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Block the Dock! Devonport Peace Camp

schOUND OFF! | 18.11.2002 20:31

Blockades at dawn. Very early this morning, protestors set out to blockade Plymouth's Devonport dockyard, in which is at the moment the submarine Vanguard, broken into earlier during the camp.

Carrying banners and armtubes, most of the assembled peace campaigners at the camp set off for the Albert Gate of the Dockyard. There, with the support of others, some locked on in a circle for a 'die in' outside the gate to blockade the way in.
Police presence was huge, and we were expected, although originally at another gate. The six on the ground were all cut out of their plastic arm tubes and duly arrested, along with another who refused to leave.

Meanwhile, at one of the other gates (Camel's Head), four 'kamikase' activists attempted to lock on to take on the biggest gate themselves. They were folied on their brave attempt, but none were arrested.

Spirits remained high however, and all gathered to make a statement to passing traffic and stationary police whilst checking out the huge amount of local and national mainstream press coverage, mostly down to the two who managed to get onto Vanguard on friday night. (There was computer-simulated routes and everthing on the local news tonight!)
The 'weapons inspectors', Petter and Eliza, were released today from Plymouth magistrates court, hopefully more news on them soon!
All in all, a fairly token attempt at a blockade, but a blockade all the same, which is something I never thought I'd see in Plymouth, so yay! Hopefully as support grows, which it is doing at an absolutely terrific rate, there will be more peace camps, and people, and more lock ons and weapons inspecting!
New issue of schOUND OFF! (plymouth and area direct action news) out very soon- a camp special! email to subscribe.
Great to see everyone there

schOUND OFF!

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Photos of lock-on at Albert gate

19.11.2002 13:54

Photos of lock-on at Albert gate
Photos of lock-on at Albert gate

Six lock-on using plastic drain pipes as arm tubes.

tp