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Violent Arrests at EDO Big Demo, Brighton !!! Phone the cops now!

smashnik | 31.05.2005 19:02 | Anti-militarism | Repression | South Coast

At least 7 people were violently arrested at the Big demo at arms dealers EDO MBM in Brighton today. PHONE CHIEF INSPECTOR KERRY COX on 0845 6070999 to protest the brutal arrests of at least 7 antiwar/civil rights activists!

This was the first big demo since the (very watered down) injunction was granted, and the police wasted no time in singling out an 80 year old man and dragging him accross the street where three cops pinned him down, face on the tarmac, with their knees painfully in his back. A further arrest was made and then the police formed a line and pushed en masse into the crowd of around 40 protesters *inside* the designated protest area.

For those unfamiliar with the geography at EDO, the designated protest are is a 2 meter wide grass verge with a 40 foot vertical drop on one side and a road (exclusion zone) on the other. Several people fell over when the police charged and it was a matter of luck that nobody fell over the edge. Police harrassment continued but didn't dent a lively and noisy demonstration despite further violent and arbitrary arrests, including one where a man was snatched from the crowd and dragged accross the road by his neck.

PLEASE phone Chief Inspector Kerry Cox of Brighton police on 0845 6070999 to protest and enquire as to the condition of the detainees (the police summoned a medic after several arrests, but used force to prevent people with cameras and legal observers getting a view. The civil rights won by previous generations are being wiped out in the blink of an eye. We have to stand together to confront the growing repression anyone seeking social change faces.

smashnik
e-mail: smashedo@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 12 comments

Quick up date

01.06.2005 00:31

The number that were arrested was 8.

6 people from Brighton were arrested.
1 from london and 1 from Manchester.

It seems at the moment all have been charged with "offences" ranging from "wifully obstructing the highway" to "assulting a police officer".

As mentioned above any physical assults came from Brighton Police!

Good luck to all those arrested!

EDOPhobic-Manchester

Escalation

01.06.2005 01:02

Truly appalling behavior from the police who've demonstrated their complicity in defending arms dealing lowlife today. They have attempted to crush legitamate protest that fell well within the terms of the injunction. As Chief Inspector Kerry Cox recomended the whole TLC 'package' maybe she feels some results might be called for even if a few protesters might get bundled over the edge of a cliff in the protest. The police were out to arrest and arrest they did.

Any neutral observer would have easily recognised who the thugs using harassment and intimidation were today and they were all on a salary and wearing flourescent jackets. If they thought we were going to go away after today they've only made us stronger and much much more determined...

Elizabeth Regina

mad policemen

01.06.2005 01:16

can you believe that after a day of being filmed and attacked by psychotic policemen, people waiting outside the police station for arrested and assulted 80 year olds and others were warned not to film as some employees leaving that dehumanised fortress were civilians and we might get their number plates. Maybe I should go shopping instead of protesting.

Arthur Miller

How many were there???

01.06.2005 09:18

You forgot to mention how many people were there? 100? 500? 1000? 5,000? I think the former small number! Here's a hint why not get Bob Geldolf to plug the anti-EDO demos at the big Live 8 concert in London next month, telling people who can't make it to Edinburgh to go to Brighton for the anti-EDO demos instead! ;-)

Tom

Thugs

01.06.2005 09:21

After a day of dealing with the thugs (I mean policmen and EDO agents) ... waking up is like breaking a day of nightmares! never imagined that police (who say they are there to protect us haha) will pull protestors so they are on the street and then arrest them for that! So thought might find a "good" article in the ARGUS as they were the only media people there, but found an article that mentions only 3 arrests out of 8 and claims that the arrested ones were on the exclusion zone, and no mention of the arrest of the 80-year old man, instead there is a quote by him.

Anyway, never been serious about attending these demonstrations, but from now on will never miss one ... it is not fair to, beside allowing this weapons company to exist in our town, the police victimises people and deny them their basic right of protesting peacefully.

Well-done SMASH EDO, carry on with the good work.

Lulu

Performance Indicators

01.06.2005 11:21

There were about 100 police there. They wanted to show some 'results' from the money that they spent so they ensured that they arrested a handfull to make the policing look 'successful'. Well it might fool the idiots at the Argus, but it doesn't fool me. Fuck EDO!

Anti-EDO till the end

better article in the evening argus

01.06.2005 16:40

this evening the argus had a two page spread with headlines stating that a 'Huge anti arms demo looms' - they got all the arrests in this time (and made one up for good measure

seeya at the national demo on June 11th at the Level at 12 pm

destroy the arms trade

newspaper reader

there were over 50 protesters

02.06.2005 07:18

... crammed onto the top of the cliff

The police very nearly killed people yesturday with their pushes, but they ain't gonna stop the demos.

Smash EDO!

another smashnik

Homicidal Maniacs

02.06.2005 10:26

I feared for my life at one stage and felt sure a whole bunch of people were about to go over the edge.

We're all SmashEDO now!

Peacenik

Photos From Smash EDO Big Demo 31-05-05

02.06.2005 12:25

dangerous violent criminals (apparently)

police push crowds towards a 10m drop to a railway line

Smash EDO Big Demo 31-05-05

Smash EDO Protesters

The United States of EDO Corp

Arms dealers are scum.

Yani

Defend The EDO 8!!!!

02.06.2005 15:20

Can everyone that was on the Noise Demo write a statement of the day, it will be useful for those that were arrested!

Defend the Right to Protest!

Defend the EDO 8