Police Confront M&S Demonstrators
Sid Arthur | 05.03.2004 10:54 | Anti-racism | London
For those of you who don't view these pages regularly - a quick update.
There have been pickets of Marks and Spencer's every week for over the last 3 years on Oxford St, London as well as around the country from Manchester to Glasgow. The purpose of the demonstrations have been to highlight Marks and Spencers support of Israel and through that expose the racism and crimes of Zionism.
About 6 months ago a right wing Zionist group called Betar with a handful of British fascists started a counter demonstration against us. Their open and stated aim is to cause disruption under The Public Order Act which will give the police an excuse to close both pickets down. The police in theory are supposed to be unbias and treat each side equally but the reality is very different. Rather than moderate the provocation and thugish behaviour of the Zionists they stand aside while intimidating campaigners on the Palestinian demonstration. This should come as no surprise - for the police are a forceful tool of the state apparatus and they represent the interests of the British State (i.e the capitalist ruling class and the institutions which represent them, such as Marks and Spencer). The British State was fundamental in setting up Zionism and has supported Zionism historically, as a result it will allow a level of 'open democratic protest' of Zionism as long as that never gets too serious or threatening.
It is most likely that most individual police officers don't give a flying toss about the situation in the Middle East. It is quite probable a lot of the police see 'Jews and Arabs' as being as bad as one another and not really much of a problem if they decide to kill each other. But the Police as a body, an arm of the state apparatus does take a clear side - it takes the side of the ruling classes, a defender of capitalism, imperialism and ultimately of Zionism which is a result of British imperialist interests.
This allegiance was particularly exposed last night when the police came out in force with a very intimidating attitude towards the protestors. They begun to photograph many picketers and singled out a Palestinian regular on the picket who they surrounded and provoked to cheers by the Zionists.
They then issued us with a notice under The Public Order Act (Sec 14), laying down regulations for static demonstrations. Attached was a dubious regulation claiming that we could not use our megaphone as this would cause disruption.
Well, with all the Draconian legislation Blunket's been introducing of late it certainly seemed a plausable possibility, but after much frantic telephoning with lawyers we assertained that the police weren't in a position to impose such conditions on the demonstrations. Even so, they still threatened arrest and the picketers got together to discuss the situation between themselves and reach a democratic decision on how to proceed. A vote was taken and we decided to go ahead with the loudhailer. No arrests took place.
It is imperative we exercise our democratic right to protest and be resolute and united in the face of police intimidation. The atrocities against the Palestinian people are contiuing and the final Nakbar (expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine) looks likely to take place soon with the recent completion of the apartheid wall. Being in Britain it is imperative we fight the supporters of Zionism such as Marks and Spencer and help the Palestinian people in their struggle and show our support for the intifada.
The demonstrations we are holding are peaceful, anti-racist and law abiding. We have no intent on causing disruption to the public, our purpose is to inform the public about the atrocities of Israel and Marks and Spencers support for those atrocities. We will fight to protect and further our democratic right to do what we have been doing for the last 3 years and we urge all democratic humanitarian people to join us.
No to police harrassment!
Boycott M&S! Boycott Israeli Apartheid!
Victory to the Intifada!
The demonstrations of Marks and Spencers on Oxford St (Marble Arch end) continue every Thursday 6-8pm. Join us!
There have been pickets of Marks and Spencer's every week for over the last 3 years on Oxford St, London as well as around the country from Manchester to Glasgow. The purpose of the demonstrations have been to highlight Marks and Spencers support of Israel and through that expose the racism and crimes of Zionism.
About 6 months ago a right wing Zionist group called Betar with a handful of British fascists started a counter demonstration against us. Their open and stated aim is to cause disruption under The Public Order Act which will give the police an excuse to close both pickets down. The police in theory are supposed to be unbias and treat each side equally but the reality is very different. Rather than moderate the provocation and thugish behaviour of the Zionists they stand aside while intimidating campaigners on the Palestinian demonstration. This should come as no surprise - for the police are a forceful tool of the state apparatus and they represent the interests of the British State (i.e the capitalist ruling class and the institutions which represent them, such as Marks and Spencer). The British State was fundamental in setting up Zionism and has supported Zionism historically, as a result it will allow a level of 'open democratic protest' of Zionism as long as that never gets too serious or threatening.
It is most likely that most individual police officers don't give a flying toss about the situation in the Middle East. It is quite probable a lot of the police see 'Jews and Arabs' as being as bad as one another and not really much of a problem if they decide to kill each other. But the Police as a body, an arm of the state apparatus does take a clear side - it takes the side of the ruling classes, a defender of capitalism, imperialism and ultimately of Zionism which is a result of British imperialist interests.
This allegiance was particularly exposed last night when the police came out in force with a very intimidating attitude towards the protestors. They begun to photograph many picketers and singled out a Palestinian regular on the picket who they surrounded and provoked to cheers by the Zionists.
They then issued us with a notice under The Public Order Act (Sec 14), laying down regulations for static demonstrations. Attached was a dubious regulation claiming that we could not use our megaphone as this would cause disruption.
Well, with all the Draconian legislation Blunket's been introducing of late it certainly seemed a plausable possibility, but after much frantic telephoning with lawyers we assertained that the police weren't in a position to impose such conditions on the demonstrations. Even so, they still threatened arrest and the picketers got together to discuss the situation between themselves and reach a democratic decision on how to proceed. A vote was taken and we decided to go ahead with the loudhailer. No arrests took place.
It is imperative we exercise our democratic right to protest and be resolute and united in the face of police intimidation. The atrocities against the Palestinian people are contiuing and the final Nakbar (expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine) looks likely to take place soon with the recent completion of the apartheid wall. Being in Britain it is imperative we fight the supporters of Zionism such as Marks and Spencer and help the Palestinian people in their struggle and show our support for the intifada.
The demonstrations we are holding are peaceful, anti-racist and law abiding. We have no intent on causing disruption to the public, our purpose is to inform the public about the atrocities of Israel and Marks and Spencers support for those atrocities. We will fight to protect and further our democratic right to do what we have been doing for the last 3 years and we urge all democratic humanitarian people to join us.
No to police harrassment!
Boycott M&S! Boycott Israeli Apartheid!
Victory to the Intifada!
The demonstrations of Marks and Spencers on Oxford St (Marble Arch end) continue every Thursday 6-8pm. Join us!
Sid Arthur
e-mail:
victoryintifada@hotmail.com
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