Protest at US consulate in Edinburgh
pixietrix | 05.10.2006 15:34 | Ecology | World
On the 4th of October a protest organised by Rising Tide Scotland involving around 30 people took place outside the US consulate in Edinburgh. We were there to protest against the war and environmental destruction perpetrated by Washington. Our action was in response to the call by Rising Tide North America for an international day of climate action which coincided with the end of the G8 climate talks in Mexico city.
On the 4th of October a protest organised by Rising Tide Scotland involving around 30 people took place outside the US consulate in Edinburgh. We were there to protest against the war and environmental destruction perpetrated by Washington in the name of maintaining the oil addicted "American way of life." Our action was in response to the call by Rising Tide North America for an international day of climate action which coincided with the end of the G8 climate talks in Mexico city. There were banners saying "Stop climate change, Start social change", "No war for oil", "George W Bush is a Climate Terrorist", etc.
We politely invited the officials out to talk to us about the environmental atrocities and human rights abuses of their fascist regime, to which they declined. They then ordered us to disperse because we didn't have a permit to protest, to which our only response was to laugh hysterically. As our diplomacy broke down we then resorted to ranting at the consulate over our megaphone detailing the said atrocities of Bush and his cronies.
After a little chanting the protest dispersed. When the police eventually arrived, they forced some of us to give our details, threatening arrest if we "perverted the course of justice" by refusing to. After a police check, we were told that in the future, if we attempted to talk to the consulate, we would be arrested because apparently our actions were intimidating, not exactly shock and awe but a breach of the peace nonetheless. Yet we were granted our "human right" to protest by the police, but then were told that we could possibly have been arrested under anti-terrorist legislation. We told them we've heard it all before, they left a little disillusioned by our lack of fear from their intimidation.
US government officials were made aware that there is resistance to the policies of their leaders here in Scotland and around the world. Those mobilising against the G8 in Mexico will know that we stand in solidarity with them as they fight the hypocrisy of environment ministers and privatisation of our atmosphere.
For more info about the Rising Tide Network in the UK visit www.risingtide.org.uk
or email
info@risingtide.org.uk
If you would like to contact the US consulate go to 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BW, email Edinburgh-info@state.gov, or phone 0131 556 8315. They also have offices in London, Belfast and Cardiff.
We politely invited the officials out to talk to us about the environmental atrocities and human rights abuses of their fascist regime, to which they declined. They then ordered us to disperse because we didn't have a permit to protest, to which our only response was to laugh hysterically. As our diplomacy broke down we then resorted to ranting at the consulate over our megaphone detailing the said atrocities of Bush and his cronies.
After a little chanting the protest dispersed. When the police eventually arrived, they forced some of us to give our details, threatening arrest if we "perverted the course of justice" by refusing to. After a police check, we were told that in the future, if we attempted to talk to the consulate, we would be arrested because apparently our actions were intimidating, not exactly shock and awe but a breach of the peace nonetheless. Yet we were granted our "human right" to protest by the police, but then were told that we could possibly have been arrested under anti-terrorist legislation. We told them we've heard it all before, they left a little disillusioned by our lack of fear from their intimidation.
US government officials were made aware that there is resistance to the policies of their leaders here in Scotland and around the world. Those mobilising against the G8 in Mexico will know that we stand in solidarity with them as they fight the hypocrisy of environment ministers and privatisation of our atmosphere.
For more info about the Rising Tide Network in the UK visit www.risingtide.org.uk
or email
info@risingtide.org.uk If you would like to contact the US consulate go to 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BW, email
Edinburgh-info@state.gov, or phone 0131 556 8315. They also have offices in London, Belfast and Cardiff.
pixietrix