Thurs 2nd April: G20 protests

[Zachor]

So what does your superhuman abilities to deduce social class tell us? That the most lowly paid people don't have the time to take a day off protesting or the time to educate themselves as to the nature of the system that represses them?

That most lowly paid people either dont' give a toss or the protests are not relevant or they are run by patronising middle class wankers or any one of a myriad of reasons.

 

[Zachor]

no, it was self defence. Watch the videos floating about with peaceful protesters with their hands in the air, being battered and stormed back by nazi scum police.

In that case engage lawyers and bring a case against the police. Not helping your case by using the phrase 'nazi scum' though.

 

[Zachor]

There are some protesters there for a fight but my impression from afar has been that the vast majority of the conflict was in reaction to police behaviour. Even the smashing of RBS seemed not very well planned and almost as if some people felt they had to play up to the cameras.

I mean some of these people were not even wearing masks, and their faces a plastered all over papers in mid swing of smashing a window. Hardly seemed very professional, more like a spontaneous thing.

I agree that the vast majority of protestors were there with the intention of making a peaceful protest and that this is in all probablilty some misconduct by the police which has hopefully been documented and can form part of the evidence of a future legal case.

I have the sneaking suspicion that the RBS trashing was partially allowed by the police to draw out the first wave of violent psychos in the ranks of the protestors. It worked and the protestors walked straight into the trap.

 

[Barking_Mad]

I agree that the vast majority of protestors were there with the intention of making a peaceful protest and that this is in all probablilty some misconduct by the police which has hopefully been documented and can form part of the evidence of a future legal case.

I have the sneaking suspicion that the RBS trashing was partially allowed by the police to draw out the first wave of violent psychos in the ranks of the protestors. It worked and the protestors walked straight into the trap.

Trap you say? What nice officers we have.

 

[Barking_Mad]

From a Guardian article about trapping people.

I was held at the climate camp til midnight last night. When I arrived
at 6pm to celebrate the creative sight of a camp in london's grey
financial streets, the police
allowed me to walk straight into the camp with my bike. As the reports
have said, the atmosphere was very warm and positive; school children
and old time protesters sharing a space full of colour and music.
Within an hour of arriving, those same police, who had stepped back
and let me through, closed in around the camp and refused to let
anyone in or out. I then watched the police push forward into the
crowd with brutality that was not only shocking but utterly
unecessary. All the protesters put their hands in the air and sat down
collectively on the road. Yet as the crowd lowered I saw a young man
stagger back with his head split open, another boy with a broken nose,
a girl next to me had been kicked between the legs. People were badly
hurt and the atsmophere spun into a frightened panic. A friend of mine
from university who had come from Nottingham to join the camp just put
his head in his hands and cried. This was the scene, minutes after
people had been allowed to wander into the camp without any warning of
the planned police actions, or any chance to leave peacefully. As they
rolled in back up police and black armoured riot vans, and as the
police kicked and crushed people's bikes, the
protesters called out to them, and the onlooking bankers, up in their
ivory towers, 'This is not a riot!'. As their battons came down, Legal
Observors called out to people to take the police numbers of those who
had hurt protesters; on mass the line of police all covered up their
badges. It was a chilling show of a police unaccountable to their own
laws, and their own humanity. The police were indeed braced for
violence, but most of that young crowd of protesters were not.

Despite our repeated requests to be searched and allowed to leave the
space, we were held there for 6 hours with no access to water, food,
toilets or medical care. Proudly, throughout all this, not one person
in the crowd reacted with violence to any person or property. People
shared the little they had and held public meetings about the aims of
the G20 summit. There was little show of anger, but much unhappiness.
When finally we were herded out one by one at midnight, I felt cold to
the core, chilled by the unprovoked agression of those who I had been
brought up to trust. I am deeply ashamed of my state, when reasonable
and calm protesters are criminalised and provoked in such a manner.
Their use of section 14 on 800 campers was mindless, their violence
was a tragedy and their very presence, with armoured cars and
helicopters, a ridiculous waste of public money.
I am writing this today because I grew up in this city and treasure
the right to use this city space to speak out to our elected leaders
in a peaceful, creative way. There were no harmful intentions in that
climate camp, but the harm done by the police last night goes far
deeper that the physical wounds inflicted; it is in the chaos of
unnecessary state violence that fear is born and trust is lost.

That is horrific and very scary.

 

[Zachor]

Trap you say? What nice officers we have.

The police knew that there was a big chance that nutters would go off on one and they knowingly or unknowingly left some bait to tempt the nutters to do their stuff.

Its verging on entrapment if they did this knowingly.

 

[Zachor]

From a Guardian article about trapping people.



That is horrific and very scary.

Looks like some of the protestors may have a case for compensation here. These matters need to be brought before an open court.

 

[xes]

In that case engage lawyers and bring a case against the police. Not helping your case by using the phrase 'nazi scum' though.

when the police nazi scum (and i won't stop using that, it's what they are) steal your property, where you've filmed them doing illegal activities, then how are you supposed to bring these nazi scum to any sort of justice?

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

Zachor why don't you piss off and let the middle classes get on with some proper protesting FFS

 

[Barking_Mad]

The police knew that there was a big chance that nutters would go off on one and they knowingly or unknowingly left some bait to tempt the nutters to do their stuff.

