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a small people power victory at downing street anti-occupation demo yesterday

rikki | 18.04.2004 13:10 | Indymedia | London

common sense and people power won through yesterday when police gave up their attempts to move a small breakaway demo outside downing street at the MAB/STWC organised protest on sat 17th april at noon

stwc/mab demo opposite downing street
stwc/mab demo opposite downing street

police bikers hassle flag-bearers
police bikers hassle flag-bearers

you are causing an obstruction
you are causing an obstruction

police reinforcements arrive
police reinforcements arrive

discussing thier options
discussing thier options

debating class - i think the flag supporters won!
debating class - i think the flag supporters won!

reinforcements retreat
reinforcements retreat

bikers drive off sheepishly
bikers drive off sheepishly

the palestinian flag prevails
the palestinian flag prevails

coffin demo procession arrives in whitehall
coffin demo procession arrives in whitehall


it started with a handful of young protestors and a palestinian flag. they stood across whitehall right outside downing street and away from the police-penned 'official' demonstration against the occupation of iraq that had been called by stop the war coalition and muslim association of britain.

two police motorbikers stopped and started hassling the flag bearers and asking them to move to the official pen. they claimed they were not part of the official protest and were exercising their right to freedom of expression and free assembly by waving a flag outside downing street.

the police attention caused photgraphers, videographers, and some supporters to cross from the main demo and soon a small crowd formed. as police reinforcements arrived, various debates ensued, and while police claimed an obstruction of the highway was occuring, the supporters said this was only because the police were there and that if they left the flaggers alone, the crowd would disperse.

after much debate, some threats of arrest, solidarity from the small crowd, and the resolution to stand firm from the flag-bearers, the police realised that it would not be a good look to be seen dragging these young palestinian supporters away into vans, and they all retreated sheepishly leaving the palestinian flag and small group alone.

meanwhile, a street theatre group arrived dressed in black with a coffin that they paraded passed the war memorial and downing street, and the STWC/MAB demo carried on with the speeches and chanting that characterises they're totally supine and non-confrontational approach to dissent.

rikki

Comments

Display the following 3 comments

  1. Victory to the intifada — VTI supporter
  2. thank you so much — goddess of purplia
  3. Justice for my stolen children's story. — alan Brunwin