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New interactive online map reveals the extent of police brutality during protest

Josh Jones | 04.12.2008 13:03 | Smash EDO | Anti-militarism | Education | Terror War | South Coast | World

Sussex students arrested under anti-terrorism laws - Disabled student held in custody for 7 hours and denied access to doctor - Police set dogs on peaceful protesters

A new interactive online map reveals the extent of police brutality in Brighton during the Smash EDO protest on October 15th.

Plotting events and linking them with relevant video footage, photography and eyewitness reports, the map makes for deeply concerning reading. Issues raised include:

- The arrest of a disabled student, who was held for 7 hours and denied access to a doctor

- Students attacked by police dogs while peacefully protesting

- Arrests of nonviolent protesters and observers under anti-terrorism laws passed in November 2001.

One student, who was arrested while observing the event and suffers from a severe disability, insists she was not a part of the protest. ‘I suffer from Fybromyalgia Syndrome, which means I have to keep wrapped up warm. Police took one look at my scarf and decided I was a protestor. They didn’t want to listen when I said I was disabled and not part of the protest.’

The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was held in custody for 7 hours and denied access to a doctor. She was also cut off from her solicitor and refused reconnection. All her clothes and possessions were confiscated, including her phone and camera. She is still under bail terms and has not had her possessions returned.

Another Sussex student describes the attacks upon protesters by police dog units. 'We linked arms with our hands in the air to show we meant no harm, and walked towards the police lines, very slowly. I kept on saying, We're not going to hurt you, We don't want trouble.

‘I was trying to joke and laugh with the policeman in front of me, who kept on shouting, and wouldn't look at me. Eventually, I said, Are you afraid to make eye contact, because you've been taught that if you do, you won't be able to hit me? He didn't like that - at that point he set his dog on me. I was knocked down with the dog's teeth around my left arm.'

The creator of the map, Sussex student Josh Jones, says:

‘When police are using anti-terror laws to arrest peaceful protesters, something had gone seriously wrong in our society.

‘It is my hope that by raising awareness around these events, police actions in the future will have to be more reasonable.’

The map can be viewed at  http://photographywithoutborders.blogspot.com

Josh Jones
- e-mail: joshua.c.j@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.naked-i.co.uk

Comments

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This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

A load of middle class tosh!

04.12.2008 15:03

Obviously you have never been on a demo before and possibly never even heard about how the police
behave on one! Maybe your map will make the pigs nicer and all the world a better place my arse, get your head out of your middle class arse and wake up to the violence of the state, how it has always been and always will be.......

@narchist


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Ignore"anarchist" isnt aware your tactically trying to make police more account

04.12.2008 16:10

able.Anarchist its understandable you dont like the police as they help enforce a largely undemocratic system, but theres no need for petty mud slinging against your own side. As crass would say,"working class middle class, its all a load of shite, its all a load of shite!"

James


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

to @narchist

05.12.2008 13:19

What a shitty remark. The experience of these people was real and frightening, that's clear, whatever their background (which you know sod all about). In playing one-upmanship "I've been through far worse crap than you - look at my bruises", you are being hierarchical and excluding, yet you sign yourself anarchist. You mention them being 'middle-class' in exactly the same sneering way that others label queer, disabled, non-white people. Whatever home they were born into by chance (the same chance that means YOU weren't born into a famine and disease-ridden home in say, Ethiopia), they appear to be young people stepping out of your stereotypes and taking risky direct action for the benefit of others.
Anarchy, for me, is about autonomy yes, but also about community, solidarity, sharing and support. It's about welcoming people who are perhaps less experienced than yourself in certain circumstances, because everyone was inexperienced once and because excluding and hating and feeling superior over others is what authoritarians are all about and what the State is built on.

anarchist


More pics from Shut ITT demo

05.12.2008 15:02

A load of pictures previously un-published at the below link.

 http://www.lasthours.org.uk/news/analysis-on-shut-itt-demo/

Last Hours
mail e-mail: lasthourssw@mail.com
- Homepage: http://www.lasthours.org.uk


More evidence added

11.12.2008 15:12

New video clips and photography have been added to the map, including some suggested by Last Hours (above).

If anyone has additional footage or eyewitness reports they'd like to share, get in touch with me.

Josh Jones
mail e-mail: joshua.c.j@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.naked-i.co.uk


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