rts today so far

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday September 22, 2002 19:42 by bysshe

Some 1,000 people gathered on St Stephens Green to party in Dublin's' Reclaim the Streets event...

Some 1,000 people gathered on St Stephens Green to
party in Dublin's' Reclaim the Streets event,
coinciding with European car free day (not that you would know it was that in Dublin!).

Derek RTS: "The day has been good so far. Its been a good turnout and the cops have been well behaved. RTS is a self organised space, everyone can play a part and not just consume. It's about empowerment and having a good time."

The first street to be reclaimed was Baggot Street. There was something for everyone. A sound system blasted out music, there were jugglers and fire eaters.

Daithi, Critical Mass: "Our bicycle protest coincided with the RTS event. We are both for freedom and liberation. Cycling is becoming more and more dangerous in Dublin every day.
You are safer cycling with other cyclists as cycle paths are ignored by cars."

For the kids there were balloons and face painting. Spacecraft theatre company put on "The Accidental Death of an Anarchist". There was simply a great buzz around the place.

The last party in Dublin hit the headlines
for all the wrong reasons because the Gardai attacked the protesters in broad daylight. Thankfully so far they have controlled themselves today, limiting themselves to hard man poses as they stood and watched people having a ball. The Garda helicopter buzzed us all day, costing the tax payer a fortune in fuel and doing the atmosphere harm.

Nora Geraghty, Globalise Ressitance: "After the last RTS, images of battered heads were everywhere. It is important that this party is bigger than the last one, to show the Gardai we are not intimidated. the streets belong to the people."

Eoin O'Brinn, Gliuisteacht: "Anyone who grew up in a city knows the importance of the street, rom playing football and your friends. The younger generation are doing what the older generation are talking about and reclaiming the streets."