I Don't Care About The Law !
said PC D343 of the Metropolitian Police Diplomatic Protection Squad, as he punched a protestor (in his 50s) in the face, leaving cuts on his eyebrow and nose.

Nor did PC D320 Turner, as he threw a protestor to the ground and kicked him.

PC D342 looked really disappointed when no-one wanted to connect their head with his extendable metal baton as he menacingly threatened us with it, and finally he shoved the baton down his collar, swaggering around with it at the ready.

So people: tell me about peaceful protest, tell me about democracy, tell me about freedom of speech.

I arrived on Grosvenor Square at about 1.30 and was confused to see no cops, no barriers and no protestors. Having walked round to Kings Yard and found no-one there, I returned to the square and found a group of about 30 protestors in the park.

At 1.45, bemused by the absence of cops, we crossed over to the Italian Embassy, to protest against the seizure of Indymedia Italy's archives from Genoa by the police, including raids on the offices of lawyers where police removed material relating to peoples defence cases.

We stuck posters saying "WE ARE ALL INDYMEDIA" to the pillars and door of the Embassy, and wound lots of videotape round the pillars, to symbolise the tapes that were seized by Berlusconis facist bootboys. A few Sambaistas started to play, a banner was unfurled, and several of us stuck tape over our mouths to symbolise the loss of freedom of speech. We stood on the pavement, aware that we were engaged in a symbolic ritual that was having no impact. No one could see us, no one cared, a few cars passed by, one tooted in support.

I saw two people standing on the steps of the American Embassy, across the park. A few minutes later a red car, with police markings screeched up to the pavement, almost connecting with a protestor.

3 bullyboys jumped out of the car, screamed "get across the road" and began pushing people of the pavement. Within minutes our peaceful protest about the loss of freedom, had been turned into a show of state force. Push us they did, and people were forced onto the road, some walking round them to get back onto the pavement. Others staying in the road, and bringing traffic to a halt. We watched in disbelief as these bullies assaulted anyone they could get their hands onto. More red vehicles pulled up and their colleagues jumped out and proceeded to imitate the behaviour of the original 3, including an inspector!!!

For myself, (already facing 3 trials and the prospect of loss of freedom , including the Halloween 7 trial where I stand accused of fitted up charges of Threatening Behaviour after being beaten by the police in a dark alley off Oxford Street on Halloween night last year) the choice was clear. I cannot face another trial now. So I went and stood on the pavement across the road and watched in disbelief as friends, comrades and fellow protestors were subjected to brutality. AND NOT ONE OF THEM STRUCK BACK, many put themselves at considerable risk by standing their ground. And we all kept asking, "why are you doing this"?, "what law are you using"?, "why are you denying us our freedom of expression"?. But these public servants were in no mood to discuss their actions, to explain what was happening, to defuse the situation.

I watched in disbelief as 2 friends were arrested, pushed to the ground, handcuffed and then threatened with batons.

After all this time, and all these demos, I am still left gobsmacked by the awfulfulness of police violence, for no apparent reason, other than the media say WE are violent, and people obviously believe it!!

We walked to West End Central as a group to show support for our arrested comrades. Same cops, less shit now. Some of us took it in turns to stand waiting for our friends, as the police refused to give them a note telling them where they could meet us. The rest wandered off to a pub, shocked at the experience we had just been through. After 3 hours or so, our friends were released and joined us, with their newly acquired charge sheets - Section 5, Public Order Offences.

And I wonder what risk they would be at, if it wasn't for the fact that we had cameras, we caught the whole incident on camera, and the police for once were without their photographers.

I hope it comes to court, I hope we get a chance to show those videos in an open court. But hey, whats really going to happen? The charges will get dropped, and they will try to sweep the whole sorry mess under the carpet.

And I wonder, why were there only 50 of us there. Does no-one else care about the freedom of expression, of speech and assembly that we killed Afghani babies for. Were you scared. Do you believe the hype?

I wonder and I am really, really sad!

RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO STOOD UP TO THE FACIST COPPERS!

RESPECT FOR INDYMEDIA ITALY!

NO RESPECT FOR ANY COPPER WHATSOEVER!!