Three arrested at Stormont
antrim |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Tuesday May 08, 2007 14:49
by Brian - éirígí
RUC/PSNI attack anti-war protesters outside Stormont
The 'new approach to policing' was there for all to see today as members of the RUC/PSNI got stuck into those protesting at Tony 'man of peace' Blair's presence in Ireland.
Three members of éirígí were assaulted and arrested outside of the Stormont building in Belfast this morning. The three had been taking part in a protest which had been organised by the ‘Belfast Anti-War Movement’ to highlight the hypocrisy of Tony Blair claiming to be a ‘man of peace’ in Ireland while simultaneously ordering a brutal invasion and occupation of Iraq.
The arrests occurred as roughly thirty people attempted to stage a peaceful ‘sit-down’ protest as Tony Blair’s cavalcade approached the main Stormont building. It was at this point that the RUC/PSNI attacked the protesters. The most serious incident saw Cormac Ryan of éirígí, who was photographing the RUC/PSNI attack, knocked to the ground and temporarily knocked unconscious. While Cormac was still recovering from the attack he was handcuffed and arrested. As other protesters attempted to assist Cormac they too were attacked and two further arrests were made. The three were then removed by police vehicle to Strand Road barracks.
Commenting on the attack Pádraig Ó’ Meiscill from éirígí and the Belfast Anti-War Movement said ‘Today, once again, we see that the only ‘new’ thing about the PSNI is their uniforms. The tactics used today are identical to those used by the RUC. While those inside Stormont clap each other on the back and congratulate themselves on achieving ‘peace’ in Ireland the RUC/PSNI are attacking peaceful protesters within earshot.
‘Over 600,000 human beings are already dead in Iraq as a result of Blair’s war; an illegal war waged without UN sanction on the basis of weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist. Today’s demonstration was in solidarity with the people of Iraq who are witnessing the complete collapse of their society and country due to the actions of Blair and Bush. Those who applaud Blair as a ‘man of peace’ would do well to remember the hundreds of thousands of dead in Iraq before they raise their champagne glasses.
Padraig concluded ‘No doubt those protesters attacked and arrested today will be charged with ‘riotous behaviour’ or assault. In this the ‘new’ police force is using just another ploy regularly used by the RUC to draw attention away from their own heavy-handed tactics. Regardless of this we will continue to highlight the fact that Tony Blair is more a war criminal then a ‘man of peace’
As of 13.30 the three arrested remain in police custody.
ENDS
Comments (25 of 25)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25It strikes me that this is a very important issue, highlighting the hypocrisy of Blair's government, and the hypocrisy of dressing up the RUC as reformed when clearly they aren't. It also highlights the nature of the Sinn Fein selling out on ideology and accepting imperialism.
This story should be a featured story IMO.
Just to let people know that there has been a further arrest at City Hall in Belfast city centre where Belfast Anti-War were protesting as Blair visited Belfast Newsletter offices. Policing operation was fairly massive - well over 100 cops using the public order act to carry out random searches of members of the public.
I hope the three aren't the recipients of the usual treatment meted out to peaceful protestors who have been unfortunate enough to find themselves in RUC interrogation centers. They will defend the new political 'arrangement' as diligently as they have always done in serving their British masters.
Let's wait to hear SF condemnations of the 'riotous behaviour' of the 'micro left'/'dissidents'!
Pah!!
Your day will come too!!
RUC/PSNI OUT!!
British War Criminals Out Of Ireland!!
Collaborators Out!!
Photos from Stormont
Clearing the 'Queens Highway'
Two arrests
Cormac carried off
More photos of the day:
As of 5.30pm those arrested at Stormont are still in RUC/PSNI custody. It appears that they may be charged in relation to this mornings protest. More info to follow.
There was another lad from the BAWM arrested in the City Centre as the BAWM and friends protested outside a Blair visit to the News Letter offices behind Belfast City Hall.
A protest was also held outside Musgrave RUC Station in Solidarity with Sean.
Were Eirigi protesting against the re establishment of the Assembly? Surely less of a hand from London in the running of Irish affairs is a good thing?
Much solidarity to all involved in the actiona dn aprticularly to those in police custody.
Theyre in there for us,we're out here for them!
I suppose it didn't go un-noticed that the new generation of republicans are cut of completely the same cloth of the likes of Michael Stone [ the last gatecrasher at a Stormont party ]
Ye should have a party planned for you when you get out ;-)
Beir Bua!
eirigi were there protesting against tony blair and his involvement in the murder of thousands in iraq
RUC brutality against republican protestors? Consistency in a world gone mad.
We should be clear about this, this wasnt a republican protest, but a protest involving republicans, the police treatment is indicative of police treatment to all activists fighting the system
Socailists, Anrchists and principled republican activists, unarmed and peacefully protesting against a war criminal. Hammered and dragged off by armed police while opportunist bourgeoise scum cosy up to eachother inside. Says it all really.
No cops were injured, after the police attack and the first arrests a woman peeler seemed to appear from out of nowhere holding her nose and sitting down in front of the cameras. By the time the ambulance arrived two more were climbing in.
Im proud of everyone who stood their ground and stood by eachother today between resisting RUC
aggression and tracking to various cop stations.
