Shannon Blockade {resistance}

by redjade Wed Dec 10, 2003 14:23

sorry that ive been absent in this discussion - been at home in bed with a bug that i caught at shannon - biowarfare? i dont think so.

As for the Allen photo I do think it showed what I consider to be the ineptitude of the stewards, that is if I had any conscious reason for posting it. When I post things I think visually and then later think of the political meaning, odd i know.

As a photog, there's no better place to post photos than on indymedia.ie - you're always going get comments! :-) good, bad, indifferent, it is always nice to see what people think.

I find it interesting that there is little comment about the scuffle with the gards towards the end of the day in the IAWM grouping. I witnessed stewards pushing and shoving with gardai as protesters were trying to sit down in the road and the gards trying to pull them away. For a moment it was getting ugly.

I have never seen stewards get in a fight with police - i have seen police (in other countries) club stewards, protesters fight stewards - but not stewards fighting cops.

This is piss poor training of stewards, in my opinion. I am not against the idea of stewards, as long as they are there to assist protestors with legal, medical, and general directions of what the plot of the day is supposed to be. But fighting cops is not supposed to be their role. They are there to be a buffer between the cops and protestors and diffuse violent situations NOT participate in violence!

I would be interested in knowing what the IAWM will be doing to train stewards in the future - if anything. there needs to be a debate about the roles of the stewards and how to diversify their representation. the current discussion of 'no stewards' vs 'yes stewards' is not productive and informative of the deeper issues.

thanks for the comments.

by a guy called satan Wed Dec 10, 2003 01:45

I don't think the photo is amusing .It's either an attempt to expose Allen as a state agent or else it's a disgraceful smear .

by Acid Tue Dec 09, 2003 23:19

I cant believe this! This is truly the first time I have laft over the comments!
It is an amusing picture. Some people tried to make a humorous comment about it. I think that is all. This really got out of hand!! : )

by pat c Tue Dec 09, 2003 19:05

are you saying that you are not the same person who is posting as joanna on different threads always within minutes of joanne?

another example:

>Shannon Blockade {resistance} No way pat Joanne 5:46pm D9

>SP win council by-election Pat Joanna 5:42pm D9

by Joanne Tue Dec 09, 2003 19:02

So now you accuse me of being a disguised troll?

You are unbelievable.

My name is Joanne O'Flynn, (I sometimes post as Joanna), I am not in any organisation and I am from Ringsend. I am a real person.

by pat c Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:58

>Shannon Blockade {resistance} this site is a joke Joanne 5:30pm D9

>SP win council by-election Pat C you are guilty as well Joanna 5:28pm D9

I wonder how anyone could see through the Joanna/e disguise?

by pat c Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:54

on another thread you have made false accusations against me. thats why i say you are trolling.

by Joanne - none Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:46

Hang on a second Pat, I am not trolling here or anywhere. I am pointing out correctly that the pic of Allen beside cops does not prove he is in league with the state. You coming on this thread and denouncing me as a 'troll' is showing you out to be one.

I have never had reason to cross you before, and always wondered why you were always attacked on this site. I now know, you are deliberatly trying to stirr up shit and get yourself on my bad side. It wont work, Grow up.

by pat c Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:35

from thread to thread, trying to stir up trouble.

by Joanne - none Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:30

If anyone is really serious about that photo proving Kieran Allen is a state agent needs their head examined. Throughout the march we were flanked by cops, I am sure there could have been similar pics taken of most protesters even some of the BB.

by gggG - ggg Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:27 g g

"I can only assume that he is saying that K A is on the side of the state - the same state that is facilitating American war crimes in Iraq..
If that's the case , the IAWM must take
immediate action against their steward and ,until they do take action ,there should be no talk of cooperation or joint demos with the IAWM .?????
WHAT?
IS THIS WHAT PASSES FOR DEBATE ON THIS WEBSITE? A PHOTO LIKE THAT?
BORING!

