a small people power victory at downing street anti-occupation demo yesterday

rikki | 18.04.2004 13:10 | Indymedia | London

common sense and people power won through yesterday when police gave up their attempts to move a small breakaway demo outside downing street at the MAB/STWC organised protest on sat 17th april at noon

stwc/mab demo opposite downing street

police bikers hassle flag-bearers

you are causing an obstruction

police reinforcements arrive

discussing thier options

debating class - i think the flag supporters won!

reinforcements retreat

bikers drive off sheepishly

the palestinian flag prevails

coffin demo procession arrives in whitehall

it started with a handful of young protestors and a palestinian flag. they stood across whitehall right outside downing street and away from the police-penned 'official' demonstration against the occupation of iraq that had been called by stop the war coalition and muslim association of britain.

two police motorbikers stopped and started hassling the flag bearers and asking them to move to the official pen. they claimed they were not part of the official protest and were exercising their right to freedom of expression and free assembly by waving a flag outside downing street.

the police attention caused photgraphers, videographers, and some supporters to cross from the main demo and soon a small crowd formed. as police reinforcements arrived, various debates ensued, and while police claimed an obstruction of the highway was occuring, the supporters said this was only because the police were there and that if they left the flaggers alone, the crowd would disperse.

after much debate, some threats of arrest, solidarity from the small crowd, and the resolution to stand firm from the flag-bearers, the police realised that it would not be a good look to be seen dragging these young palestinian supporters away into vans, and they all retreated sheepishly leaving the palestinian flag and small group alone.

meanwhile, a street theatre group arrived dressed in black with a coffin that they paraded passed the war memorial and downing street, and the STWC/MAB demo carried on with the speeches and chanting that characterises they're totally supine and non-confrontational approach to dissent.

rikki

Comments

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Victory to the intifada

18.04.2004 19:50

Yeah, it was great! The demo opposite was ultra-dull and indistinguishable from a Respect election rally. All power to those across the road who saw off the cops. What is hard to understand is why so few people went to join them. And, surprise, surprise, almost everyone who did cross to join the staunch flag-wavers were attenders at the Thursday night regular anti-M&S pickets in Oxford Street (not trying to take the credit - we didn't initiate what happened, but did have the guts/sense to join it, and we are used to rowing with and seeing off the police - see reports!)

Everyone else stayed across the road like sheep in a pen, listening to Lyndsey German etc going blah, blah, Blair is a liar.

Defend the right to demonstrate! Victory to the resistance in Palestine and Iraq!

VTI supporter

thank you so much

19.04.2004 10:01

thank you!!!!!!!!!!! these small tings are wot makes life almost bearable in these evil times. lets have lots more of this, attitude and action. love you all xxxxxxx

goddess of purplia

Justice for my stolen children's story.

20.04.2004 21:40

I really think all of you have a lot of guts standing up to what we all know
is right. I HAVE HAD A YEARS FIGHT AGAINST THESE BIG TIME MEDIA CROOKS WHO HAVE STOLEN MY WORK, AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO, ONLY GIVE THE AS MUCH GREIVE AS I CAN.
SO IF YOU EVER PASSING DEAN STREET LOOK OUT FOR VTR PLC, OR CHATSWORTH TV, PUT TWO FINGERS UP AT THEM, THESE PEOPLE OR WORSE THAN PEOPLE, ROB OFF THE POOR TO FEED THE RICH WITH GOLD. Kind regards to all of you and well done to. Alan Brunwin Wallington Surrey.
www.justiceforhoppy.cjb.net

alan Brunwin
mail e-mail: brunwinbooks@btopenworld.com
Homepage: http://www.justiceforhoppy.cjb.net