DSEi Organisers Find Themselves Otherwise Occupied
S | 26.08.2003 23:11 | Oxford
At 8:30am on Thursday 21st August, a succesful action was completed on Spearhead, the organisers of the DSEi arms fair.
One activist posing as a journalist working for a trade publication wanting to write a feature on Spearhead's CEO entered the building first to cause a diversion by distracting receptionists in order to allow four others, along with one video activist, to go up to Spearhead's office. Three of these, all disguised as office workers, then barricaded themselves into an office, freeing up one other to engage with employees and Bob Munton, the CEO.
Meanwhile, five gory-looking activists did a die-in in front of the building, with one more dropping a banner from the front. Two further members of the group handed out leaflets and liaised with press, police, and curious members of the public.
One activist posing as a journalist working for a trade publication wanting to write a feature on Spearhead's CEO entered the building first to cause a diversion by distracting receptionists in order to allow four others, along with one video activist, to go up to Spearhead's office. Three of these, all disguised as office workers, then barricaded themselves into an office, freeing up one other to engage with employees and Bob Munton, the CEO.
Meanwhile, five gory-looking activists did a die-in in front of the building, with one more dropping a banner from the front. Two further members of the group handed out leaflets and liaised with press, police, and curious members of the public.
Some of the crew after all arrestees were released without charge
The action was extremely successful. Four arrests were made - three for suspicion of theft, and one for criminal damage - but all were released without charge by 3pm.
Those involved would like it known that this is something that should be learnt from, and could easily be repeated with similar tactics elsewhere. They also said that others attempting similar office occupations should not underestimate the potential usefulness of what they might find in the office itself - go technically equipped to seize all such opportunities.
The highlight of the action for all was the amazingly supportive comments. One Spearhead employee said "Just remember you are not doing this in vain", and a female police officer was similarly encouraging, saying it is important that those of us who have the rights to make these sorts of protests continue to do so on behalf of those who don't. Most poignantly, one Iraqi passer-by was highly supportive and said of arms dealers and those complicit in the weapons industry "You should see what they have done to my country".
The best compliment of all came from Chief Inspector Tim Pointer, though, who said that the action was "planned and sophisticated". Cheers, Tim!
report | pics | UK feature | dsei.org
Those involved would like it known that this is something that should be learnt from, and could easily be repeated with similar tactics elsewhere. They also said that others attempting similar office occupations should not underestimate the potential usefulness of what they might find in the office itself - go technically equipped to seize all such opportunities.
The highlight of the action for all was the amazingly supportive comments. One Spearhead employee said "Just remember you are not doing this in vain", and a female police officer was similarly encouraging, saying it is important that those of us who have the rights to make these sorts of protests continue to do so on behalf of those who don't. Most poignantly, one Iraqi passer-by was highly supportive and said of arms dealers and those complicit in the weapons industry "You should see what they have done to my country".
The best compliment of all came from Chief Inspector Tim Pointer, though, who said that the action was "planned and sophisticated". Cheers, Tim!
report | pics | UK feature | dsei.org
S