Anti G8 walkabout Belfast.

national | anti-capitalism | news report Friday June 14, 2013 19:28 by RNU PRO - Republican Network for Unity

RNU take to the streets in protest at imposition of martial law.

Anti-G8, City centre walkabout. Belfast RNU

RNU Belfast tonight took to the City Centre in response to the overt ‘G8 security’ operation which has (as expected) led to intense levels of repression against republican activists in the city and beyond.

In the week running up to the G8 meeting in Fermanagh, almost a dozen homes of RNU activists were raided by the British PSNI under spurious ‘terror’ legislation and utilising the overt security atmosphere made possible by the impending summit. Several were also arrested, while the level of stop & search operations also increased notably.

Only hours before tonight’s gathering, the home of a Comrade in the Westrock area of Belfast was raided which was the catalyst for tonight’s protest.

Around 30 activists carrying flags, ‘Anti-G8 placards’ and leaflets gathered at the International Wall on Belfast’s Falls Rd before setting off into the town on a roaming white line picket.

Many of the activists present choose to cover their faces due to expectations that the British PSNI will attempt to use petty traffic laws to prosecute at a later date.

The activists made their way down the Falls Rd towards Castle Street before swinging right into the City centre, cars were leafleted as to the reality of the G8 Policing operation.

The unexpected turn towards the City Hall caused no small degree of panic amongst the PSNI who at this point called for backup which included at least 10 jeeps, traffic cops on bikes and eventually TSG units.

RNU made their way past the City Hall and on towards the Laganside courts bringing us through to the Waterfront were US Warlord and sponsor of torture Barrack Obama is expected to appear and speak during his stay here.

RNU presence at the Waterfront created much panic amongst the PSNI whose numbers swelled at this point, possibly due to the presence of US Security teams who are currently staying at the Hilton Hotel.

However it was in the other direction that the walkabout then swung, towards Musgrave Street Barracks which the state have boasted is to be used as a holding centre for protesters during the summit.

After a short protest outside Musgrave Street PSNI station, RNU passed again through the shopping area of Cornmarket and Royal Avenue allowing us the opportunity to hand scores of leaflets out to youths who gather in the area during the evening.

Later on and back onto the Grovner Road, tailed the whole time by PSNI Tactical Support Groups in Jeeps. All together the walkabout took about an hour and a half to complete, coming to a halt full circle back at the International wall.