"Darth Vader" - the goon in charge of security at bomb release mechanisms manufacturer, EDO MBM came face to face with himself at an action outside the arms manufacturers premises yesterday afternoon.
Activists from a Brighton peace camp, under the smashEDO banner visited the factory twice yesterday.
Following on from the heavily policed demo in Brighton on Saturday, activists are now undertaking daily actions as part of the drive to rid peace-messenger city Brighton of its nasty little arms factory.
Yesterday a group arrived laden with olives, hummous, breads,salads and fruit for a lunch against the arms trade. On arrival they were met by Guardian Guards head goon "Darth", who served each with a copy of the interim injunction. A placard was set up offering EDO employess the opportunity to stop making bombs and to start breaking bread, an offer which seems to have been declined by all. Activists and security were somewhat bemused by the arrival of a strang apparition in rain wear, yellow gloves and a tiger mask, who drifted past anonymously, after being served up with a copy of the injunction. Later a similarly clad figure appeared over the brow of the hill and stood with activists.
Darth then went over to the "tiger" and proceeded to smack the mast, a clear assault witnessed by several. When the tiger attempted to make a complaint of assault, the police in the van who had been present wound up their window. Solicitors advised that a 999 call should be made, which led to the arrival of a 2nd police vehicle. The newly arrived officer spoke to the ones already on the scene before driving up and threatening to arrest the complainant for "wasting police time" - no statement was taken. Each incident makes it clearer that Brighton cops are first and foremost EDO cops, and that the company and police force are loving bed-fellows, with police now allowing private security forces the same "right to assault" without any risk of prosecution.
Darth Vader seemed very chuffed that he was now able to assault protestors in front of the cops, as well as in their absence.
Followers of the smashEDO protests will recall that just under a month ago, Darth and 3 sub-goons jumped a protestor outside the factory, pinned him to the ground and HANDCUFFED him whilst no cops were present. DJ Arnold of the Brighton Magistrates Cru then paid hom,age to the act by remanding the activists in custody at HMP Lewes, where he was held for a week.
As no cops were present, and the security goons switched off their cameras before jumping him, there appears to be no footage of the arrest, as activists face jail if they video "protected goons" under a rather stretched interpretation of the terms of the interim order, which is due to go to full hearing at the High Courts in Novemeber.
Later yesterday afternoon, activists returned for the second demo of the day, billed as "carry on up the injuction". Several had shaved their heads and donned fash taches and big bellies in order to highlight the absurdity of Darth dominated demos under the terms of Mr. Justice Gross's interim order.
To their surprise Darth wasn't there and the only injunctions being handed out were those presented by the alternative Darth posse. The wording was, to be honest, somewhat different to the one cooked up by Mr. Timothy Awesome-Clusterbomb - a "solicitor advocate" who specialises in pretending that peaceful protest is the same as stalking...., along with his Comis-chefs Justice Gross and Sidekick Symons.
The alternative Darths made a brave attempt at suppressing freedom of speech and thought on behalf of the EDO bomb bit makers, but in all honesty they're not nearly as proficient at that as Darth himself. Darth then arrived in his huge SUV and chatted to the cops who had arrived before him, before finally making his way out to serve interim injunctions in a n unusually restrained manner. His sub-goons were rather restrained with their cameras as well - its almost as if they didn't want the High Court to have the opportunity to see the parody of Darth and his police sanctioned violent, intmidatory tactics. Darth needn't be shy .. much of the full injunction hearing is bound to focus on his behaviour as a "protected person", especially in regard to the assaults he has committed so far, and further assaults which he will undoubtedly perform in the future.
The demo ended peacefully with no arrests or assaults by cops or goons, which makes for a pleasant change.
Activists made their way back to camp, wondering whether or not Darth attended John Tyndall's funeral. After all, you don't wear a fash tache for no reason after all, do you?
Actions are taking place for the rest of the week. There will be one at 5pm today - meet up at Moulescoombe station.
Following on from the heavily policed demo in Brighton on Saturday, activists are now undertaking daily actions as part of the drive to rid peace-messenger city Brighton of its nasty little arms factory.
Yesterday a group arrived laden with olives, hummous, breads,salads and fruit for a lunch against the arms trade. On arrival they were met by Guardian Guards head goon "Darth", who served each with a copy of the interim injunction. A placard was set up offering EDO employess the opportunity to stop making bombs and to start breaking bread, an offer which seems to have been declined by all. Activists and security were somewhat bemused by the arrival of a strang apparition in rain wear, yellow gloves and a tiger mask, who drifted past anonymously, after being served up with a copy of the injunction. Later a similarly clad figure appeared over the brow of the hill and stood with activists.
Darth then went over to the "tiger" and proceeded to smack the mast, a clear assault witnessed by several. When the tiger attempted to make a complaint of assault, the police in the van who had been present wound up their window. Solicitors advised that a 999 call should be made, which led to the arrival of a 2nd police vehicle. The newly arrived officer spoke to the ones already on the scene before driving up and threatening to arrest the complainant for "wasting police time" - no statement was taken. Each incident makes it clearer that Brighton cops are first and foremost EDO cops, and that the company and police force are loving bed-fellows, with police now allowing private security forces the same "right to assault" without any risk of prosecution.
Darth Vader seemed very chuffed that he was now able to assault protestors in front of the cops, as well as in their absence.
Followers of the smashEDO protests will recall that just under a month ago, Darth and 3 sub-goons jumped a protestor outside the factory, pinned him to the ground and HANDCUFFED him whilst no cops were present. DJ Arnold of the Brighton Magistrates Cru then paid hom,age to the act by remanding the activists in custody at HMP Lewes, where he was held for a week.
As no cops were present, and the security goons switched off their cameras before jumping him, there appears to be no footage of the arrest, as activists face jail if they video "protected goons" under a rather stretched interpretation of the terms of the interim order, which is due to go to full hearing at the High Courts in Novemeber.
Later yesterday afternoon, activists returned for the second demo of the day, billed as "carry on up the injuction". Several had shaved their heads and donned fash taches and big bellies in order to highlight the absurdity of Darth dominated demos under the terms of Mr. Justice Gross's interim order.
To their surprise Darth wasn't there and the only injunctions being handed out were those presented by the alternative Darth posse. The wording was, to be honest, somewhat different to the one cooked up by Mr. Timothy Awesome-Clusterbomb - a "solicitor advocate" who specialises in pretending that peaceful protest is the same as stalking...., along with his Comis-chefs Justice Gross and Sidekick Symons.
The alternative Darths made a brave attempt at suppressing freedom of speech and thought on behalf of the EDO bomb bit makers, but in all honesty they're not nearly as proficient at that as Darth himself. Darth then arrived in his huge SUV and chatted to the cops who had arrived before him, before finally making his way out to serve interim injunctions in a n unusually restrained manner. His sub-goons were rather restrained with their cameras as well - its almost as if they didn't want the High Court to have the opportunity to see the parody of Darth and his police sanctioned violent, intmidatory tactics. Darth needn't be shy .. much of the full injunction hearing is bound to focus on his behaviour as a "protected person", especially in regard to the assaults he has committed so far, and further assaults which he will undoubtedly perform in the future.
The demo ended peacefully with no arrests or assaults by cops or goons, which makes for a pleasant change.
Activists made their way back to camp, wondering whether or not Darth attended John Tyndall's funeral. After all, you don't wear a fash tache for no reason after all, do you?
Actions are taking place for the rest of the week. There will be one at 5pm today - meet up at Moulescoombe station.
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Beware of the dark side Jedis
16.08.2005 14:20
"Beware of the dark side. Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force"
A Jedi's strength flows from the Force