A blockade of the Sheritan Hotel, where the Japanese delegation to the G8 are staying, was planned for 6am this morning. A large police operation blocked off the hotel from all sides and thwarted the protest.
The open action had been discussed in public meetings and advertised with flyers. When around 60-100 activists arrived at the 6am meeting time, they found a line of 100 police in yellow jackets forming a solid line in front of the hotel on Festival Square. More police dressed in black were in support, and there were over 10 police vans. Minor roads to the north and south were also closed, although traffic continued to run freely on Lothian Road and Morrison Street, the main throughways in the area. Essentially, police had surrounded the hotel, preventing activists from effective action.
Activists stood around in the cold and rain, moving slowly from one area to another in a half-hearted attempt to keep the police guessing so as to delay the departure of the Japanese delegates. At one point, riot police formed up along one side of Morrison Street after a group of 50 or so people began to gather there. FIT teams were in operation photographing and filming, but no attempts were made at snatching targets.
By 7am there were rumours that two coaches had left the hotel, but it was not clear if these had contained the delegation.
Protesters waited for an hour and a half. The samba band, who had said they were coming, failed to arrive. When it became clear that they were not going to come, activists cut their losses and moved off.
The open action had been discussed in public meetings and advertised with flyers. When around 60-100 activists arrived at the 6am meeting time, they found a line of 100 police in yellow jackets forming a solid line in front of the hotel on Festival Square. More police dressed in black were in support, and there were over 10 police vans. Minor roads to the north and south were also closed, although traffic continued to run freely on Lothian Road and Morrison Street, the main throughways in the area. Essentially, police had surrounded the hotel, preventing activists from effective action.
Activists stood around in the cold and rain, moving slowly from one area to another in a half-hearted attempt to keep the police guessing so as to delay the departure of the Japanese delegates. At one point, riot police formed up along one side of Morrison Street after a group of 50 or so people began to gather there. FIT teams were in operation photographing and filming, but no attempts were made at snatching targets.
By 7am there were rumours that two coaches had left the hotel, but it was not clear if these had contained the delegation.
Protesters waited for an hour and a half. The samba band, who had said they were coming, failed to arrive. When it became clear that they were not going to come, activists cut their losses and moved off.
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