by a guy called satan Tue Dec 09, 2003 18:09

Redjade is obvioiusly letting his photo of Allen do the talking for him.I can only assume that he is saying that K A is on the side of the state - the same state that is facilitating American war crimes in Iraq..
If that's the case , the IAWM must take
immediate action against their steward and ,until they do take action ,there should be no talk of cooperation or joint demos with the IAWM .

by reader Tue Dec 09, 2003 16:17

Eoin Rice writes for the Sunday Tribune, will be reading all about it there?

by Tim Tue Dec 09, 2003 15:18

The powers that be were so worried about this that it was broadcast on Garda Radio that "on no account is Ed Horgan to be allowed into Shannon airport" - and gave the wrong car reg.
I wonder what grounds they would have tried to refuse entry ? and Why?

Also study the crap harrassment and arrest of Eoin Rice at 06:30 on Saturday morning.
The guy was blockaded by the Branch in the viewing area by Shannon Aerospace (a cul de sac)
The cops borke his car window, towed his car and detained him on 'traffic violations' for over 12 hours before dragging him to court without a solicitor. They also asked the judge to remand him in custody - for a traffic violation?
People are not normally held for 6 hours for traffic violations in empty car parks, never mind have it extended (presumbably by written authority of a Superintendent)

of course, this meant Eoin was not at the demo... which seems to have been their main aim.
That says 'worried Government' to me.

In the end Eoin was released on 5 Euro bail, and was followed the whole way to Limerick and back to Shannon when he went with a witness to make a complaint about the fact that his car had been left open while he was in custody and several items had been stolen.

The attitude of the police was different, and the media played down the police numbers. The govt seemed happy enough that we didn't completely shut the airport - which means they were expecting more. -and that may yet come.

they're more worried than they're letting on.

by pat c Tue Dec 09, 2003 14:17

there is one vast world wide conspiracy. at the apex stands... The Indy editorial group!

by simon Tue Dec 09, 2003 13:59

Is it possible that the GAA thing was a joke? Have you heard of humour? If someone from the CIA etc saw the sign do you think they would have a clue what the GAA was. Maybe it was serious I dont know - but I think its funny anyway

Deary me, unimpressed get out of the house once in a while.

by Baffled Tue Dec 09, 2003 13:45

"i fully support the anti-war movement but branding the GAA in the same category as the likes of the CIA is ridiculous and immature - grow up!"

One guy with a placard is not the anti-war movement.
What was on your placard?

by unimpressed Tue Dec 09, 2003 13:07

i fully support the anti-war movement but branding the GAA in the same category as the likes of the CIA is ridiculous and immature - grow up!

by David Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:38

It was just one moment, he could have been turned around to talk to somebody or just to see an incident that was happening in the crowd. It's unfair to make allegations just on this photograph...
However, this individual has a history of actions words and inactions that can be far more instructive of his particular position and impact within the Movement he claims to represent.

by Joe Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:33

The photo of SWP stewards in Hillsborough facing the crowd rather then the cops was backed up by anecdotal evidence of them trying to prevent people doing stuff on the day. The photo of KA here is not (at least in terms of stuff specific to the action once it was underway, what went on beforehand is of course another story). So he may as well have been simply having a look to see what was going on behind him.

More importantly the willingness of sections of the IAWM including some on the committee to call a blockade and organise for it shows that its actions are no longer automatically under an SWP/SP veto. So Saturday opens up a much greater possibility of joint work in future with sections of the IAWM and a possible re-alignment of the anti-war movement in general.

I'm a little suspicious that some of the people here are not what they seem. Some posts seem designed to try and drive a wedge between GNAW and IAWM 'direct actionists'. There are only two sources I can think of that would gain from that, the cops being one. So perhaps these posts are coming for one of these sources.

