NO2ID hold day of action in Manchester
Article published: Monday, October 19th 2009
Ahead of Tuesday’s launch of the ID card trial in Greater Manchester, Saturday 21 October saw NO2ID hold a day of action across the city, promoting their new ‘Stop the ID Card Con’ campaign. Events culminated in Albert Square outside the Town Hall, where around 25 activists gathered for the symbolic burning of an enormous ID card.
“Don’t be a guinea pig” is the message campaigners came from across the country to deliver to local residents. NO2ID have been battling the national identity scheme since 2004, warning of the dangers of the database state and threat to civil liberties from the proposed plan.
The day was packed full of events, beginning with a drop-in session for Manchester residents to air their concerns and talk to NO2ID activists, followed by a public meeting addressed by national coordinator Phil Booth. Before the stunt in front of the Town Hall, NO2ID members ran ten stalls around the city, distributing information and garnering support for the campaign. Activists described the response as overwhelmingly positive.
James, a local resident who stopped to watch the ID card burning, said: “With the public finances in the state they’re in, such an idea is completely barmy.”
Helen, another local, was also opposed to the trial. “It’s unworkable and I don’t think anyone is going to voluntarily pay for one.”
According to Dave Page, coordinator of Manchester NO2ID, ‘Stop the ID Card Con’ is aimed to draw together grassroots action against the scheme, helping local people to get easy access to campaign material for awareness-raising in their own neighbourhoods.
Despite significant victories, including the airport workers’ refusal to accept compulsory ID cards and the delay of the project, NO2ID are keen to stress that there is still much work to do.
In fact, as Phil Booth, reflecting on the campaign so far, said: “Lots of people actually think it’s been scrapped, that’s why we still need to be doing everything to get the message out.”
As reported previously by MULE, the card itself is largely irrelevant compared to the National Identity Register, which is still planned regardless of whether the card itself is abandoned. And NO2ID are keen to make clear that “once you’re on it, you’re on it forever”. Moreover, foreign students and non-EU nationals coming to work in the UK are already required by law to have the card.
Booth is confident of a strong reaction from Greater Manchester residents, and says that the government seems to think Mancunians are “more foolish” than is the case. He is optimistic that “the government lie that the majority want the card will be shown for what it is”.
When asked by MULE what NO2ID thought people should do when the scheme starts on Tuesday, he replied: “Don’t apply. Refuse to register. And pass the word on.”
Manchester NO2ID is holding more events in the near future, all of which can be found on their website. The next is ‘Freedom Come, Freedom Go’, a comedy show to be held at the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, on 24 October.
Andy Lockhart
Ahead of Tuesday’s launch of the ID card trial in Greater Manchester, Saturday 21 October saw NO2ID hold a day of action across the city, promoting their new ‘Stop the ID Card Con’ campaign. Events culminated in Albert Square outside the Town Hall, where around 25 activists gathered for the symbolic burning of an enormous ID card.
“Don’t be a guinea pig” is the message campaigners came from across the country to deliver to local residents. NO2ID have been battling the national identity scheme since 2004, warning of the dangers of the database state and threat to civil liberties from the proposed plan.
The day was packed full of events, beginning with a drop-in session for Manchester residents to air their concerns and talk to NO2ID activists, followed by a public meeting addressed by national coordinator Phil Booth. Before the stunt in front of the Town Hall, NO2ID members ran ten stalls around the city, distributing information and garnering support for the campaign. Activists described the response as overwhelmingly positive.
James, a local resident who stopped to watch the ID card burning, said: “With the public finances in the state they’re in, such an idea is completely barmy.”
Helen, another local, was also opposed to the ID cards trial. “It’s unworkable and I don’t think anyone is going to voluntarily pay for one.”
According to Dave Page, coordinator of Manchester NO2ID, ‘Stop the ID Card Con’ is aimed to draw together grassroots action against the scheme, helping local people to get easy access to campaign material for awareness-raising in their own neighbourhoods.
Despite significant victories, including the airport workers’ refusal to accept compulsory ID cards and the delay of the project, NO2ID are keen to stress that there is still much work to do.
In fact, as Phil Booth, reflecting on the campaign so far, said: “Lots of people actually think it’s been scrapped, that’s why we still need to be doing everything to get the message out.”
As reported previously by MULE, the card itself is largely irrelevant compared to the National Identity Register, which is still planned regardless of whether the card itself is abandoned. And NO2ID are keen to make clear that “once you’re on it, you’re on it forever”. Moreover, foreign nationals are already required by law to have the card.
Booth is confident of a strong reaction from Greater Manchester residents, and says that the government seems to think Mancunians are “more foolish” than is the case. He is optimistic that “the government lie that the majority want the card will be shown for what it is”.
When asked by MULE what NO2ID thought people should do when the scheme starts on Tuesday, he replied: “Don’t apply. Refuse to register. And pass the word on.”
Manchester NO2ID is holding more events in the near future, all of which can be found on their website. The next is ‘Freedom Come, Freedom Go’, to held at ??? on ???.
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[…] NO2ID hold day of action in ManchesterThe day was packed full of events, beginning with a drop-in session for Manchester residents to air their concerns and talk to NO2ID activists, followed by a public meeting addressed by national coordinator Phil Booth. …http://themule.infoHome Office “retreat” on DNA is no such thingPhil Booth, NO2ID's National Coordinator, said: “The brass neck of the Home Office is quite staggering. Having postponed any action for 10 months already through a sham consultation based on dodgy evidence and even more dodgy reasoning, …http://press.mu.no2id.netThe 5th of November with No2IDs Phil Booth 11/5/2009 – BeatTheChip …This show is a tribute to Guy Faulkes – the first man to aggressively take back the British Parliment. Phil Booth is a member of the UKs No2ID. No2ID is a group who has sucecssfully stood up to one of the most prolific database and …http://www.blogtalkradio.com […]
Pingback by phil booth | phil booth on October 30, 2009 at 8:15 pm -
It was good to read in the Manchester Evening News that only 8,000 people in Manchester (less than 1.75% of the total population) enquired about getting an ID card.
Clearly, most people don’t believe the government propeganda, despite a sockpuppet account created to post on blogs and the Guardian website in support of ID cards.
Comment by Richard on November 3, 2009 at 11:49 am
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