International Day of Action Against the Arms Trade – Brighton
Blix Bloc | 22.03.2005 00:13 | Anti-militarism | Repression | South Coast
Subsequently, the inspections team read out the names of some of the more than 100,000 Iraqi civilian casualties of the illegal invasion, and held a two minutes silence interrupted only by sniggering police officers. Mass murder, what a laugh! The cops had had enough, and with none of their usual guff about 'facilitating' our protest they imposed a section 14 order under the Public Order Act, demanding we disperse because we were 'intimidating' and might 'compel' EDO staff to cease work – by reading out the names of their victims? Surely the compulsion would come from the employees conscience officer?
The CIA team is dismayed to report that three of our members were then kidnapped in a white van with blue flashing lights by some dodgy characters in day-glow jackets who seemed to be acting as EDO's private security. They claimed to be police officers. In any case, such grave attempts to obstruct weapons inspections could lead to serious consequences. It was unclear why the first arrest was made, the second was clearly for filming the first and the third, ten minutes later was apparently for meditating alone on a grass verge. Police also assaulted a camera man filming the second arrest.
Our remaining team members then retreated to the main road where re-enforcements were massing (well, 5 more people and 4 dogs). Public opinion was clearly with continued inspections as passers-by congratulated our efforts and cars honked horns in support. Nonetheless, the Police insisted on trying to silence a musician playing his clarinet. Asked if a ban on music had been slipped in with the recent anti-terror laws, the police told the musician that it wasn't illegal but he 'might end up getting arrested' if he didn't shut up. He carried on playing, his dog howled along in a kind of endearing out of tune way and the police backed off.
After convening to make further plans, the CIA team relocated and rendezvoused at the Brighton war memorial, where we placed a list of some of those who had been killed by the Coalition bombing in Iraq.
Blix Bloc
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