leaving that to the other speakers, Dawkins spoke of other things including a mention that Adolf Hitler, one of the most un-christian like figures of the twentieth century was in fact a Roman Catholic, which I didn't know.
And when the ceromonies ended it was Dawkins they all wanted to see and meet. Many of them brought books hoping to get them signed. So I was really pleased to see him as well as capture a few pictures of him (above bottom left).

But I'm really not quite sure though how Ireland is taking what can only be described as a holy snubbing. Ireland of course has a very strong Catholic and Church going community, and probably far stronger than mainland UK which according to statistics is veering towards atheism like several other rational thinking countries throughout Europe.
But I was pleased that I went. Of course Richard Dawkins was the big draw for me. Had he not been there I might not have bothered. But lucky I did as the whole event turned out to be much bigger than I thought. I feel like I've been to two London Gay Pride's in one Summer.

To read a post on why I dont agree with the Pope's visit CLICK HERE
This post also has some very interesting comment feedback from a recently new contributer.

All photos by: Deejohn.