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climate camp being cleared

rikki | 01.04.2009 22:15 | G20 London Summit

riot police have moved into the climate camp crowd at bishopsgate and are violently dragging peaceful sitting protestors to disperse the area

earlier this evening riot police forced their way into the peaceful climate camp. protestors held their hands up and shouted 'this is not a riot' over and over, while fully-kitted riot police used shields and batons to push and violently surge forward into the camp along the eastern pavement of bishopsgate.

it seems likely this clearance operation had been planned all day - a line of police vans parked along the eastside had created a 'walkway' along that pavement which was effectively separated from the camp itself. all the riot police had to do was push their way onto that side, and it is clear that was their strategy. once done, there was a further stand-off for a while before the next stage to start moving protestors out one-by-one.

since a 24-hour climate camp has been publicised for months now, in what way is this police 'facilitating lawful protest'? many people were attacked and some injured during the surge, and the camp will be cleared before the night is out.

so much for the recent home office report on 'policing and protest' which condemned exactly the tactics we saw today.

now they're responsible for a death too. "whatever means necessary"?

rikki
- e-mail: rikkiblahblah

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  1. Condolences — BOB