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Action for Gaza bank and motorway shut Bristol city centre

Solidarity Sid | 09.06.2010 19:35 | Flotilla to Gaza | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Social Struggles

Just had this report phoned in more to follow I'm sure.



In response to the calls for emergency actions supporting the Free Gaza movement and targeting the financial supporters of the Occupation.

32 people blockaded Lloyds bank in Broadmead shopping centre, The staff shut all entrances and stopped work. A very small police presence (1 real 2 PCSO?)

The group then suddenly left and moved to the bottom of the M32 by Cabot Circus whilst joined by other supporters.

They started a blockade of the bottom of the M32 motorway (by the M32 services) during the beginning of rush hour.

Cops had difficulty getting there because they seemed to have not anticipated the block and were stuck in traffic. Newfoundland police station is blocked

The cops brought the Helicopter out but still little police presence on the ground

Cops now forced to walk through traffic and approache crowd,

Some police cars arrive at this point.

1 arrest at this point for person in front of unmarked police car.

Crowd retreat down dual caraige way towards The Bear Pit Roundabout. Police attacked crowd here reports of some people “roughed up on ground”.

Passers by film this on camera-phones say they will put on you tube.

The people then decide to enter the pedestrianised shopping area to avoid vehicle loving police.

In “Quakers Friars” shopping area some altercations with “private” security defending things.

Crowd re-emerge on to roads near Castle Park

Here there are now lots more police and police on horses.

Crowd moves into castle park where a 12volt portable sound system starts a party

The person I talked to on the phone went for a pint at this point so I have no idea later on. But all seems cool.

People have gone to show solidarity with the arrested at Trinity Rd police station. More welcome.

Solidarity Sid

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

this helps those in Gaza in what way?

09.06.2010 20:37

pointless.

anon


feck off pointless

09.06.2010 21:36

this is one of the best things I have read about on Indymedia for a long while. ... spontaneous, unpredictable, and targeted action. I wish I was in Bristol!!
Free Free Palestine - Reclaim the streets.

mark


f**k off 'anon', you're either with us, or with THEM

10.06.2010 08:09

there's no fucking middle ground arse wipe.
this action is brilliant in that it looks for all intents and purposes - if the reporting is accurate - that some like minded folk got off their arses and did SOMETHING, which is probably two massive barrels more than what you did, 'anon', you fucking idiot. why dont you get off your arse and liberate palestine the way you think it 'should be done'. Most of 'us' understand that the 'system' isn't going to fuck off over night, but you must remember that actions AGAINST the 'system' are happening all day every day all over the world. this one in bristol is one of the more 'fun' ones, one that i wish i had gotten off my arse to join...........what about you, 'anon', what are you going to do to liberate us and all the others oppressed by the weight of the 'system'?
or are you one of those that believes the system doesn't exist and we bring all this police state activity on our selves???

wanker.

fran


How to really get the Gaza blockade lifted

10.06.2010 08:13

'Hamas refuse Gilad deal –cause embargo'
By TOVAH LAZAROFF AND GIL HOFFMAN
06/10/2010 04:25

Noam Schalit: Humanitarian crisis due to Islamists' inflexibility.

Hamas could insure the full opening of the Gaza crossings by releasing Gilad Schalit, the captive soldier’s father, Noam, told visiting Latin American and European parliamentarians in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

He spoke to them amid heightened international pressure on Israel to fully open the passages into Gaza, which are closed to all but humanitarian aid, in an effort to keep Hamas from building bunkers and missiles.

Noam Schalit told the parliamentarians that a German-brokered proposal to swap 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails for his son has gathered dust for six months, because Hamas has refused to approve it.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza could be relieved in a few days if Hamas would approve the deal,” he said.

Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007, in response to Hamas’s bloody takeover. Israel has since insisted that the embargo won’t be lifted until Hamas returns Gilad, who was kidnapped in June 2006, at age 19, when his tank crew was attacked outside the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has refused to release Gilad, Noam Schalit said, because their own political interests are more important to them than the restrictive conditions under which the people in Gaza live as a result of the embargo.

The organizers of the six Gaza-bound ships that were intercepted last Monday were similarly politically motivated, he said.

They rejected his proposal that the flotilla be allowed to sail to Gaza in exchange for delivering a letter and or a package to Gilad, said Noam.

Hamas’s “inflexibility is inflicting suffering” on the inhabitants of Gaza and on the families of the 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who could be home with their families, he said.

He denied assertions that such a deal would help terrorists and encourage them to kidnap more Israelis.

As long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict exists, “there will always be that desire to abduct and kill soldiers and civilians,” Noam Schalit said.

He charged that Hamas has held his son in violation of international law and ignored calls set out in the UN’s Goldstone Report on Gaza, which stated that Gilad should be free and that pending this release, he should be allowed visits by the International Red Cross.

No one but Hamas has seen his son since his kidnapping, Noam said.

Some members of the international community have supported his quest to free Gilad, he said.

The European Parliament this year called on Hamas to release him and a similar resolution is likely to be passed by the United States Senate, he said. Germany has been heavily involved in trying to mediate a deal, Noam added.

Still, “We are not sufficiently satisfied” by the international community’s reaction to his son’s kidnapping,” he said.

“Gilad’s abduction is usually swallowed up by all the other problems of the Middle East. People do not always remember that there is this little problem of an Israeli soldier. People forget that it is a bottleneck issue and unless it is resolved, not much progress can be made with the Palestinians. That is why we expect the countries of the modern and the free world to demand from the Palestinians that the issue be resolved,” he said.

Noam Schalit addressed the Amisrael organization’s four-day Jerusalem International Conference, which attracted around 300 people, including more than 40 government officials, from Latin America and Europe. The conference, which was also addressed by cabinet ministers and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, aimed to advance shared values on a broad spectrum of political, legal and social issues.

Amisrael is a non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in Brazil. It is composed by individuals of different races, creeds and political inclinations who identify with the ideals of promoting peace and supporting the State of Israel.

Carmelo Rios, a member of Puerto Rico’s senate, said he was selected to attend the event because he chairs the senate’s powerful governmental affairs committee. He said he came to learn about Israel’s geopolitical situation and to see whether Puerto Rico should adopt elements of the Jewish state’s political system.

“It was important for me see the other side of the coin here,” Rios said. “Before coming here, I thought Israel was a militaristic country. Now I see that there are three religions living together side by side and that Israel is defending its land like any other nation would.”

Free Gilad Schalit


Oh yeah, lets prioritize!

10.06.2010 11:43

Fuck Gilad Schalit ... or whatever his name is ... just another zionist mercenary killer

... the fact that you are here occupying internet space with your selfish desires regarding your fellow tribesman shows that not only have you misread the mood here, but that your concerns do not stretch to your fellow human beings held en mass by the zionist state - a figure that exceeds 10 000 souls ... but not a word from you?

Karen Elliot