"I'm a photographer, not a terrorist" rally in Trafalgar Square, London.

24/01/10

Photographers gathered in Trafalgar Square to reclaim the streets for photography and to declare “I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist”. 23rd January 2010.

Around 3,000 amateur and professional photographers gathered today (23rd January 2010) in Trafalgar Square to defend their rights to photography in public places and to protest about the misuse of Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, 2000, against photographers.

This event has taken on even more significance, if that is possible, after last week’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that section 44 is illegal. Our government’s response was to refuse to accept this and to launch a legal challenge. Meanwhile, the police have been instructed to carry on as before in implementing section 44.

Even before the gathering had commenced, the major newspapers and radio stations had produced articles and items discussing the necessity for such an event. Such was the interest that Marc Vallée, one of the founder members of “I’m a photographer, not a terrorist”, responsible for organising the mass gathering, had already given interviews to BBC News 24, Sky News, BBC World Service and BBC Radio Wales before the event, with additional requests for comment from The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, BBC 3 Counties, BBC London, the Daily Politics and ITN. Such is the strength of feeling across the board for the implications for civil liberties for all, not just photographers.

Crowds started building, even before the 12 noon official start. Familiar faces from EPUK, the NUJ, Photo Forum and photojournalists I had previously met on assignment were there, as were people I knew from various amateur camera clubs (MHPS, LPMG and LPPMG to name three), despite one major London club with thousands of members choosing to hold their annual seminar the same day, across town. What did not surprise me in the slightest were the thousands of people I had never seen before, of all ages, from children to pensioners, from all photographic persuasions, all coming together under this important banner to exercise our democratic rights.

The gathering was an entirely peaceful one and there was a good-humoured atmosphere. Police were in evidence, naturally, but they stayed on the periphery of the crowd and did not intervene.

The event was highly successful in bringing this issue to the wider attention of the general public with an ITN camera crew being present in addition to all the press photographers either sent or participating in the event.

Marc Vallée described the success of the event to me in these terms:

“I think today’s gone very, very well. We got over 3,000 people in the square today, from every part of the country, both professional and amateur. It’s a really, really powerful message that’s being sent, not only to the police, but also to government, about section 44”.

Legislation such as Section 44 and its use against photographers, coupled with increased adverse public reaction to street/public photography resulting from kneejerk paranoia around paedophilia as well as terrorism, represents a worrying development in historical terms that could result in a complete lack of visual social history of the 21st century. Think this is an extreme view? Not at all. This is the logical conclusion and one recently stated in no uncertain terms by Martin Parr at Vision 09. What would our descendants make of this? Will they feel anger or sadness at our stupidity?

Let’s just hope that the strength of feeling evident at this event does get through to the legislators and police, before the thin end of the wedge becomes an entire, messy pie.

For additional information on “I’m a photographer, not a terrorist”, visit http://photographernotaterrorist.org/