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Ray Davies, 79 injured by police in GAZA demo

RAY DAVIS | 11.01.2009 16:56 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War

Ray Davies, 79 year old Vice Chair of CND Cymru, sustained head injuries, concussion and cuts when he was trapped with hundreds of others against the Embassy gates by Metropolitan Police at the GAZA demo in London on 10th Jan 2009.
Ray Davies and Wendy Lewis tell the story

Ray Davis at GAZA London demo
Ray Davis at GAZA London demo


100,000 people from all over Britain joined today's march in London, to protest at the Israeli Embassy against the continuing relentless attacks on Gaza's civilian population. Ray Davies, 79 year old Vice Chair of CND Cymru, sustained head injuries, concussion and cuts when he was trapped with hundreds of others against the Embassy gates by Metropolitan Police.

The march had gone peacefully until it reached the Embassy. Many shoes were thrown over the fence in a symbolic gesture of defiance, but the police claimed that the shoes were aimed at them , and began to lash out at the crowd. Three rows of police, in full riot gear and with heavy shields penned a section of the protesters in an alleyway beside the Israeli Embassy. Ray tried to negotiate between the protesters and the police; he explained that the police had not been the target of the shoes, and asked to be allowed to pass through in order to deliver a letter to the ambassador calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In response, the special riot police shouted obscenities at Ray, and told him to "get back with the rest of the scum".

Scuffles broke out, and the heavy steel barriers around the Embassy were pushed over. Ray, at the front of the march, was unable to escape, and two policemen hit him on the head with truncheons, cut him on the face with the sharp edge of the heavy riot shields, and proceeded to kick him to the ground, bleeding with cuts on his nose and hands. He suffered concussion for a while, and medics pleaded to take him to hospital ; but when he regained consciousness he wanted to get home on the bus rather than spend the night in a London casualty unit.

He was treated at the University Hospital of Wales, and discharged.
Ray said,
"I have experienced the war zones in the Occupied Territories; I have been shot at ,teargassed and beaten by the Israeli Defence Force; but I never expected such abuse and brutal treatment in Britain from our own police force."

The violent reaction to today's march was in complete contrast to the peaceful protests held throughout the past weeks in Wales. There have been two vigils in memory of the victims of Israel's bombing of Gaza; a fundraising concert with Frankie Armstrong, which raised £1200 for Middle East Childrens Alliance, and the enormously successful fundraising dinner at City Hall for the Islamic Relief Fund; and a march and rally on Friday, one of the biggest Cardiff has seen in many years, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

Ray Davies
Wendy Lewis

RAY DAVIS
- e-mail: annegre@aol.com
- Homepage: http://caatcardiff.blogspot.com/

Comments

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Hi Ray

11.01.2009 17:14

Ray, I am sure Indymedia readers would be interested to see some photos of the afflictions of the assault. Can you post these as a comment?

Anonymous


Bunch of meatheads looking for trouble.

11.01.2009 17:23

None of this reaction from Met riot scum surprises me, as they go to these events looking for trouble and make it if it isn't there already. After all, the reason why these meatheads sign up for the riot squad is not for the greater good of our communities (believe it or not, some people actually do join the force for this reason), but because they like to crack heads.

However, to beat up a 79 year old man who was trying to be a peaceful mediator is the lowest of the low and morally bankrupt.

I also hope he gets better and has no other side effects from this experience.

Riot Police Suck


It raises a question

11.01.2009 18:26

It raises a question of who are the police working for?

All the best for a good recovery Ray,

Best regards,

Landale

Landale


Answer

11.01.2009 19:23

The state :)

Anonymous


solidarity from Edinburgh Ray

11.01.2009 22:43

Sorry to hear about this Ray. Hope you feel better soon. Solidarity.

A friend up north.

s


Hi Ray

12.01.2009 12:29

Solidarity from Birmingham.

I was at the demo but suspect I was some way behind the clashes with the police. Whilst I'd seen some harmless items thrown in the direction of the police (mainly placard lath) a couple of hundred yards ahead of us, we didn't see any trouble. It's a disgrace that police of this kind are allowed to stay in the force, but the awkward thing for the state is that (given their polices) they need these kind of thugs to keep us "in order". One suspects that the tightening of the rules on the poor and the pending dismantling of the welfare state (as well as the ongoing militarism), more riot police jobs will be created naturally from the predictable increase in working class anger.

Anyway I hope you fully recover soon, and suggest you consider a complaint with a view to obtaining punitive damages. It will be a great poke in the eye for the police - especially if you were to donate any award back into Palestinian causes!

Jon


Thats All Folks

12.01.2009 17:36

Merlin


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UK is dying - and I couldn't be happier

20.01.2009 21:13

The sick, depraved, racist, left, progressively brain damaged folk are dismantling the UK. It couldn't happen to a more deserving former empire.

BTW, please vacate Gibraltar.

Wait until sharia law becomes the law of the land in the UK. Then you'll be happy.

Rocky
mail e-mail: screwislam@radioislam.com


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