Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

Make the Pearse Street Protest Against Police Brutality a Sit-down Protest!

category national | miscellaneous | news report author Thursday May 09, 2002 01:34author by Ben Ullmannauthor email superju666 at hotmail dot comauthor address 74 Newmarket Squareauthor phone 0876713290

For tonight’s protest to be a success I think it must be a sit-down. It’s the only way we will still be able to make our voices heard and dramatically reduce the chances of violence erupting. We will be protesting about police brutality. We are not Reclaiming the Streets tomorrow, or globalising resistance or propounding Socialist values, we are expressing our outrage against the way the Guarda used horrendous force against innocent people. A well placed whisper is more effective than shouting...tomorrow is about numbers and not falling into the trap of being manipulated into seeming hypocritical. We absolutely cannot give the Guarda the chance to say "look what we are dealing with" and have people sympathise. If you are a leader of GR, SWP or RTS and you read this and agree please organise people and get the word out. Sorry if I'm repeating a suggestion already made.

Comments (4 of 4)

Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4
I agree
author by Jon Wildepublication date Thu May 09, 2002 10:07author email Arkaos at subdimension dot comauthor address author phone

I agree with this.
We are (well most of us I assume) protesting against the violence that was used by the Gardai on Monday. Nothing else.

We can't give the Gardai any chance to say "We were provoked".

Folks. Be careful out there and have fun.

Is it official?
author by Ben Ullmannpublication date Thu May 09, 2002 12:53author email superju666 at hotmail dot comauthor address 74 Newmarket Squareauthor phone 0876713290

I just bought the Evening Herald and it said tonights protest is a sit-down one, if its true I'm ecstatic. Thanks very much for listening. Also I'm not sure pies are a great idea but music and imaginative chants definately are, how about:

"Where were your numbers when you beat my friend?
Where were our rights you were meant to defend?
You beat us with batons
We sing you a song:
Your days in power won't be long!"

we could get some guitars and drums along and improvise lyrics as we go too...
peace
ben

Watch Out....
author by neogeopublication date Thu May 09, 2002 13:59author email purplenetworks at eircom dot netauthor address author phone

I would be quite careful after taking part in this NOT to be found doing anything in town that you would usually get away with.

BELIEVE ME, if you think faces won't be remembered, you are very much mistaken. Some of the pictures really are frightening, and as I said before, imagine being in a cell with that bloke from Dame Street and asking for your civil rights. See what happens.

If all this does manage to create something useful, it would be some kind of independant inspectorate for the police. This could allow spot checks on treatment of prisoners and other civilians with whom they come into contact. Most police are doing an excellent job, but like any other institution of its size and power needs to be subject to rules and regulations on behaviour.

Sit Down
author by Stephen Rigneypublication date Thu May 09, 2002 16:35author address author phone

I agree that a sit-down protest is an extremly good idea. We cannot give the Gardai any reason to attack. No vandalism, no petty crimes, absolutely nothing. We need this protest to run like clock work.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/3979

Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.