Globalise Resistance statement on Gardai

Saturday May 11, 2002 18:13

by Nora Geraghty - Globalise Resistance

This is a letter published in Saturday's Irish Times by Nora Geraghty. I think it lets us all see the relationship between Globalise Resistance and Reclaim The Streets. When's the next party Nora? Will you be dancing?

Sir, - It is important to clear up a popular misconception about the Reclaim the Streets demonstration last Monday. Although many of those present had an affinity with the anti-capitalist movement, the demonstration was actually about reclaiming Dublin's public spaces for the ordinary citizens. After all the construction and development that Dublin has undergone in recent years, the city remains one of the worst in Europe for cycle lanes, public spaces and public transport. Everyone is aware that traffic is reaching epidemic proportions; capitalists were welcome to join the protest.

The notion put forward by Gerard Reynolds (May 8th) that those who took part in the demonstration were "layabouts" who "piggyback on the toil of others" is just not so. Most of the protesters were ordinary people with jobs who just wanted to express their dissatisfaction in a peaceful and enjoyable way.

The idea that gardaí were protecting ordinary citizens is absurd and offensive to anyone who believes in basic human rights. The video pictures have shocked the nation as many people had thought police brutality was a thing of the past.

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice would do well not to try to brush this one off as a slight over-reaction. The police force in any civilised state is obliged to provide adequate training for its officers to enable them to remain calm in the face of taunting by unarmed citizens. There has been nothing to suggest that the protesters posed any threat to people or property and the inconvenience to motorists was comparable to that of rush-hour traffic.

Police in other European cities have managed to accommodate similar protests without recourse to violence. Reclaim the Streets has become an important part of European youth culture, and there will be other rallies in Dublin. If something is not done to prevent future episodes of this nature, and to reprimand the officers involved, I predict a time when activists come from all over Europe to take part, and the emphasis will shift from pro-public space to anti-police.

I urge the Minister for Justice to take swift and decisive action. - Yours, etc.,

Nora Geraghty,

Globalise Resistance,

Ranelagh,

Dublin 6.