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More Menwith Hill photos

Tom A | 21.03.2004 17:46 | Anti-militarism | Sheffield

Photos taken from the main gate protests at Menwith Hill this Friday. Appologies for the poor quality of photos but they were taken with an old camera in poor low light levels, and have been later adjusted for clarity.

Police at the main gate
Police at the main gate

Police surronding the protesters
Police surronding the protesters

More police, and a Yankee flag in the distance
More police, and a Yankee flag in the distance

Cutting the blockaders loose (with power saws)
Cutting the blockaders loose (with power saws)

Close up of the Yank flag (barely visible due to poor light)
Close up of the Yank flag (barely visible due to poor light)


Problems befell the blockade from the very beginning, with police roadblocks being set up about a mile away from the base, and a lot of people had their lock down equipment confiscated. The police were extremely heavy handed with the blockaders, with one protester having his arm broken, and there were countless acts of intimidation. Powered cutting equipement was used to break the blockaded, and when arrested, police dragged protesters by their arms (I think the legal requirement is four officers for every limb) with their feet dragging across the ground. By 9am most of the blockaders had been arrested.

One thing I noticed was the sheer bravery of the people participating in the direct action (this was the first time I had been to this style of protest). Not only did they risk police brutality, but also the weather was terrible, with torrential rain and cold temperatures, and they lay there on the ground, soaking wet and some were on the verge of hypothermia.

All credit to them, their actions inspired a lot of people that morning.

Tom A
- e-mail: ***tomarmstrong*at*riseup*dot*net***

Comments

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Nobodys arm was broken

21.03.2004 20:42

Nobodys arm was broken. There was a radio message to a medic that was misheard as 'They are breaking peoples arms to break the lock-ons'. The message was actually 'They are hurting peoples arms to break the lock-ons' and was quickly clarified. This chinese whisper could have had serious consequnces, especially after the true reports of a medic being arrested and the police trying to arrest a liason. Even having attended non-violence training a riot could have ensued if arms were being broken.

Danny
mail e-mail: movementof2@yahoo.co.uk