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M&S Picket Grows

Victory to the Intifada! | 30.04.2004 09:34 | Anti-racism | London

For the third week running, despite further police harrasment, demonstration grows.

I know that of late I've been writing on these here pages of Indymedia about the increasing size of the Marks and Spencer demo, that if this week I claim the demonstration was even bigger than normal the more sceptical among you will think I'm spouting a load of Commie propaganda and porkies. But the honest truth is that last night's picket was one of the best in ages. If the demo was crap I would say it was crap. I would moan to you, the conscientious reader, to come down because the Zionists are on the streets with bigger numbers than us - which I have said before and which I may have to say again. But the truth is the Zionists are currently fading into an irrelevance while our support is growing. It's extremely encouraging and if you doubt what I am saying then you only have to come down and see with your own eyes. Positive momentum has been created and the time is ripe to build on it!

The cops were down in force again last night, including the Forward Intelligence Team. However, despite still issuing us with a list of conditions (some reasonable, some insane) under Section 14 of the Public Order Act the police seem to be taking a slightly more passive approach - most likely because of fears of making further illegal arrests like they did two weeks ago (charges have still to be brought - watch this space for more info). It is imperative though that we continue to build up our resistance to this police pressure for they are constantly looking at ways to stop the picket and curtail our freedom to protest.

What was great last night was to see a real mix from all over the world and all backgrounds joining us. Muslim demonstrators from Austria, a comrade from Africa who eloquently linked the plight of the Palestinian people under Zionism with the oppressed people of Africa under imperialism, comrades from the World's People's Resistance Movement, friends from the PSC, various university Palestinian solidarity groups and an array of people who joined us from the anti-war demo outside the U.S Embassy nearby. People are now responding to the call to build consistent weekly action in support of the Palestinian struggle. This week the Israeli army tied a boy to their jeep as a human shield amongst other atrocities, it is imperative we keep up the struggle. It is imperative we don't give in to police pressure and protect our right to freedom of speech, for if we now don't take a stand (as those fighting against Le Pen and the BNP this week did) then tomorrow will be too late.

If you've been reading these reports each week and you support the Palestinian people but haven't come down yet then you need to ask yourself one simple question: Why?

Demonstrate next and every Thursday against Marks and Spencer (Britain's biggest corporate sponsor of Israel) Marble Arch, Oxford St. 6-8PM.

Also, join Victory to the Intifada as part of the anti-imperialist bloc on May Day (tomorrow!) from 11-11.30 as part of the march to Trafalgar Sq.


Victory to the Intifada!
- e-mail: victoryintifada@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.revolutionarycommunist.com

Comments

Display the following 3 comments

  1. cheap shot — the inappropriate responder
  2. Thank you — x
  3. not quite happy — The Inappropriate Responder