3,000 march peacefully against Police violence

Thursday May 09, 2002 20:45

by Simon Basketter - SWP

Some 3,000 people march against police brutality and in defence of the right to protest following a rally, called by Globalise Resistance, against the Garda riot on Monday's Reclaim the Streets.

Some 3,000 people marched against police brutality and in defence of the right to protest this evening. (That's the Times's estimate http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2002/0509/breaking58.htm)

The protest, called by Globalise Resistance, was in respose to the Police Riot against the Reclaim the Streets Street Party on Bank Holiday Monday.

The corporate media coverage had shifted from that of recent days, to now predicting terror on the streets. They wasn't any, but then again it wasn't surprising because there weren't that many cops in evidence. (Though quite a few were sweating in vans at various points nearby.)

The crowd swelled at the end of Pearse Street. Passers by blending into the protest.

Outside Pearse St Garda Station "Just say sorry" was written in chalk on the steps.

From one of the many windows in Trinity college with people watching the protest, hung a banner which read "No Excuse."

One banner was carried by Travellors from Pavee Point, Another read "Hugs not thugs".

"No to police brutality", "Who watches the watchman", "The only that should be batonned is a bongo", "the Gardai are the real criminals" read placards, and those of no affliation and from Globalise Resistance and the Socialist Workers Party.

As well as a statement from Reclaim the Streets being read out (sorry didn't catch the name), speakers included: Des Bonass from the The Dublin Council of Trade Unions, A speaker from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, Kieran Allen from the Socialist Workers Party, Joe Higgins from the Socialist Party, Daithi Doolan from Sinn Finn, Andrew Flood from the Workers Solidarity Movement and a couple of others I missed (sorry again).

All the speakers, (those I could hear) condemmed the police violence, many pointed out the inadequecy of the Garda investigating themselves. Others pointed to the pattern developing where a conserted effort is being made to criminalise the anti-capitalist movement.

People dressed as cops cheerfully kept the protest in order with inflatable batons.

Other banners included Sinn Fein, Labour and the Workers Solidarity Movement.

People then marched chanting "Whose streets -- our streets" Calmly and in good nature the crowd moved up Dame Street, the violent elements present, readily identifiable by the uniforms, generally behaving themselves.

At the corner of Dame Street / Parliament street there was a sit down protest for few minutes before the crowd streamed into the Civic Offices.

On Monday the the cops tried to batter the movement of the streets, (again)-- they failed instead they showed just who is responsible for violence in this society.

Anti-capitalism 3,000 -- Cops 0