The blockade of the West Gate.
Guido | 07.06.2007 20:07 | G8 Germany 2007 | Globalisation | Repression | World
The road it seems is out of bounds.
A water cannon opens up on the advancing crowd.
'Actually officers we already have plenty to drink'
An improvised mobile barrier appears.
Making steady progress towards the Police lines.
At the Police lines.
Undefeated and in the cops faces.
So they start baton charging.
Bang, splat, crunch, ect...
The yoga block appears...
...and swings into action.
4 kilometres and 750 metres INSIDE the 5k exclusion zone.
In the corner people are trying to avoid the jets. The cops are battering one hippy type that has got too close them. Oscar Beard trys to film what they are doing to him and a cop steps forward and sprays him in the eyes with pepper spray at point blank range. Two of the black block rescue him and take him down to the medics. His is unable to do any more filming for nearly 45 minutes.
Meanwhile despite the cannons the block are making steady progress and before long they are right at the Police lines. The cannons are now useless because they will just hit their own people. So now the cops start baton charging the crowd to get them back. Soon it is clear that noone is getting through so people sit down in front of the cops and start to enjoy the sunshine. There is no need to take the road because the Police and their hardware is effectively blocking it for them. Nothing can get through so this area is now a G8 free zone and one less option for the staff trying to travel to the conference. Result!
People relax, starting eating and socialising. Some people start doing a yoga demonstration in front of the cops who are steadily baking in their riot gear in the blistering sun. West gate closed.
Guido
e-mail:
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