No rest until all these people are out and then supported fully through impending trials, fines, custody etc.
well said, it was a long day and all deserve credit for the effort put him to resist the warmonger blair, and espically to those arrested for simply confonting the real war criminal
One of those arrested at Stormont was released this evening. The other two, both from Dublin, are being held over night and are expected to appear in court in the morning.
PROTEST AT COURT TOMMOROW 10 AM
Is this what Gerry adams meant when he referred to 'active citizenship' in so many interviews of late? Well if it is then I hope he was proud today of some genuine active citizens who are understandably disgusted at the hypocracy of the Blair terrorist coming to Ireland to proclaim his peaceful intentions in the north. I wonder if Adams and McGuinness found the opportunity to remind their new-found friend Tony of his actions in Iraq (not to mention garrisons, watchtowers, continued info gathering and spying on anyone green that moves in Ireland) - and how it compares with his proclamations of peace making......
Fair play to all who were there today protesting, and my thoughts are with the poor unfortanates in court tomorrow morning at the pleasure of 'her majesty'.
May this action be a thought provoking measure to the people who stood inside Stormont today who profess to be anti-war activists, while rubbing shoulders with the worst imperialist war-monger this side of the atlantic.
Shame on you Sinn Fein. Shame on you Bertie (oh no, not more shame).
Well done to eirigi, WSM, Belfast Anti-War etc.
Good luck tomorrow in court guys.
I feel so sorry for Martin mc Guinness..his proud day upset by those louts and protesters from republican belfast.Im sure he will settle with them when he gets his commisson from the queen.I mean what next ?? hunger strikes ? "croppy s ly down,",,,,again ??????
Sinn Féin have always been prepared to meet with anyone, and discuss anything.
The party has been excluded and silenced for so long in its history that there have been very few occasions when it has seemed correct to refuse to speak to someone, however much the people concerned might be considered unpopular or wrong.
On the issue of the invasion of Iraq, Sinn Féin has often been critiscised for even speaking to Bush and Blair while the war was ongoing.
This article from the Guardian might restore some people's faith that the party's representatives were not giving the British and Americans an easy time of it during these meetings.
Not that it did much good of course.
But better to try and fail, perhaps, than refuse to engage at all...
Politics doesn't end with being "grown up" & talking to anyone & everyone. That is in fact only an early stage to use a human resources based analogy. We move from from being inconscious of our incompetence (not knowing how bad you are) to being conscious of incompetence(oh! I'm shite at this) to "conscious of competence" (look at me I'm talking to anyone and everyone). But the goal is being inconscious of competence and knowing (I'm the bloody master who can nobody speaking to anyone). Since politics is about human resources it is fitting to use this classical 4 step analogy...if the cap fits wear it... for we are all cut of the same cloth. But if we contemplate that cliche and apply it - we must realise surely a first communion dress, whore's Gstring and corpse's shroud may be cut of the same cloth. So it is not the cloth - it is not the "talking to anyone and everyone" that really matters.
It's the pattern or how much or how little we cut. We don't want the whore to have the communion dress or the kid to get the Gstring.
do we?
Your continued solidarity is required and expected. It may be expressed in many ways.
It is your Republic Eirigi are trying to reclaim - and your pacifism Eirigi articulated.
Eirigi made some postive history yesterday - a very beautiful little baby's bib. Don't lose it.
Beir Bua!
What's the latest on the Stormont 3? Have they been let go? Spurious charges dropped?
Anti war Ireland particapated in the protest at Stormont yesterday and also in central Belfast afterwards. One of our members was arrested at the Belfast demo but was later released on his own bail. We also supported the picket at Laganside court in solidarity with the 2 anti war activits appearing in court this morning. Their only crime being that they attended the protest against war criminal Blair's visit to Stormont yesterday which was attacked by the PSNI.
AWI Belfast will continue to support all protest, pickets and demo's organised by any anti war group opposing Imperialist Wars.
Anti war Ireland particapated in the protest at Stormont yesterday and also in central Belfast afterwards. One of our members was arrested at the Belfast demo but was later released on his own bail. We also supported the picket at Laganside court in solidarity with the 2 anti war activits appearing in court this morning. Their only crime being that they attended the protest against war criminal Blair's visit to Stormont yesterday which was attacked by the PSNI.
AWI Belfast will continue to support all protest, pickets and demo's organised by any anti war group opposing Imperialist Wars.
I think to understand why these wars are taking place across our planrt you need to understand who is behind them all and why,i have been studying this for a number of years now and like many others now know the truth of these shapeshifters who control the world,these satanic blood drinkers are hell bent in bringing in the new world order,with a one world goverment,one world religon,one world army and a micro chipped population,it time we all sat up and seen the truth and world for what it really is.These illuminati secret societies control the world and even here in Norther Ireland if you dig deep enough you will find the truth of who was really behind the bloody past of this little provence of ours,we are being manipulated.
I would urge you all to start research this yourselves and maybe a good starting point would be the truth behind the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks,everything we have and are being told is a lie and now the time has come were it stops.
This probably wont make it onto your site but if one person sees it and starts to re think and question then great
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