Report on Reclaim the Streets Dublin 2002

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday May 07, 2002 00:11 by Daithi Mac Sithigh - Indymedia Ireland macsithd at tcd dot ie

Events from 2-7 pm

I worked with other IMC volunteers today in covering the Dublin RTS event. My area was audio; this will be uploaded later tonight. What follows is my personal account of sun, samba, and, unfortunately, violence - some of it directed at Indymedia reporters wearing highly visible identification.

The afternoon started off with an energetic "Critical Mass" cycle, starting at the Garden of Remembrance (top of O'Connell Street) and taking in O'Connell Street itself, parts of Parnell Square and the quays, before converging on Burgh Quay. There they met with a crowd who had gathered for a "Reclaim the Streets Street Party" - the crowd was estimated at 800 people at that stage. They included drummers, dancers, cyclists and tourists, including some participants well prepared for a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon - with colourful clothes and costumes to be seen.

The Gardai were directing traffic across onto the far quays and brought a fire engine to remove the barricade that had originally "reclaimed the street". But at that stage, there was no chance of moving the huge mass of people that were dancing, singing, and having a good time.

Two samba bands were giving it their all, and a sound systems was banging out some harder sounds. Jugglers and Brazilian dancers were the focus of much attention - and the crowd remained at the same high level as the afternoon went on.

The Gardai stood on, with increased numbers - including paddy-wagons at the ready. Around four o'clock, a rather dilapidated car was pushed out from a side street (which had been purchased specially for the occasion) and the doors were locked. The Gardai attempted to remove it, but were unsuccessful. A very small number of individuals tried to provoke trouble - by setting a red flare inside the car - but the vast majority of participants continued to dance to the beat of the bands. Gardai were at this stage beside the car, restraining the crowd; with ID numbers in absence.

At this stage things turned violent - and the restraint and order that the Gardai had been enforcing disappeared in a flash. A number of people, some as young as 16, and one who was on crutches, were removed from the crowd with great force. Then, as Indymedia and freelance reporters continued to film, record and photograph the violence, a number of Gardai turned their attentions on us.

Behind the police line, standing on a public pavement, three IMC reporters (including myself) were harassed and forced to retreat a substantial distance. No responses were given to our questions and attempts were made to damage our equipment. Many members refused to give their names. One reporter was dragged half way down a street to stop her from recording these events.

The car was removed; and the party continued as the evening went on. A number of minor incursions were made by the Gardai into the crowd; and the Garda helicopter made an appearance. After half-six, the now hemmed-in crowd (numbering about 3 to 4 hundred people) moved towards O'Connell Bridge. Greeted by a blocked road of Garda and unmarked cars, they moved to the footpath and then moved along Aston Quay , dancing and singing behind the Reclaim the Streets banner. Gardai followed behind in vans and on motorbikes.

The events of the rest of the evening were also very violent and troubling; but I was not present from then on. See Aidan's report on the newswire for full details of this.