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Smash ITT. The end bit (in pictures).

Guido | 18.10.2008 15:22 | Smash EDO | Repression | Terror War | South Coast

So following the rural riot above the EDO/ITT factory, the protesters headed back into town. Only to discover that the Police still had not learned their lesson when it came to turning a peaceful situation into a potentially violent one. More arrests were seen and another pointless kettle was made in between the level and the lanes. Most avoided it and took their buckets and spades to the beach...

Back on the road into town.
Back on the road into town.

The cops make their intentions clear...
The cops make their intentions clear...

...not anyone seems to be intimidated.
...not anyone seems to be intimidated.

Quite the opposite.
Quite the opposite.

Feeling outnumbered?
Feeling outnumbered?

Yippee!
Yippee!

More nicked.
More nicked.

And generally pushed around.
And generally pushed around.

Ho hum.
Ho hum.

Rear guard action.
Rear guard action.

Batons in the afternoon.
Batons in the afternoon.

Heading peacefully home.
Heading peacefully home.

Kettle coppers...
Kettle coppers...

...not to be confused with copper kettles.
...not to be confused with copper kettles.


From SCHNEWS:

By half two, the crowd on Lewes Road had begun to disperse and the police line had moved across the road, freeing up one lane of traffic. The remaining crowd were able to launch themselves down Lewes Road towards the Level. Fearing that 100 or so anarchists might not cause enough trouble, the cops kindly contributed towards the mayhem by sending some 25 vehicles to create a police traffic jam stretching halfway down the road.

When the converged marchers arrived at the Level (traditional end point of Brighton demos), police backed off, thinking that the crowd had had enough. As it turns out, the up-fer-it protesters saw the police begin to disperse and made a break for it to storm the city centre, with the local Army recruitment centre as a goal. Still singing and chanting, they carried on, pursued by police until they were finally kettled near Queens Road. Seeing their plight, locals started harassing the cops, kettling in the kettle and throwing food and water to the stalwart marchers. Police eventually followed the protesters to the beach for their final push, where they nicked a pebble-thrower.

With a total of around ten arrests, one sore scrotum, plenty of bruised knees, inflamed sinuses, and stinging eyes, the last 100 intrepid protesters completed the 5½ mile anti-arms trade mini marathon to bathe aching feet in the sea. Andrew Beckett, spokesperson said “We didn’t let the police control events. We went where we wanted, when we wanted. All the police from four counties weren’t able to stop us making our stand against EDO/ITT”.

Guido
- e-mail: guidoreports@riseup.net

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

Police State

18.10.2008 17:43

Looking back on these times, I wonder how these coppers will justify this to their grandchildren. ("Just doing my job"?? Haven't heard that one before of course.......)

Thanks for the brilliant photos, a real shame I couldn't be there in person.
peace!

Peace Pixie


HAHAthe police look like a army of ravers in flouros with bouran drums& sticks

18.10.2008 23:09

what happened were some of them given bad acid as children, abused?
why are they allowing themselves to be used in defence of companies that supply illegal regimes like the Isreal government known to deliberately tactically target innocent civilians including children with sniper fire.
To protect people breaking international & universal law is in itself serious criminal offence, supply of illegal firearms is punishable by at least 10yrs in jail. EDO are making equipment that could be used with WMDs therefore higher terms would be applicable.
In fact Grant Wilkinson a gunsmith running a small arms factory in his garden shed was sentenced to life for the manufacture of firearmson the 5th of September 2008 he was , his operation is minute in comparison to EDO's by Judge Zoe Smith, passing sentence at Reading Crown Court.
 http://www.police999.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2055:grant-wilkinson-sentenced-to-life-for-running-uks-biggest-gun-factory-&catid=35:crime-news&Itemid=55
The British public & world opinion is against this& the wars in Afraq, whichever way you look at it the arms manufacturers knowingly supplying weapons to undemocratic & genocidal regimes are going to have to pay for this at some point. If they stop now & work legally in fairtrade many illegal arms dealers will not have to go to prison, those that continue at some point serve long periods in jail.

Green syndicalist


Thanks Guido

19.10.2008 05:45

As always, brilliant pics Guido, thanks. Looks like an eventful and inspiring day..

wietse