[Peace-discuss] Fw: [socialistdiscussion] Report from London Stop the War demonstration, January 3rd

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: Steve Ballard 
To: socialistdiscussion at yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 5:30 PM
Subject: [socialistdiscussion] Report from London Stop the War demonstration, January 3rd



Report from London Stop the War demonstration, January 3rd 



The demonstration opposing the continuing Israeli aerial bombardment, which has now become a full scale ground offensive, began in high spirits bringing together thousands of protesters, estimates ranging from 25,000 - 75,000 people, to voice their opposition to Israeli military tactics which have left at least 420 dead and thousands injured in the Gaza strip. Having marched from Embankment through to Trafalgar Square, pausing to throw a number of shoes symbolically at Westminster, protesters congregated for a rally and speeches against the violence and to call the British government to act. Speakers included former MP Tony Benn, the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and numerous others.



At approximately 4pm demonstrators began to march towards the embassy, shouting chants and protests but maintaining a non violent approach. As protestors neared the tunnel at the end of Regent Street leading to Kensington, police blocked protestors from moving forward. Despite initial opposition and obvious frustration at not being allowed to pass, when demonstrators up till this point had been non-violent and non aggressive, the police barricades and aggression worked to escalate the tension. As protestors waited, police informed members of the crowd that in a couple of minutes, and if the demonstrators calm down they would be able to pass. Demonstrators complied, lowered the chants and waited until the police began slowly inching backwards to allow the demonstrators to move forward. Having reached deep inside the tunnel and with no photographers or media present the police stopped unexpectedly, held the protestors and then charged with batons and shields at protestors who comprised youths, students, women, elderly and children. In the ensuing crush and indiscriminate violence by the police many were trampled, beaten and severely hurt. One protestor received a substantial gash to the head with blood pouring out. There were scores of other protesters further injured as police regrouped and charged twice more battering people without restraint including young women who desperate to avoid involvement stood to the side yet were still battered and pushed and people seeking medical treatment denied any route out of the tunnel.



Eventually protestors were allowed out of the tunnel to cheers from activists who had managed to avoid what appeared to be an orchestrated attack of indiscriminate police brutality which was totally unnecessary. 

The police took blatant advantage of the closed nature of the tunnel ensuring that general members of the public would not be able to witness their violence.



Protestors proceeded onto the embassy and joined others who had reached there by other means.  Despite police attempts to pen them in, protestors broke free, throwing barricades aside and took the streets although access to the embassy was once again denied. Police continued with heavy aggression and violence against protestors in a gratuitous fashion with police seen to be smirking at the opportunity to beat innocent protestors who were uninvolved in aggression. As demonstrators finally left, the police penned in a final group of approximately 300 who it is hoped will be released without further harassment. An unknown number of arrests took place and dozens more injured with at least one needing hospital treatment and stitches to his head and observation for the next 48 hours.




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