Protest planned in Bow tomorrow morning against plans for missiles during the Olympics, following meeting this evening

A campaign against missiles being placed in Bow during the Olympics is under way, including a protest planned for Saturday morning (May 5), following a meeting this evening (Friday, May 4).

Around 50 people turned out for the meeting at St Paul’s Church, on St Stephen’s Road in Bow, against plans to put missiles at the top of a blocks of flats in Bow.

Residents and campaigners, including journalist Brian Whelan, who lives at Bow Quarter in Fairfield Road where the missiles are likely to be placed, discussed the best methods for getting their No Missiles in East London campaign going.

They agreed to move forward by planning a “big” demonstration, linking up residents in other parts of London where there are also plans to put up missiles during the London Games. It comes after the Ministry of Defence announced plans to put missiles at six sites around London to protect the Olympic Park from a terrorist attack.

But it was also agreed that some campaigners will stage a protest already tomorrow morning (Saturday, May 5) from 10am outside Bow Quarter to coincide with officials from the Ministry of Defence holding at meeting with residents to discuss their missile plans.

A big public meeting to which Ministry of Defence officials, and possibly Tower Hamlets Council representatives, will be invited was also agreed to.

Among the speakers were the vice chair to the Stop the War Coalition Chris Nineman, who declared “The No Missiles is East London “live and kicking” at the end of the meeting.

Other speakers included Tower Hamlets councillor Rania Khan and lawyer Joanna Fleck.