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An Americans experiences in the IMC/GSF building

Francisco Rojas | 25.07.2001 15:15

Eyewitness account of the what one American saw duing the Sunday morning raid. Particular insight into the destruction of legal files and computers by police.





testimonial05




This was written Sunday morning 7/22
Eyewitness account for the night of 7/21-7/22
All was calm at the IMC/GSF building and school across the street were getting ready to go to sleep, sleeping or talking in the courtyard.
-A moment later I hear people yelling ‘polizia’ and run to the window of the Fifth floor of hte IMC building to see five rows deep – about fifteen people wide – riot cops standing facing the school. The cops then charge the school (I at this time have not seen a medic in close range).. The people in the school try to keep them out of the closed in courtyard to the school – they make their way through and start swinging. I make my way to the first floor when I hear another cry of ‘polizia’ and running feet over the floor when I am pushed to the ground as computer equipment goes flying (law center) I am taken into the hall with seven other where we are detained away from the windows. Lawyers come thirty minutes later and we can get up. Lawyers try to make their way across the street alone with a man who is said to be from the Italian Parliament. They start bring people out.
Helicopter low, people crying:
-brown haired boy hand on neck bleeding.
-brown haired girl with pall in mouth bleeding wearing red shorts.
-I look away, too intense, and then go back to the window
-cop medics carryout a black blanket and I can see a foot falling out of the left corner. They carry out more rolled up blankets. People scream as the helicopter flies low. Its a long time before the cops depart. The media, people, polizia crowded in to the streets.
(unnamed) U.S.A.

 
Call for a mass mobilization from October 20-October 21 in Genoa, Italy
This is a call for a peaceful mass mobilization to remember the State violence in Genoa from the 16th to the 22nd of July, 2001, and to be held on the three month anniversary of the peak of the violence.
We are inviting all protestors who came to the anti-g8 protests, citizens of Genoa, as well as all their friends and supporters from around the world to come to a mass, grassroots organized festival and people’s tribunal to bear witness to the crimes of the State, and to organize for the upcoming mobilization in Brussels in December.
We call for specifically:


The formation of a surviors group called GenoaResistence to keep alive the spirit of the protests against the g8 leaders and to organize the October event and future events as deemed appropriate.
The use of only non-violent means of protest during the event so as not to give the State an excuse for violence.
A People’s Tribunal to review the testimony of protestors and citizens of Genoa as to the behavior of the police during the anti-g8 mobilization, to be held in the same location as the meeting of g8.
Workshops and Organizing forums to prepare for the coming mobilization in Brussels in December, as well as future mass mobilizations.
Anti-corporate, grassroots infrastructure for the event.
Preservation of a part of the ‘fence’ used during the g8 summit to be made part of a memorial.
The restoration of the name of Genoa to one of anti-fascist resistence and one of hope.

If you are interested to help please contact  groct20@yahoo.co.uk

Francisco Rojas
- e-mail: f_rojas@eudoramail.com