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Anti-War protests - UK timeline - March 22

imc-uk | 28.03.2003 17:52

On the third day of war ravaging, people made their opposition clear across the UK in big rallies and blockades in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh, as well as at the military base Fairford and the spy station Menwith Hill.



22:30 pm Edinburgh: Demonstrators are still picketing a police station, demanding the release of the 4 remaining detainees. Earlier in the afternoon these protestors were quite brutally arrested by plainclothes police offers, prompting other demonstrators to intervene.
22:00 Edinburgh: One of the arrested, from the earlier Edinburgh protests, has just been released. He was charged with an alleged breach of peace whilst photographing events unfolding on the streets. Four more people are still detained.
22:00 Glasgow: Reports that police were boxing in people in groups of 100 for one and a half hours, and then they let people go in groups of 20. Protestors then reassembling in George Square and blocking traffic in Union Street.
20:45 London: Park Lane crowd of about 500 is now being released in ones and twos. Traffic is still blocked. About 60 police vans in Park Lane.
20:00 London: A group of indy-journos observing the Park Lane police blockade are being told to move on. Officers warn them that otherwise they "will be trampled" as the crowd is about to be released.
19:50 London: 600-700 people sitting down on Park Lane near Hyde Park [photo]. Riot police moving people off central reservation. Protesters are completely surrounded, chanting "no war". 30 police vans and double line of police. Journalists and people with press cards are not allowed to leave.
19:30 Glasgow: 10.000 people demonstrated for over 7 hours. Heavy police presence. First reports of clashes and arrests. Report
19:30 London: The crowd blocking the intersection at Oxford Street have moved back up to Marble Arch. Confusion amongst police trying to catch up with them. Musical support from nearby appartment: "War - what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!" Police blocked all exits in Park Lane that lead to US Embassy with lines of police vans. Riot police appears. [report1 | report2]
19:00 London: There is now a police cordon separating the protest at Oxford street, but no section 60. The protest has grown to over a thousand people. Police have blocked off more streets in the vicinity. 300 to 400 people are marching down Charing X Road towards Parliament Square.
18:35 Edinburgh: At the police station it seems some people have broken through a police line in the solidarity protest.
18:35 London: "Rhythms of Resistance" samba band has just arrived at the Oxford street protest, the protest has grown to about 500 people, more joining from the direction of Marble Arch. Police seemed to have blocked some streets, and continue containing the crowd. [video]
18:30 Fairford: Update from Fairford legal support team, and reports 1 | 2 | 3 | 4.
18:20 London: Reports say that people have occupied the first floor of an office building between Bond street and Marble Arch tube station on Oxford street and have hung a sound system out of the window playing reggae, people are dancing. A line of police is closing in and some people are also siting down in the road. One protestor has been arrested for burning a US flag, also some minor scuffles have occured. [pics 1 | 2 and reports]
18:00 Edinburgh: The bulk of the protest is now heading towards the police station in solidarity with five people who still remain detained there from earlier arrests, the march contains about 3000 people, and the spirit is very good natured.
18:00 London: Reports say that Oxford street is being blocked by around 200 people.
17:45 London: Most of the protestors who jumped off the Fairford coaches at a traffic light in Shepherd's Bush have now arrived in Oxford Street [ audio report ].
17:30 London: Reports say that Hyde Park rally is finished and people are slowly dispersing.
17:00 London: 7 vanloads of police surrounded 200 protesters waiting for the Faiford Coaches at Euston.
17:00 London: The 3 Fairfield coaches arrived in Holland Park Avenue. Everybody jumped off the bus at a traffic light. Drummers joined in. As they were marching quietly down the road, police pushed them off the road. Police became violent. Report and pics
16:00 London: Huge rally in Hyde Park. The Stop the War Coalition reckons 1 million people in London. A dozen police vans and some mounted police are positioned at Hyde Park corner.
16:00 Junction 5: The 3 buses with London Fairford demonstrators are approaching London at 40 mph. Police are blocking the motorway behind the coaches. No car can overtake. Heavy traffic behind them. [ audio report ]
15:30 Edinburgh: The protesters are now holding a calm rally. Thanks to pressure of the crowd, most people have been released, 5 are still detained.
16:00 Junction 89 (M4): Motorists report that London demonstrators in the returned Fairford buses display banners that they are being illegaly detained.
15:00 Edinburgh: The peaceful demonstration is escalating, as 2 plainclothes police officers saw someone with an anti-american slogan on a flag in Charlotte Square. They started brutally dragging people along the floor and into 3 waiting vans. 10 arrests have already been made. People try to intervene, there is good solidarity.
15:00 London: A small sit-down in front of Downing Street was reported.
15:00 Fairford: Lots of good speeches and music. The organisers report between 2 and 3000 participants, also many police in riot gear around base. People in white overalls and padding got jumped on by police, maybe one of them arrested. Meanwhile, London coaches are escorted by several police vans and cars plus motobykes on the motorway. Police are blocking traffic at motorway junctions to ensure that the coaches are kept together.
15:00 Manchester: A realtively peaceful demo took place, as well as a rally in Castlefield. However police later tried to pen protesters at a corner in Bridgewater Street at 4pm. Some people were arresrted in a subsequest confrontation and held until the protest died down.[report]
15:00 Menwith Hill: 1000 protesters are approaching the fence despite heavy police presence. There apparently have been no arrests so far[report].
14:30 Fairford: Civil liberties temporarily suspended. 3 coaches, including journalists with press cards, are being escorted back to London. Reason given by police: Items found on the coach (scarfs, helmets, paper masks) could lead to a "breach of peace". No legal details are given. [report | audio report]. Coaches from Swindon are being sent back as well.
14:30 London: The huge demo is arriving in Hyde Park
14:00 Edinburgh: 10.000 people are out on the biggest ever demo in Edinburgh. Mixed crowd, people from many nationalities. Princes Street has been occupied again, the march is now heading for the US consulate.
14:00 Fairford: An estimated 2000 people are at the demo. [Pics] The 200 people from London group still waiting for the police to finish searching the coaches. They are not allowed to walk towards the demo, because under one of the sections in place this would be regarded as an illegal march
13:30 London: Both marches are arriving in Picadilly. More people are joining, trade unions and many kids. Organisers report 500.000 participants, police say 100.000. [pics]
13:30 Fairford: 1 protester arrested for previous incicent. Protesters now walking quietly towards village, but police are requesting more surveillance units and backup. [audio report]
13:00 London: Embankment march is moving fast towards Trafalgar Square - very good atmosphere, many people!
13:00 Fairford: London group still held up under section 60. Some helments and scarfs including a tartan scarf were confiscated.
12:30 London: Embankment is packed, people start moving. Gower Street march started but is held up in Shaftsbury Avenue where 12 police vans are parked up.
12:30 Fairford: Demo has started. London coaches arrived near the area and are surrounded by police. People are being searched three at a time and filmed before they are being let out of the police circle. Each search takes up to 15 minutes, it will take at least a couple of hours b4 they can join the demo. Eyewitness report
12:00 London: People are gathering in Gower street and at the Embankment. Making banners while waiting to move on. Mixed crowd - students, families, muslim groups... 2 helicopters watch them.
12:00 Fairford: Sections 12 and 14 of the public order adt have been put in force for the demo. People are only allowed to go from the village from the main gate. Every assembly of more than 40 people or procession could be in breach of public order act. First reports about coaches pulled over and searched.
morning Coaches are leaving for Fairford, 3 from London.

Audio: A list of audio reports from Saturday.

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