Wednesday 6th: G8 Blockades, Mass Arrests and Fence Breaches
imcista | 05.07.2005 15:57 | G8 2005 | Globalisation | Repression | Social Struggles | Scotland | World
Movement against the G8 started very early this morning: while the beacons of dissent were still burning in the dark in the Ochil Hills, hundreds of people were making their way out of the Stirling convergence eco-camp 'Hori-Zone' to head for Gleneagles. Initial clashes with riot police forced many back, but other went on to occupy roads. In Edinburgh there was an attempt to blockade G8 delegates in the Sheraton Grand hotel and people obstructed delegate coaches as they passed through the streets. The M9 motorway was also blocked by a severl hundred people.
Throughout the morning multiple blockades were set up on the approach roads to Gleneagles, from people locking themselves together to the late afternoon Kids Tea Party blockade.
Despite some torrential rain and long traffic jams people continued to converge on Gleneagles throughout the afternoon. The police announced that the G8Alternatives march and rally by Gleneagles was cancelled but still people continued to stream towards the G8 Summit location. Coach loads of protestors were delayed for hours by police, but the majority were allowed through in the end.
Legal teams report "hundreds of arrests".
IMC Update 5.30pm - Protesters at Gleneagles have breached the fence which guards the hotel in which the G8 leaders are meeting from today. Parts of the fence were torn down. At the moment, a large number of police reinforcements are arriving and charging the protestors. Military helicopters are arriving. Earlier, 5000 people had moved on a cheerful and colourful demonstration from Auchterarder park to the fence close to Gleneagles Hotel. The G8 Alternatives march has included many locals and musical groups. Meanwhile a peaceful demonstration in Edinburgh was penned in by police. Police arrested people violently. Local people watching the police actions shouted "outrage" and "disgrace". In the morning, groups of protesters blocked the roads around Gleneagles as well as hotels in Edinburgh. Many G8 delegates had to delay their trip to Gleneagles.
[ Complete timelines: Stirling/Gleneagles Timeline | March on Gleneagles | Edinburgh Timeline | Glasgow Timeline ]
[ Edinburgh: report | photos 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ] [ Stirling: report | photos ] [ Blockades: (various) 1 | 2 | 3 | photos 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 ]
Sterling Protestors Early
In Edinburgh, by 7am, the Sheraton Grand Hotel was already surrounded by vanloads of police and FIT teams with a Section 60 in place to protect it from around 100 protestors. Within the hour a coach carrying Japanese G8 delegates trying to leave the hotel was blocked by protestors and around the corner cars were left parked across Queensferry Road causing a jam while a coachful of G8 press were also blocked.
Trains from Edinburgh to Stirling were cancelled, a convoy of G8 Alternative coaches due to leave Edinburgh for Gleneagles was held back by police, vehicles were stopped and searched crossing the Forth Road Bridge, some roads and bridges to Gleneagles were blockaded, and a Section 60 order is slapped on Gleneagles station.
Later in the morning police attempted to stop people, including a travelling kids tea party, from leaving the Stirling eco camp. The police were also telling people the permitted march was cancelled, stopping coaches outside Auchterada, Stirling, and Perth, but organisers assured it was still on. By around midday there were numerous sit-downs and lock-ons blockading B-roads, A-roads and the M9 motorway outside of Gleneagles .
imcista
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