ANARCHISTS IN THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT!

Glasgow Anarchists | 13.02.2003 21:55 | Anti-militarism | Education

Scotland's sham parliament was temporarily reclaimed today, when First Minister's Question Time was interrupted three times. Anarchists and allied anti-war protesters heckled their "representatives" over the Scottish Executive's disinterest in the wishes of the Scottish people - as exemplified by Labour's support of the war on Iraq.

The Presiding Officer, David Steel, could only bluster his indignation as protesters shouted anti war slogans and denounced the unrepresentative and powerless Scottish parliament. Jack McConnell at first ignored the protests, but after the third interruption he had the cheek to suggest that neo-Labour are handling the "terrorist threat" in an acceptible way. Such statements are nothing new from McConnell - earlier in the proceedings he had attacked the SNP for taking an anti-war stance (a stance shared by the majority of the Scottish people).

However, none of the political parties came out of today's events looking good. Three times, the protesters asked MSPs who supported them to stand up and say so. Every single politico ignored the requests. Tommy Sheridan, leader of the SSP, was personally asked to stand up as he has been so outspoken against the war. His response? "Sit down boy". Not that this was possible for the protesters, who were "asked to leave" by security and had their details taken by the police.

Today's protest follows a similar reclamation of parliament two weeks ago. Everyone protesting today believed that the Scottish Parliament, though going through the motions of debating the war on Iraq, is not doing enough to stop this evil war - legally, it doesn't even have any powers over defence. The anarchists present believed that this is just a symptom of a toothless parliament which does not truly represent the people of Scotland and has no right to speak in our name and silence our protests.

Only widespread civil disobedience can stop this war and make a better society. We have a great opportunity now, when the government is facing huge opposition to its racist and imperialist policies. Let's not waste it.

Glasgow Anarchists

Glasgow Anarchists
e-mail: council_for_liberation@hotmail.com

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Comments

Hide the following 9 comments

Tommy said what?

14.02.2003 10:36

As Tommy Sheridan told you last night he didnt hear you.

No need to lie.

Sonic

Get your facts straight

14.02.2003 14:19

If you were there, in the parliament, you would have heard yourself that the Fuhrer, Tommy Sheridan, did infact say:
"Sit down boy!".
And considering that you could hear the shouts from the TV, it is highly unlikely that Herr Doktor Sheridan didn't hear what was said.
Then again, maybe you're right, maybe he couldn't hear and that's why he is refusing to promulgate an expedient and moral panacea for this pathetic dearth of opposition (tautological to the bone: fabricating a 'real' opposition only to mask the very reality of its absence) and that's why simply marching on Saturday and sitting on the road when the bombing has already intensified will effectuate fuck all.
History has condemned such an opposition as laughable and totally untenable.
Continue, wake, serve - apostles of your own oppression.

Adieu and all power to everyone but ourselves.....

Thomas

facts straightened

14.02.2003 14:23

i was in the parliament all afternoon and was really, really impressed with what those young people did and was also disaapointed that Tommy Sherdian didn't support them.
he did tell the boy to sit down as well.

jane

Get real mate

14.02.2003 14:46

As you spoke to Tommy last night and asked him what he said, and he told you, I dont see why you are trying to continue with this myth.

Why is it Anarchists seem to enjoy attacking others on the left so much, it seems you dont understand that at times like this we need unity, not poseurs.

Saturday will be a true mass protest, funnily enough the entire contribution of you lot is to attack the groups doing the work to organise the demonstration.

In Genoa you could respect many of the anarchists, they worked with everyone else and didnt spend their entire time trying to libel the rest of the left.

Perhaps our Glasgow uni pals should take heed.

Sonic

BTW

14.02.2003 14:54

"
Fuhrer, Tommy Sheridan,

"Herr Doktor Sheridan"

You really are a laughable little student grant aren't you.

So Tommy is a Nazi?

And somehow the SSP are responsible for the dearth of opposition?

Perhaps we should all go to the Scottish parliament to call for a republic?

No dont think so, we might stick to building a mass movement

Dont get too drunk on the 1/2's of Cider and Blackcurrent in the QM tonight little on.

;)

Sonic

sonic

BTW

14.02.2003 14:54

sonic

come again?

14.02.2003 17:04

Sonic, you said:
“In Genoa you could respect many of the anarchists, they worked with everyone else and didnt spend their entire time trying to libel the rest of the left.”

But in an earlier post –

http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=52406&group=webcast
you said:
“…genoa (which no Scottish anarchists attended strangly enough) left me with a bit of a problem of posuer anarchists starting bother then running off and leaving us with the consequences.”

Which is it, comrade? And just because you can afford to go summit hopping, does that make you a real socialist or something?

And you finished the latter of the two above excerpts with:
“I would advise anyone thinking of doing the same on saturday that they better watch out.”

Is that some kind of a threat?

@-scot

Humble and profuse apologies

14.02.2003 21:41

Alright Sonic. I was the author of the original post.

1. Considering Tommy did in fact say "Sit Down Boy", I don't consider it lying. Did you ever consider he might be slightly misrepresenting events himself?

2. I do so humbly apologise for pointing out his lack of support. I just thought it was a bit odd considering his strong anti-war stance. While I don't agree with some of his politics I respect anyone who speaks out against war, and also in favour of the firefighters.

3. I don't think divisions in the anti-war movement are helpful either. Good, so we're agreed on that. I wasn't trying to spit on every SSP member who ever lived by pointing out that I was disappointed in something their leader did.

4. Are you a student yourself? I'm not. The protesters on Thursday were a mixture of students and (gosh) "ordinary" people. Criticise the tone of someone's post if you want (not divisive at all obviously), but don't make assumptions about people.

Ok, so enough point scoring. Blair's speech is now at 11am tomorrow, not 2pm. Let's all work together to be there when he is and make sure he can't escape our protests.

glasgow anarchist

Congratulations

18.02.2003 20:38

Well done Glasgow Anarchists!

I read about you in the paper and saw you on TV.

I am not an anarchist myself but that doesn't matter - you are doing the people of Scotland proud and acting of your own backs with no need for sanctions from anyone but your own democratic freedoms.

Ignore the divisions and keep fighting for justice - if supposed leaders don't want to help you then do it yourselves - you have caught enough media attention and generated enough public support amongst the people i know already. I have a friend who was there and was very impressed with how articulate you were, and how your arguments were wll reasoned. It's a shame you couldn't hear it all on TV because it was more than simply anti-war chants.
Maybe you should try and improve that method of communication next time?
Good luck anyway, and well done again!

Stepehen