Protestors Prevent Arms dealers From Attending Farnborough Air Show

Reciever | 22.07.2004 10:57 | Anti-militarism | London

A double decker coach packed with arms dealing delelgates, literally standing in the isles gagging for the spectacle of the Farnborough air show, were held up for over an hour by four peace protestors.

The double decker coach packed from floors to celings with delegates hoping to attend the Farnborough air show, was held up for over an hour by just 4 peace activists.
Two protestors were locked on under the coach preventing it from continuing to this delightful event.
There were traffic tail backs for miles whilst the police removed the protestors from under the coach. These brave two were arrested with two other protestors who were standing near by and charged with conspiracy "TO DO SOME THING".
As this report came in the person calling had their banner confiscated under PACE.
Is this legal?

Reciever

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

because

22.07.2004 11:17

================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

nick watson
Homepage: http://www.zmag.org/cartoons

confiscating banners

22.07.2004 18:09

Hi

As far as I understand it, not they did not have a right, but need to know what section of PACE they used.

Email

info@freebeagles.org for further help on this

fB
mail e-mail: info@freebeagles.org
Homepage: http://www.freebeagles.org

Turnout

23.07.2004 10:11

Was there any protest at the delegates dinner, I saw a call for protest but no follow up.

My sister reports a small number of actions at Farnborough but most were very low key and to be blunt not that effective (the above is an honurable exception). She said the majority of people she spoke to simply didn't relate the show to the arms industry (despite the war planes flying overhead !).

Farnborough Air Show continues to be popular with the local community for whom it represents extra income and a free show.

Journo

brief report from delegates' dinner

23.07.2004 11:42

A group of people blocked traffic on Park Lane (thereby delaying delegates from reaching the hotel). They slowly processed down the road with banners and whistles until they were pushed and dragged out of the road and into the pen by confused cops. People hung banners on the pen and shouted at the arms dealers as they entered the hotel.

Lots of people's bags were searched and two people were nicked. After the arrests, some people went to the police station to take them food etc, while others stayed to continue shouting at the arms dealers entering the hotel. Still others went round the back of the hotel.

...

Read again

23.07.2004 14:34

To 'Popular'

When I read Journo's comment I didn't think he or she was suggesting that the show is a good thing. In fact if you see previous postings by him or her the opposition to the event is clear and obvious. Rather the point was that local people don't oppose the show because they don't link it to the arms trade. Local people simply see lots of planes flying around (which is spectacular) and they earn money by the extra work which the show brings.

As there is not much chance of convincing arms dealers to find another job the key target for us must be the local people who need educating about the truth behind Farnborough. Of course this requires real dedicated long term work with the Community rather than a few hours spect shouting at middle aged men in suits who don't hit back therefore most people can't be arsed to bother.

Sophie

meaningful

23.07.2004 21:23

Hi Sophie speaking as someone from a campaign group local to Farnborough I pleased to tell that we've spent a lot time 'educating local people' and intend to continue to do so over the long term. In doing so we will also encourage them to take action against the arms trade such as is reported on this post, for as you said 'there is not much chance of convincing arms dealers to find another job' so it's only direct action that can stop them now!

The protests/actions this year may have been small but they have been effective. They are a step forward and a building block for future.

Prevent or mildly delay?

27.07.2004 16:01

Shouldn't this be titled "Protestors mildly delay arms dealers en route to Farnborough"?

I was on the bus, it took maybe 20 minutes longer than usual to get to the show - not really a huge issue or inconvenience, and made for a nice chance to network with the others on the bus. More entertaining for the street theatre nature of it as Farnborough residents vented their spleen on protestors clogging up their roads.

See you in the Docklands next year...

Free Trader