Today's protests in Galway
galway |
eu |
news report 
Saturday January 17, 2004 01:47
by Orla Ni Chomhrai
nichomhrai at eircom dot net
Hi all,
Just a quick run down on today's protests in Galway.
Over 300 attended today's protest in Galway which were held under the banner 'Another Europe is possible', and which had the heading No to War, Racism and Privatisation. Groups which attended this protest (judging from personal information and the banners and placards) were Galway Alliance Against War, Galway Anti-Capitalist Movement, Galway Travellers Support Group, Green Party, SWP, Sinn Féin, members of the grassroots network, union and trades council members, members of the labour party, taxi drivers, Nunca Mais, Save the Tress, Women in Media and Entertainment, Global women's strike, refugees and anti-racism campaigners, fair trade campaigners, and just members of the general public. (Can anyone else add anything I have left out?).
The demo had a good atmosphere and was very lively. We gathered at the top of Eyre Square and fairly quickly moved down to the bottom of Eyre Square when we realised that ministers were arriving in the Great Southern. We were kept back a bit from the Hotel, though some people managed to get in closer but were quickly moved by police (on horse back, no less). People stayed in Eyre Square for a good while chanting. There was no easy way to march to the Radisson as we had originally planned, so many people just stayed in Eyre Square for a while and went home. Some people did go on to the Radisson. At least 2 were arrested for obstruction (of traffic) - probably for a sit down protest in the middle of the road. I will update on this issue as I get the information.
There were earlier protests on 'Save the Trees' and the connemara fishermen. All of the protests were peaceful. There were many complaints (not just from people out on the protest) about the amount of money which was spent on security, and on the whole thing. I never saw so many guards in my life. They had a helicopter going all day. I heard from a reliable source that they even had a water cannon available to them. The Guards were also not clear enough about road restrictions which caused a lot of frustration.
I was very pleased with our own 'Another Europe' protest and think that it was a success. I hope that it will encourage people around the country.
Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8I forgot that the students from NUIG had a banner on the protest, and I know that students from the GMIT were there as well.
Gardai have removed eight people from the scene of demonstrations in Eyre Square in Galway. Over 500 protestors had gathered outside a hotel, where several EU ministers were staying. The ministers were discussing EU employment and social policy at a top-level conference - one of the first of Ireland's EU Presidency. Among their resolutions was a pledge to encourage older people back into the workforce in order to help avoid a pension crisis.
TWO people were arrested - neither were obstructing traffic - but walking away from the demo. through a car park. Report follows
Yes, the two were just walking through the car park (young people these days!), and were arrested. They were released without charge.
I have heard that Eoin Rice was arrested this morning and beaten by the police. He went to the hospital. He is out now. Not sure about charges etc.
them cops have been getting away with way too much against Eoin rice, Probably because they know the media are never going to report anything that happens to him?
the media won't say shite for the moment because it is easier to sell papers that initially play on the grand oul feeling of begrudgery, and " shore if I was a Guard, dem hippies, listen, I'm a big teddy bear at heart meself, but don't we all stray away into Ted Bundy territory the odd time..."
But at least my cynicism has been recorded in the annals of indymedia, the first institution on this island to activily and permanently hold files on police brutality.Eoin Rice in the past would only have his word as witness, but today, at least there are people, worldwide, logging on to this site, seeing this. It is a great alternative to features in the Star where some hack gets to look at the ERU rambling about in training "wit de new guns. Deadly."
Give me indymedia over the Garda Complaints board anyday. Good luck
you all do realise that a water cannon is a fire engine. So of course they had them availible. Galway is a big place you know and they need the fire enignes to put fires out, so why wouldn't they have them at there disposal.
...damn clever ruse, bout dem fire engines,you made me forget that an alleged beating has taken place, a culmination in a catalogue of alleged harrasment. Well now...
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