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heavy-handed policing at stop the war demo in london (pics)

rikki | 06.08.2006 00:49 | Lebanon War 2006 | Anti-militarism | Repression | London

between 8,000 and 150,000 people (depending on who you believe) marched in london on saturday afternoon, calling for a ceasefire now. police seemed often heavy-handed and out of control, and there were at least a dozen arrests.

bush and bliar
bush and bliar

police take no chances outside us embassy
police take no chances outside us embassy

police shoving crowd at emabssy
police shoving crowd at emabssy

a line of thugs right across the road
a line of thugs right across the road

cordon at downing street
cordon at downing street

journalist arrested
journalist arrested

samba die-in
samba die-in

sit-down protest
sit-down protest

let him in!
let him in!

olmert banner
olmert banner

one of many downing street arrests
one of many downing street arrests

pointless road clearance
pointless road clearance

bush cctv
bush cctv

woman dragged away and arrested
woman dragged away and arrested

shoes of the dead
shoes of the dead

nazi banner
nazi banner


outside the american embassy, territorial support group police suddenly flooded the road and formed an arbritary barrier in the middle of the crowd. they then began pushing forward, shoving and occasionally hitting people in a pointless show of thuggery. there were several arrests, and then they were suddenly recalled and the march returned to peace. totally pointless!!

later i saw simila tactics near downing street. as i arrived a line of police were pushing people from the right hand side away from the gates of downing street. when challenged, the senior officer could not explain under what legislation he was acting. one member of the press was arrested in a scuffle.

the 'rhythms of resistance' samba band arrived and staged a die-in opposite downing street. others gradually joined the sit-down, although stop the war coalition stewards were urging the passing crowd to not join in, and police quickly surrounded the sitting protestors. after some twenty minutes, the samba band moved on, but some activists tried to use pipes to lock on on the ground, and were viciously arrested by police before they managed. i witnessed one young man being held face down on the ground with his neck bent to one side and his face being pushed hard down onto the road.

at this point, i witnessed the most pointless show of strength and bullying tactics as van loads of police poured out onto the road. they started pusfhing people randomly, seemingly confused as to their own orders, but then began 'clearing the road opposite downing street. people on the pavement were left alone, but i witnessed another five arrests. after this little show, they all got back in their vans and the road filled with demonstrators once again. what the hell was the point of that other than intimidation and harrassment.

in parliament square, police were also involved in scuffles and several witnesses told me they'd seen a woman being kicked by police.

later on, barbara tucker and steve jago took up their customary position outside downing street. once again, for simply holding a banner with some words on it, barbara was violently assaulted. i saw the handcuff marks several hours later and her arm was swollen, and the skin broken. she was charged with 'obstruction of the highway' rather than the usual 'unauthorised demo' offence. steve jago was charged under section 5 of behaviour liable to cause harrasment, distress or alarm, and he received a beating and an £80 penalty fine (blair's new summary justice!) - he will take the matter to court.

it is clear from today that police are instructed to use thuggery and violent tactics, and are particularly targetting peaceful campaigners against blair's genocide.

rikki
- e-mail: rikkiindymedia@googlemail.com

Comments

Display the following 10 comments

  1. police&stwc in partnership. — NotNow!
  2. shameful STW — Stop the Coalition
  3. why sit down on the route of the march? — anon
  4. Alternatively — All together now
  5. combining a sit down with the march — person on sitdown
  6. A serious question — twilight
  7. HT 351 - GOT YOUR NUMBER!! — I put that sticker on the camera.
  8. rikki=not a stooge — anon
  9. not about being in league - the law and stewards — a little info in these matters
  10. info^maniacs — Liberation-Now!
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