RTS Statement / Press Release.

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday May 07, 2002 15:58 by james rts - Reclaim the Streets rtsmayday at yahoo dot co dot uk 087 9425422

Who are Reclaim the Streets? What happened on the 6th of May?

What is Reclaim the Streets?

Reclaim the Streets is a loose coming together of different individuals committed to anti authoritarian and non hierarchal organising, with no distinction between leaders and led.
We're not anti-globalisation, we're anti-capitalist, and stand for returning privatised space into the public arena.

What happened on the 6th of May?

At 2.30 people began gathering at the GPO as arranged and at a prearranged signal made their way down to Burgh Quay where a barricade had been erected to block traffic.
Once people arrived at the location the party began - more that 1000 people dancing to samba bands, traditional Irish music and dance music. Other people juggled, face painted, walked around on stilts or acted as radical cheerleaders. A festival atmosphere pervaded and was enjoyed by members of the public as well as the party participants.
The party went on until about 7 when people decided to move off the streets and to make our way down to the public space at the Civic Offices. When blocked we turned left at Parliament Street and again on to Dame Street. A sit down protest here resulted in a completely unjustified and over the top garda response, which saw unprovoked attacks on members of the public, tourists and ordinary Dublin citizens as well as on the RTS party participants. Many gardai had illegally removed their identification numbers and more were seen to do so during the event.

Especially targeted were people with cameras and video cameras, nevertheless there were enough media present to document the police riot. Footage showing the events has already begun to make its way into the public domain.

After being pushed into Temple Bar the protesters made their way back to their original intended location: the public green area of the Civic Offices.
Some of the people here decided to try and get to Pearse St garda station in order to complain about the police misconduct. Upon reaching Christchurch / Dame St they were once more savagely attacked, leading to more arrests and more hospitalisations.

At this stage the crowd dispersed.

In evaluating the days events there are two main facts which have emerged.

1. The behaviour of the party participants was overwhelmingly peaceful, despite provocation there were no police injuries.

2. In contrast there were numerous assaults by the police on the party participants, resulting in at least 12 people being being hospitalised.

If the conduct of the party participants was so peaceful why did the gardai choose to draw their batons?

Why were certain members of the gardai without their identification numbers? On what level had the decision been made to remove them?

Conclusion.

RTS threw a street party, an attempt to turn commercialised space into social space, to occupy the streets rather than just pass through them.
The response to this peaceful action led to beatings, assaults, unjustified arrests, attacks on members of the media and an unprecedented level of complaints about police behaviour. (Which were by and large ignored by the police on the evening of Mat 6th, with some people being threatened with arrest for complaining).
This response has led to even the Minister of Justice requiring a report into the questionable activities of the gardai on the day.

RTS exists as an attempt to increase popular participation in city life as it is lived. It has never been our aim to engage in violence.
If you want to change the city you have to control the streets.

The RTS Collective.

"We're not a party we're having one."