By Tom Westcott.
London, 4 November 2012:
A Qaddafi commemorative event in the UK’s capital last night flopped, attracting only 20 people, seven of whom . . .[restrict]were speakers.
Despite over 185 people publicly confirming, via Facebook, that they would attend the event, according to a member of staff at the venue, only around 20 people actually turned up.
A room at London’s Conway Hall had been booked for a ‘Libyan Cultural Group’ function. The staff member said she was “very surprised” to discover on the day that it was actually a memorial event to the dead dictator.
The commemorative gathering was to glorify Qaddafi and his “contribution to the world struggle against white supremacy.” The programme was to consist of video footage from Qaddafi’s speeches and interviews, as well as celebratory music and spoken word. Among the speakers was a man identified only as “a Libyan from Sirte.” The free event was widely-advertised on the internet and, through the event’s Facebook page alone, over four thousand people were invited.
A man in traditional Libyan dress was seen coming out of the building a number of times and looking up and down the street, as if he expected more people. All that could be heard in the empty London square was the sound of distant traffic and autumn leaves blowing across the pavement.
Once the event started, through the closed doors a modest patter of applause could be heard after a reggae-style track with a chorus of “Qaddafi” was played.
Organisers of the event obviously anticipated protests, as their advertising stated: “This is a private event and will have security, any disruption to this event is unwelcome.” There was, however, no sign of anybody wishing to disrupt the tiny gathering.
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