Its verging on entrapment if they did this knowingly.

I suppose they just forgot about the RBS branch.

 

[Blagsta]

Bollocks I can supply you my former client list I'll pm it to you if you want. Tosser.

stop lying

 

[Zachor]

stop lying

I can still supply you with a client list and list of events where I was to prove I know what I'm talking about.

You want it or not, or are you just going to shout 'liar' at everyone who disagrees with you.

BTW to other posters who believe there is police malpractice here gather evidence and find some good lawyers.

 

[Zachor]

I suppose they just forgot about the RBS branch.

Possibly

 

[Zachor]

Zachor why don't you piss off and let the middle classes get on with some proper protesting FFS

What and let them enjoy themselves before they go into banking and insurance - not fucking likely

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

As a middle class person I'd rather be protesting right now than oiling the wheels of capitalism... but the Gas bill won't pay itself. Sucks really...

 

[Blagsta]

I can still supply you with a client list and list of events where I was to prove I know what I'm talking about.

You want it or not, or are you just going to shout 'liar' at everyone who disagrees with you.

BTW to other posters who believe there is police malpractice here gather evidence and find some good lawyers.

big fat liar

 

[hipipol]

The police knew that there was a big chance that nutters would go off on one and they knowingly or unknowingly left some bait to tempt the nutters to do their stuff.

Its verging on entrapment if they did this knowingly.

Oddly enough I have just mentioned this very entrapment theory to a helpful young man at Bishopsgate nick Professional Standards Directorate - he suggested I write to his boss:
Detective Superintendant Carson, Prof Std Dir, 182 Bishopsgate, PO Box 36451, London, EC2M 4WN

 

[hipipol]

Cool at least I'm making you think. I'm angry at the fucking bankers and much much else but I cannot condone protestor violence. Its counterproductive.

Tricky language English, as you seem not to have noticed

Gut cellular level response is the exact opposite I was going to say visceral but thought it lacked the depth, but the meaning is there

It is the anithesis of thought
It is pure emotion

Raise your game a bit, eh lad?

 

[Fruitloop]

Don't hold your breath...

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

Or perhaps some of them have been successfully deterred by the brutal policing yesterday and didn't fancy being held in a cordon without food or water for an unspecified time again.

one imagiens it might have something to do with the tube and other transportation links being shut down at 7 am this morning to prevent people getting to the site who didn't have an invite or were on the agreed lists eh

never midn don't argue with ajdowner it's like nailing putty to the wall...

 

[hipipol]

The choppers overhead again,
Lots of cops around bank
Loads of media
Some guy laid a wreath at the door of the Bank, many peeps looked on, we all got hustled away by the cops, move along move along - one old fat copper even managed a "joke" - "dont stand in the road now sir, dont want you getting hurt now do we?" he smiled at me in the way I feel a rat does at something its about to eat!!!

Oh my

Further up on Bishopsgate 14 police it seems were needed to stop and inspect one car - tho that does include the two man dog team on stanby in their van. I remarked on their bravery as I walked by intending to go into Bishopsgate nick to have wee rant, lsot me bottle just yelled shame thru the front door - I am getting well spineless in my old age I think

 

[STFC]

Any idea what's going on in the City? The helicopter has been in the air for at least an hour and it's getting on my fucking nerves.

 

[nick h.]

I'll let you know when I get there. Just leaving with my kettling kit - food, water, a plastic bottle to piss in, a squashy coat to lie on and a novel I've been meaning to read. And phone and camera of course. And a dictaphone thing. What else do I need?

 

[cesare]

Any idea what's going on in the City? The helicopter has been in the air for at least an hour and it's getting on my fucking nerves.

Police kettling at the BoE rally. More people there now. BBC Live just reported. Want to get out there with your camera again?

 

[cesare]

I'll let you know when I get there. Just leaving with my kettling kit - food, water, a plastic bottle to piss in, a squashy coat to lie on and a novel I've been meaning to read. And phone and camera of course. And a dictaphone thing. What else do I need?

Basic first aid kit.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'll let you know when I get there. Just leaving with my kettling kit - food, water, a plastic bottle to piss in, a squashy coat to lie on and a novel I've been meaning to read. And phone and camera of course. And a dictaphone thing. What else do I need?

Patience. And if at all possible, extra provisions for those around you who may not be so well prepared. A first aid kit might not go amiss.

 

[YouSir]

Still aching from yesterday so not heading up today, most exercise I've had in years, but hope it's going alright for everyone who is out and about, good luck.

 

[STFC]

It's gone now, probably to refuel.

 

[hipipol]

Was there one hour ago, many cop van up the side streets fairly heavy presence then - soft hats mainly, but you could feel em bristling - moved us all on when some guy put a wreath in front of the bank - old copper "guided" me along the pavement saying "dont stand in the road sir, wouldn't want you getting hurt now would we?"
Definate air of menace from the coppers and I'm a fat middle aged git in grandad casuals

 

[t0bytoo]

Very edgy at the bank. Gangs of 'medics' picking off individuals from the crowd. Saw four asserts in a few minutes before someone grabbed the bicycle out of my hands. Very aggressive vibe. Not nice.