If so this wouldn't be the first time this has happened. Both Fintan and Dominic have come under attack from supposed GNAW posters at times in the past when enhanced co-operation seemed on the cards.

by James - gnaw-dublin Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:33

I wasn't at the location of Allen's photo but in fairness to him, (and the cops surely know his name), maybe he just turned around at that moment.
If the rest of us go our whole lives without getting caught doing something silly, or unlucky (nosepicking!) then we'll be doing well. There's so many cameras around these days, if you turn in the wrong direction for a second the camera can capture the moment and make it permanent.
Maybe I'm wrong and the picture is truly instructive but why not give the guy the benefit of the doubt? Could happen to you someday!

by a guy called satan Tue Dec 09, 2003 07:24

Every picture tells a story . The story I'm getting from Redjade 's shot is that Kieran Allen,while acting on behalf of the IAWM ,was siding with the cops against demonstrators on Saturday
If that's true , surely it means there can be no future cooperation between the IAWM and bb/anarchists on demos. Perhaps I'm reading the picture wrongly . What about it Redjade?

by Deborah Tue Dec 09, 2003 02:29

Excellent work Redjade, a little slice of Irish political / social history recorded visually. I liked the one of the garda walking upon the leaflets, followed by a close up of what was on the leaflets (non violent guidelines for the protesters!)!
It is hard not to feel disheartened at times with the sheer scale of what is happening in the Middle East with our complicity. However, actions like that on Sat, however effective they are in the larger scale of things, does serve to highlight Shannon Airport as a continual transit point for death and injustice. At least figures were published in Sat media on some of what is passing through and overhead at Shannon. Only for the blocade, that would not have been done. I thought the guards and riot squad were different on Sat, I thought they had less heart in what they were there for, than at other times. At least, most of whom I saw, and that is a view despite being hawled off the road 3 times (gently enough!). Maybe the message is filtering through a bit. Well done Redjade, excellent photo-journalism, definite ones for exhibition and posterity I reckon!

by Tim Mon Dec 08, 2003 22:56

and here's why.
Dubya told us months ago that the the war was over. we showed we didn't believe it.

Bertie thought he could easily shrug off Feb 15th, and here we are still embarrassing him with evidence of the crimes.

Harney said "People have short memories" -well some people don't forget mass murder very easily

At my own estimate 350 people turned up for an ACTION.
That's a whole scale up from having 350 people for a march. that's more people than took part in the airfield invasion in Oct 02.

We pulled of a reasonable blockade despite
-the fact that most people (including stewards) did not have a solid grasp of the lay of the land
- that the road network in Shannon keeps changing
-that we hadn't tried one before, nor had a practice run at it.
- 700+ Gardai were deployed (From Clare, Kerry, Galway West, Cork, Tipp etc)
- it was cold and damp and sometimes painful, (depending on the self discipline of certain drivers and riot cops.)

Seriously folks, traffic had to go in the back way of the industrial estate to reach the airport. a lot of tourists wouldn't have known the way, and it is only a single lane road.
Had we not held the roundabouts they would have opened up a dual carriageway as well as the back way around Fergus drive. (so that's one lane instead of four in each direction)

Despite some media spins, it went well.
We did not fail, the cops did not turn us back, and Aer Rianta and FF are worried about this tactic.

I missed the speeches, even though I was supposed to do one myself.
I think everyone who took part should be proud, and realise that we not only had an escalation, but showed good potential.

in the coming months we will need that potential.

Not only are innocent people dying in Afghanistan, and Iraq -with FF/PD complicity
but the US has its sights on Syria as the next target.

Bush put Syria on Axis of Evil List
John Bolton (US Under Secretary of State) asked Congress for sanctions on Syria, bullshitting on about WMD with a straight face, despite the farce in Iraq.
When Congress refused, US ally Israel was given a green light to bomb Syria (Sept /Oct) and have been buzzing Damascus with fighter jets for over a month to provoke an incident.

If the US goes after Syria, then they'll be using Shannon for that too.
Whatever people think of the Syrian government we all know that it's innocent people who suffer, and that there are no innocent governments in any of this.

anyhow I gotta go,
it was good to see so many of you folks there.

