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Mayday Mayday Brighton Smash EDO protest

Stalingrad O'Neill | 09.05.2009 13:42 | Smash EDO | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Birmingham

Despite the Brighton’s Argus EDF (energy Daily Newspaper of the Year) editor’s, best efforts in outweighing the balance of positive comments from the many residents who don't want an Arms factory anywhere near their town by two to one. All that all that could be offered in it’s pages by way of a reasonable counter argument against the demonstrators was idiotic twaddle like "Why don't they have a bath and get a life", "Why aren’t they recycling their bottles and cans instead of using them as weapons" from the rudely awakened Mr and Mrs Complacent of Brighton












Photos 1-12 Various Banners
Photos 1-12 Various Banners








Photos 13-20 Clash at McDonnell’s London Rd
Photos 13-20 Clash at McDonnell’s London Rd


Chief Supt Graham Bartlett's released statement on the protest claimed:

Unjustified acts of violence aimed at premises and police officers, with some officers receiving minor injuries.
Members of public being intimidated by a small minority of the group who have been verbally abusive,
Missiles thrown at police. A member of public was struck in the face by a missile and treated by a police medical team.

Paint being thrown at and daubed on a number of premises a boutique window in Market Street broken and other reports of wanton criminal damage taking place.

By 7.40pm, three arrests had been made - for assaulting a police officer, obstructing police and criminal damage. Investigations continue into other offences that have occurred

I didn’t see many residents of the Fiveways area in fear of the protesters; on the contrary, it was the aggressive Police presence that intimidated. Scores of vans, driving pell mell through Brighton, with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring here there and everywhere rapidly disgorging vast crowds of police with helmets, batons and shields – I’d say helmets, batons, shields and Police have the power to intimidate people rather more so than demonstrators!

Interesting to note that the shoppers around Iceland and McDonald’s in London Rd, who were touted as fleeing the ‘mob violence’ as trouble flared, are on quote saying that, they were acting in response to a rumor that the police were using tear gas

In all it was quite an eventful Day. I joined the march moved up Old Steine from the Pier towards North Street. Three men climbed the Barclays North Street branch scaffolding and hung an ‘Arms Dealers Out Of Brighton’ banner applauded by the ‘Bodyshop’ workers who’s shop faced the bank as well as passing shoppers
The climbers safely descended and became lost amongst the crowd of the waiting Demonstration

The Crowd crushed through the tunnel by Trafalgar Street Station and moved up London Rd. There someone threw a firework under a Police Van resulting in clashes between police and protesters adjacent to the McDonald's restaurant. A large section of the Demonstration headed up Preston Circus and diverted to Ditchling Road where the route was blocked by a line of Police backed by a contingent of mounted Cops

Despite demonstrators having a (life size) Plastic or fiberglass car which had been used earlier in the demo with success to bump through police lines, it was clear at this particular interface it had reached its tactical limitations, worse it had a fatal design flaw which meant it could not negotiate the high hilly terrain of Ditchling Rise (no brakes or suchlike) Its manual operators (those pushing) lost their grip and it sped ever on downwards in reverse eventually coming to rest two thirds the way down the hill against a wall, where the designers were castigated by a citizen with children for their lack of forethought!

The march then diverted via either Ditchling Rise or top end of London Rd to Preston Rd and on to Preston Park, where a contingent of the demonstrators encamped Making my way back into Brighton via Preston Circus/London Rd. I bypassed and missed the confrontation that happened in Trafalgar Street, eventually gathering with the protesters on the land around St Peter's Church where a couple of sound systems were playing for over an hour or so. It seemed to me there was an attempt by the cops to kettle the demonstrators and was also probably apparent to the demonstrators, because eventually it became noticeable the crowd had dissipated markedly, they had reformed at the Pier to continue the protest, where I stayed till about 5pm.

I really did not see as much that has been reported in

 http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4340279.Liveblog__Brighton_Smash_EDO_protest/

So can’t comment on such claims

The EDO estimate of 2,000 demonstrators was more realistic than Sussex police’s laughable estimate of 500 I have to say though; the cops seemed to be more media savvy than usual.

Synopsis of EDO protests since 2004. Court cases dropped because of alleged Sussex Police collusion with EDO MBM - Sales to the Israel defense forces - Detailed criticism in the United States of the Corporation - EDO MBM and UN Peace Messenger City Brighton and Hove

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_EDO_Corporation

Photos Copyright Stalingrad O'Neill - permission is required for third party usage

Stalingrad O'Neill
- e-mail: robograd@tiscali.co.uk

Comments

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Additional photos

09.05.2009 15:36

Demonstration on Old Steine
Demonstration on Old Steine

The Red Dragon Old Steine – Marlborough Pl
The Red Dragon Old Steine – Marlborough Pl

Bike Protester - Old Steine
Bike Protester - Old Steine

Demonstrators blocked by police on Ditchling Rd
Demonstrators blocked by police on Ditchling Rd

Think Kim Il Sung’s rocket fared better!!!
Think Kim Il Sung’s rocket fared better!!!

NatWest RBS Offices on Preston Rd
NatWest RBS Offices on Preston Rd

Stand Off at York Place
Stand Off at York Place

Fit Team York Place
Fit Team York Place

Police lineup to cordon York Place
Police lineup to cordon York Place

Debating with the one of the boys in blue Trafalgar St
Debating with the one of the boys in blue Trafalgar St

Bikers caught in police cordon York Pl
Bikers caught in police cordon York Pl

One of those frightened Brighton residents
One of those frightened Brighton residents

More frightened residents
More frightened residents

On the Parade
On the Parade

Can’t see why some members of Brighton’s public complain? Recycling Perfection!
Can’t see why some members of Brighton’s public complain? Recycling Perfection!

On Seafront Facing Grand Junction Rd
On Seafront Facing Grand Junction Rd

High School Musical EDO
High School Musical EDO

With cast of thousands ….Well all right the budget didn’t extend that far
With cast of thousands ….Well all right the budget didn’t extend that far

Police march past pier
Police march past pier

Graffitti somewhere ‘round Cheapside
Graffitti somewhere ‘round Cheapside

Photos Copyright Stalingrad O'Neill - permission is required for third party usage

Stalingrad O'Neill
mail e-mail: robograd@tiscali.co.uk


Keep it on topic!

09.05.2009 17:05

Why was Mc Donalds targetted when this was an anti-arms trade demonstration? Also how come the demonstration never got any where near the EDO arms factory and was in central Brighton the whole time?


anti-arms trade activist


McDonalds was targetted.

09.05.2009 17:43

Not only because they exploit people, animals and the planet, but mainly because they own thousands of pounds worth of shares in EDO.

McExplanation


SOS

09.05.2009 18:06

> how come the demonstration never got any where near the EDO arms factory and was in central Brighton the whole time?<

Down to the police blocking roads out of the town centre it seems judging from the reports! Well done Sussex Police.

John


Clarification

09.05.2009 21:56

OK. Thanks for clearing those points up for me. I was a little confused.

anti-arms trade activist


at least one of the barclays banner droppers was a woman

10.05.2009 12:58

i know it can be hard to tell someones gender when they're masked up, but if you dont know for definite a persons gender then simply refer to them as people / demonstrators / protestors, etc. dont just presume they're men.

i know for a fact


Gender

10.05.2009 21:43

^^ OK I'll do my best to remember that!

Stalingrad O'Neill


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