Strasbourg: Illegal demonstrations and actions in city (25th July)
IMC'ista | 25.07.2002 19:47
Today after a long night of discussion and meetings at the camp several small actions and a larger prison solidarity protest went ahead despite all Noborder protests being declared illegal.
The first attempt to leave the camp and engage with the public outside in the city was met with large numbers of police as the Austrian Publix Theatre Caravan along with media activists from Indymedia Austria and UK were told to return to the camp or face arrest,in a clear example of the denial of the rights to assemble and communicate (
http://uk.indymedia.org:8081/front.php3?article_id=36838&group=webcast).
However a variety of theatrical and information actions went ahead in a city with police stationed on every corner, and almost every bridge over the river (of which there are around 20) in the central tourist zone. Since the bridges were covered by riot police, some people took banners onto a river tour boat which circles the main tourist area, thus avoiding the cops.
Later people managed to stage a theatrical performance on one of the bridges; dressed in togas and with singing they dealt with issues of slavery. While two groups of around 10 riot police looked on (even laughing sometimes) a public slave auction was held, with a variety of slaves for sale - from a female computer geek slave to a male sex toy slave. The performance gathered a good crowd of viewers including the chief police security officer who must have given the thumbs up to allowing the performance to continue instead of arresting the actors.
Further into the afternoon and over 50 people took the brave step to march from the camp to one of the main prisons in a solidarity action. While they expected to be met by riot police in aggressive mode after yesterdays events, they managed to march to the prison (many with tape over their mouths to symbolise the restrictions of free speech in strasbourg) and negotiate to stay outside for almost half an hour while riot police with tear gas and rubber bullet guns looked on. In fact a group of the prisoners (around 14) had been released while the protest was en route and were very happy to see the solidarity with them in what is a difficult situation given the banning of such protests.
All in all a successful day despite the blatant attempt to end any organised contact between the NoBorder campaigners and the rest of the public.
http://uk.indymedia.org:8081/front.php3?article_id=36838&group=webcast). However a variety of theatrical and information actions went ahead in a city with police stationed on every corner, and almost every bridge over the river (of which there are around 20) in the central tourist zone. Since the bridges were covered by riot police, some people took banners onto a river tour boat which circles the main tourist area, thus avoiding the cops.
Later people managed to stage a theatrical performance on one of the bridges; dressed in togas and with singing they dealt with issues of slavery. While two groups of around 10 riot police looked on (even laughing sometimes) a public slave auction was held, with a variety of slaves for sale - from a female computer geek slave to a male sex toy slave. The performance gathered a good crowd of viewers including the chief police security officer who must have given the thumbs up to allowing the performance to continue instead of arresting the actors.
Further into the afternoon and over 50 people took the brave step to march from the camp to one of the main prisons in a solidarity action. While they expected to be met by riot police in aggressive mode after yesterdays events, they managed to march to the prison (many with tape over their mouths to symbolise the restrictions of free speech in strasbourg) and negotiate to stay outside for almost half an hour while riot police with tear gas and rubber bullet guns looked on. In fact a group of the prisoners (around 14) had been released while the protest was en route and were very happy to see the solidarity with them in what is a difficult situation given the banning of such protests.
All in all a successful day despite the blatant attempt to end any organised contact between the NoBorder campaigners and the rest of the public.
IMC'ista
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