five pictures from shannon.

by Eoin Dubsky Thu Dec 11, 2003 23:28

Its up to every individual of course how far they want to push every issue of civil rights with the police. When they come and say "lets see whats in your bag" or "what's your name/address/etc..." it seems kinda stupid to not just let them look in the bag, take your name, and let you carry on with what you're doing. If you don't give your name they sometimes respond saying "don't you have a name?" or "c'mon its not a secret is it?", which can make you feel even more stupid for not cooperating. But why should we allow the police search our bags, our cars and coaches, when they haven't even inspected the planes at Shannon yet!?

I think its worth role-playing a few times, and when you do it be prepared to get arrested. But the police really are taking far too many liberties at protests at Shannon. They have the neck to come onto the protesters' coaches saying "are there any weapons here?", when they know full well where the weapons are -- on the US planes which they are protecting.

by Anthony - Dublin GNAW Fri Dec 12, 2003 00:03

I agree with Eoin - in principle but not in practice.

When on a bus down to Shannon, I consider the important thing is to get there and do something useful. When the guards stop the bus, I bite the bullet and I simply ask the cop for what reason he's searching the bag and under what act. I'll leave it at that though in most cases, we give them a bit of verbal haranguing and point out the inconsistency and irony of the US military planes not being searched.

Naturally, it galls to submit to such harassment but my main priority is to get to Shannon where I can hopefully contribute to an effective action. Nothing useful can be accomplished by arguing with the police while on the bus. Of course, they're well aware of the fact and that they have us by the short and curlies in that regard.

by ProtestWatch Fri Dec 12, 2003 19:56

Why don't you bring a poster reminding them to check out www.indymedia.ie later so that they can see what it looks like to an observer?

(obviously a few of them read the site, branch, trolls etc) but what about the 700 or so at the demo
most of aren't based in Clare
less than 250 Gardai are based in Clare.
So, not all of these Gardai are overly familiar with the reality of what goes on.

rather than shouting "fuck the pigs", the blac bloc and the rest of us should encourage them to read IMC and find out the facts for themselves...

by dunk Fri Dec 12, 2003 21:31

agree with above poster
the whole "fuck the pigs" "kill the cops" attitude turns many "normal" people away
it was great to see some play at the end with the wall of riot cops.
a few of us tried to engage in street theatre of sorts with the police, we asked them to converse with us, but they had put up the blank wall.
you could tell they were listening, a few smiles crept out.
perhaps in future, more info and street theatre for the police and onlookers might be more productive?
personally i find it more enjoyable

some also argue that there is no point in going to a peace action being violent, for some cursing and violent language is a form of violence

i found it hard not to get like this in fairford, where 80+% of bombers went from during war, the place with the b52`s.
i did loose temper a bit when i saw the US soldiers and pilots, i couldent help shouting at them.
but on reflection i dont think it achieved much, later i talked to/ with them with respectful words about why sep 11th happened, and asked whether nazis had a choice during ww2. perhaps something got through to them??

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker Sat Dec 13, 2003 21:58

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62669&condense_comments=false#comment56076

by Ciaron Sun Dec 14, 2003 02:21

He did oppose the war. He made several statements saying it would be wrong to attack Iraq without a new UN resolution.

by david Sun Dec 14, 2003 02:55

when he thought the U.S. would probably be able to bribe a resolution out of the UN. After america decided to ignore the UN bertie started relaying Blairs "moral case for war"