Tim.

by Amused Mon Dec 08, 2003 22:39

Those who are naming people in the photos are doing the states job for them. Having your back to a line of cops is a sign of what - get real will you. Is Irish indymedia the only indymedia that has more posts attacking the non-anarchist left than the state?

by amazed Mon Dec 08, 2003 15:26

is it amazing that the gardas would pull over a car full of lads wearing balaclavas near a principle airport.

by can't let you away with that one Mon Dec 08, 2003 15:02

the Irish State prefers to hold a gentleman's agreement with the "avowed trotskyists" over whom?
who are the unwanted opposition?
tell us please.

by Anon Mon Dec 08, 2003 14:17

They're not "on the side of the state", but they are the prefered opposition.

by pc Mon Dec 08, 2003 14:06

look at the signs on the posts

by IMC reader Mon Dec 08, 2003 13:24

I think it's just shit-stirring to say that Kieran Allen and the SWP were on the side of the cops! I think that is ridiculous.

A: It is what happened. Not all SWP members are on the side of the cops, but on many occasions (Shannon, Bintifada, etc.) the behaviour of some of their leaders has been, to say the very least, suspicious. How do you explain that Photo?

Any sane person would know that the IAWM are far from being 'at one with the cops'. In my opinion the IAWM were more effective in disruption at Shannon. When the GNAW were running into forests and staying back hanging around, the IAWM broke Garda lines and stopped traffic going into the airport.

Not true. The IAWM should have blockaded the other road, but the stewards directed activists to blockade the road that was being blockaded by GNAW. Why? Please answer to this.

by Watcher Mon Dec 08, 2003 13:04

Hes the SY National Organiser.

by Janus Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:59

Who is the buck eejit with the poster lumping the GAA in with everything from the CIA to the Branch fo Opus Dei? What an incredibly pointless, stupid and politically nonsensical thing to do.

by ray Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:49

Two candiates in a four seater ward is the same as the other parties., but now the LP ahs three.

The question remains, if O'Malley had been selected by the members last month, would the labour leadership have added Roger Cole to the ticket?

by Muller Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:47

Helen 'Who' Redwood in Mulhuddart!!!

by Not So Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:44

Has been added too the ticket. Happens all the time in all parties. In some parties the spouses of Councillors are chosen to replace them eg in the SP, Ruth Coppinger replaced Joe Higgins in Fingal.

The voters will decide who is elected to the council next year. Its known as democracy.

by Allen Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:37

Last month PANA spokesperson Poger Cole got selected by the LP grass roots in Dun Laoghaire for next years local election, along side Cllr. Dillon-Byrne. However It looks like the chances of getting another left-wing labour Cllr. to Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council is under threat from a decison taken by the LP executive.

They've selected former FG MEP O'Malley to run along side the two selected by´the local members. This looks like an atempt to squeeze out Roger Cole, probably due to his stance on the War, Neutrality and the EU.

by BB Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:14

Why is Allen facing the activists instead of facing the cops?

by IAWM member Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:12

I think it's just shit-stirring to say that Kieran Allen and the SWP were on the side of the cops! I think that is ridiculous. Any sane person would know that the IAWM are far from being 'at one with the cops'. In my opinion the IAWM were more effective in disruption at Shannon. When the GNAW were running into forests and staying back hanging around, the IAWM broke Garda lines and stopped traffic going into the airport.

by :-)phi Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:58

I can almost see Norman Knights like strongbow looking over their dark and dreaery shields down @ the little anarkistiis of Eire enjoying their right to assembly, freedom of speech, right to be civily disobedient in a noisy non violent way.
And there's something ancient in that.
I like it.
I'm going to spend an afternoon writing melancholic sentimental exile verse.

by IMC reader Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:55

Now we know who Kieran Allen, RBB & co work for: the State!
Now we know who we are dealing with.

by Z Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:26

amusing photo - but stewards are still a good idea. even if they did *steer* events more than they assisted.

A better discussion would about what the proper role of stewards would be.

by Mr Disco - ucdSA Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:25

Brilliant photo!

Brilliant photos.

by Disgusted Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:08

Theres Kieran Allen of The SWP in his IAWM stewards bib, standing with the cops facing the activists. I hope hes proud.

by redjade Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:44

more...

by redjade Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:43

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by redjade Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:40

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