Inspirational Anti War day at Plymouth!
juvenile_delinqient | 22.02.2003 16:22
Wow! The Small Anti War demonstration I expected turned into a large road blockade outside the police station!
In Plymouth I try not to expect too much, but what happened (and is still happening) exceeded anything I could have hoped for today and proves that people are getting angrier, people are becoming prepared to act, civil disobedience is growing and will become commonplace as we head towards this war.
After a short march protestors walked onto the main road in Plymouth City Centre, Royal Parade, and blocked one side of it by sitting down. They eventually moved on at their own choice and one man was arrested- Tony, our man with the megaphone. This was supposed, I presume to disband the protest and reduce our capability to cause disruption but the people got angry and headed to the police station to demand him back. On the way another familiar face, Pete, was also arrested, which only served to make matters worse for the police as the protestors reached the police staion and sat down, blocking another road. An attempt to block the other side of the road was quashed by police but the other remained blocked for at least an hour and a half (when I left) and was still looking strong...I can't remeber seeing this in Plymouth so it's fantastic that people are prepared to do more than just march where and when the police tell them to. Here's to civil disobedience and direct action in my city, your city and all over the world to stop this war!
After a short march protestors walked onto the main road in Plymouth City Centre, Royal Parade, and blocked one side of it by sitting down. They eventually moved on at their own choice and one man was arrested- Tony, our man with the megaphone. This was supposed, I presume to disband the protest and reduce our capability to cause disruption but the people got angry and headed to the police station to demand him back. On the way another familiar face, Pete, was also arrested, which only served to make matters worse for the police as the protestors reached the police staion and sat down, blocking another road. An attempt to block the other side of the road was quashed by police but the other remained blocked for at least an hour and a half (when I left) and was still looking strong...I can't remeber seeing this in Plymouth so it's fantastic that people are prepared to do more than just march where and when the police tell them to. Here's to civil disobedience and direct action in my city, your city and all over the world to stop this war!
juvenile_delinqient
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Anti-war demo and arrests in plymouth
23.02.2003 13:48
The march proceeded into the town centre, picking up people on the way, and blocked the road, as"juvenile delinquent" has described. The first arrest created a spontaneous urge to proceed to the local cop shop shortly before the march was due to end. Having cleverly shot themselves in the foot the plod then had to deal with a longer and more disruptive protest as people sat in the road chanting "Free Tony" and "What do we want?...PETE, When do we want him?...NOW!" An attempt to block both carriageways by jumping the central barrier was quickly quashed as protestors were dragged from the road. One nasty thug grabbed two people by the head and ears - no.4693 we have your number!
Both arrests were under the Public Order Act 1986. Tony was charged under sections 4, 8 and 12 as an organiser failing to comply with a condition after two warnings. Pete was charged under section 12 of the same Act with leading a group on to the highway.Both were released at about 8:30 pm after some 7 hours.
These arrests are part of a campaign to stifle dissent and scare off the more timid and inexperienced from making their objections to Bush and Blair's hypocritical and wicked push for war. Tony and Pete are appearing in Plymouth Magistrates court this Wednesday at 10 am. Come along and show your support. Bring banners and placards and if the person who ended up with the NO WAR and NOT IN MY NAME banners could bring them along it would be appreciated.
Matt