Swindon group prevented from attending Fairford demo
Simon | 22.03.2003 18:53
Peace demo in Swindon attracts 200+. Some attempt to join the Fairdord demo by bus afterwards, but are turned back by police.
At least 200 people marched through the centre of the garrison town of Swindon today (22/03/2003), only 15 miles from Fairford air base, in protest against the bombs and missiles being dropped on Iraq. After a short public meeting and a minute's silence in respect for those who have died, around 100 of those attending the march boarded buses to join the demonstration in Fairford.
Having been informed by the police that no-one would be admitted to Fairford village after 2pm, the buses drove to Castle Eaton, and the demonstrators got off with the intention of walking to the peace camp near Kempsford. Around 100 metres down the road, a small number of police stopped the group and handed out leaflets, which stated the permitted route of the demonstration (which didn't include this road) and quoted some of the implications of sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1996. They then asked us to turn back down the road and move to the other side of the river, just inside Castle Eaton. A few police vans turned up and more officers got out, some dressed as if they were prepared for a riot.
Deciding it was not prudent to try to push past such a force of police, the demonstrators retreated to the village, followed by a line of police, who remained on the other side of the river. A small group then explored the other possible ways to join the main demo in a car, and returned later to report that all routes to the air base or the peace camp were blocked by the police. One wonders how many other groups were prevented from attending the demo at Fairford.
Having been informed by the police that no-one would be admitted to Fairford village after 2pm, the buses drove to Castle Eaton, and the demonstrators got off with the intention of walking to the peace camp near Kempsford. Around 100 metres down the road, a small number of police stopped the group and handed out leaflets, which stated the permitted route of the demonstration (which didn't include this road) and quoted some of the implications of sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1996. They then asked us to turn back down the road and move to the other side of the river, just inside Castle Eaton. A few police vans turned up and more officers got out, some dressed as if they were prepared for a riot.
Deciding it was not prudent to try to push past such a force of police, the demonstrators retreated to the village, followed by a line of police, who remained on the other side of the river. A small group then explored the other possible ways to join the main demo in a car, and returned later to report that all routes to the air base or the peace camp were blocked by the police. One wonders how many other groups were prevented from attending the demo at Fairford.
Simon
e-mail:
simon@sbridewell.freeserve.co.uk
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Thanks for trying
22.03.2003 23:48
However it's great that you tried to get there.
The police were taking no chances today. We were not only numbered but the security at the base has been massively strengthed. The draconian 'laws' and abuse of power used to control the crowds meant that without ten times as many people (or perhaps the three london coaches ;-) we stood no chance of doing what needed to be done.
However, at least we tried !
swcsuc
What else happened
25.03.2003 10:17
phatpat
what happened next?
25.03.2003 10:26
Phatpat
What Swindy did Next...
30.03.2003 09:53
We learned that we need to at least triple check the info given to us by police and march organisers.
We learned that we organisers must also triple check that we are giving supporters the best info we can and the best chance to make their own decisions about where to put the energy they have for protest.
We have copied for members the useful "bust card" on Gloucester Wepons Inspectors web site
We protested on ...
50 at a planning meeting last Tuesday
15 at a trade union meets town's two pro war MPs meeting where we raised the level of debate and the war. One MP asked us "What would change your mind to saying that the Govt was right to go to war?" ..answers in comments section please...
50 at Peace vigil town centre cenotaph
2 from Swindon dashed calor gas and socks to Gate 10 on request when bolshy police "poured water" and the so say law on camp fire. Behind scenes peace legals spoke to police legals and plod had his tail between his legs when he had to revoke his pail of water and permit for human rights, gate ten to have a fire to keep warm!
5 from Swindon at the excellent banner drop and 4 hour peace campette at main Fairford junction/bridge on busy A419 (full report on Bristol.indymedia.com)
Weekly vigils and Tues 7.30 Friends Meeting House Eascott Hill planning meetings
and finally for now
Swindon is fully committed to coachloads to the 12 April do in the big smoke - dare I say it ..let's smoke 'em out.
4 peace
Tony Hillier
e-mail:
tony.hillier@ntlworld.com