Brandishing shields, hurling missiles? - anarchists at BAA
pseudonyms are acceptable | 23.08.2007 11:06 | Climate Camp 2007
“Brandishing shields, hurling missiles at riot police and knocking an officer off his horse – anarchists provoke skirmishes at BAA protest.”
This is what we read in all the mainstream newspapers on Monday.
This is what we read in all the mainstream newspapers on Monday.
From our perspective:
We formed part of a ca. 20 people strong affinity group, which together with maybe 50 others were the first group to arrive at BAA’s headquarters. To our knowledge, we were the only large group to get there on our own terms – through the beanfield, across the fence and through a housing estate.
The tactic we adopted on the ground was to spread out the police lines and break through the emerging gaps. The earth shields – round wooden shields simulating the TSG’s ones – were only sporadically used since we aimed at avoiding direct contact with truncheons. The most useful tools we found were a couple of banners – one held high with wooden poles – which we used as a line of defence and behind which we could easily regroup. It was also useful to have a name for our group, which we could shout out.
We saw numerous attempts by individuals and small groups to climb trough holes in the fence or over it – most of which got violently baton-charged. Our strength was in the cohesiveness of the group. We knew that if one of us were to go over the fence, 20 others would follow. Either we all made it, or none of us. How do you lay siege to BAA by yourself anyway?
The incident with the horse was different from the mainstream media accounts. One person stood bravely in the way of the two horses, allowing everyone else to jump the fence in the meantime. In a very dangerous situation, but without any action from our part, the mounted officer lost control over his horse and fell off it. We did not see any missiles being thrown!
We found ourselves disorientated in the housing estate, but were helped by a local family who pointed us in the right direction shouting: “We don’t want our house bulldozed!” This gained us the vital seconds before a police line could form in front of us.
Once at the BAA building we found ourselves paralysed partly by the surprise of actually getting there against all the odds and partly by a lack of plan. The group of maybe 80 people who had made it through was simply not strong enough to lay siege to such a massive building. Unwilling to retreat, we inevitably got penned in and spent the rest of the day in a police kettle.
We formed part of a ca. 20 people strong affinity group, which together with maybe 50 others were the first group to arrive at BAA’s headquarters. To our knowledge, we were the only large group to get there on our own terms – through the beanfield, across the fence and through a housing estate.
The tactic we adopted on the ground was to spread out the police lines and break through the emerging gaps. The earth shields – round wooden shields simulating the TSG’s ones – were only sporadically used since we aimed at avoiding direct contact with truncheons. The most useful tools we found were a couple of banners – one held high with wooden poles – which we used as a line of defence and behind which we could easily regroup. It was also useful to have a name for our group, which we could shout out.
We saw numerous attempts by individuals and small groups to climb trough holes in the fence or over it – most of which got violently baton-charged. Our strength was in the cohesiveness of the group. We knew that if one of us were to go over the fence, 20 others would follow. Either we all made it, or none of us. How do you lay siege to BAA by yourself anyway?
The incident with the horse was different from the mainstream media accounts. One person stood bravely in the way of the two horses, allowing everyone else to jump the fence in the meantime. In a very dangerous situation, but without any action from our part, the mounted officer lost control over his horse and fell off it. We did not see any missiles being thrown!
We found ourselves disorientated in the housing estate, but were helped by a local family who pointed us in the right direction shouting: “We don’t want our house bulldozed!” This gained us the vital seconds before a police line could form in front of us.
Once at the BAA building we found ourselves paralysed partly by the surprise of actually getting there against all the odds and partly by a lack of plan. The group of maybe 80 people who had made it through was simply not strong enough to lay siege to such a massive building. Unwilling to retreat, we inevitably got penned in and spent the rest of the day in a police kettle.
pseudonyms are acceptable
Additions
super intendent's comment on "violence in front of BAA"
23.08.2007 11:21
I listened in on a conversation between legal support and the super intendent on the ground, discussing the pen behind BAA. The super intendent stated that those in the pen were violent protesters (whereas we squatting the entrance driveway to BAA were not). When challenged to explain how they had been violent, he said they had tried to storm the building four times! Violently breaking through the bushes.
Not a word about missiles.
Regarding the horses and coppers falling off, there must have been two incidences. I saw a copper falling off his horse in the south east corner of the pea field behind the camp, and there was no one else anywhere near.
Not a word about missiles.
Regarding the horses and coppers falling off, there must have been two incidences. I saw a copper falling off his horse in the south east corner of the pea field behind the camp, and there was no one else anywhere near.
drone
regarding two coppers falling off their horses
23.08.2007 13:50
Word from camp, was that it was infact the same horseman who was just a terrible rider, with little experience (which was apparent throughout the day, as he tried to pick up the ropes!).
The second time he fell off, was when he claimed that things were thrown at him - which were completely false.
Policemen who are thrown off their horse, by their horse, don't like it and blame other distracting issues at hand.
The second time he fell off, was when he claimed that things were thrown at him - which were completely false.
Policemen who are thrown off their horse, by their horse, don't like it and blame other distracting issues at hand.
123
more info...
24.08.2007 10:22
My friends asked the policeman who fell off his horse if he needed a medic and were dive-bombed by anotehr policeman for their troubles.
Happy camper