Protests Greet the British Queen in Cork – Report & Photo Essay

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday May 21, 2011 00:29

by Ray - Cork WSM (pers cap)

Oppressive Garda presence by the Lee in North Korean-style finale to royal visit

The armed power of the Irish state and the local establishment extended a heavily stage-managed and trumped-up 'welcome' for the reigning British monarch, while denying Cork citizens freedom of movement in their own city. Once again An Garda Síochána infringed upon people's freedom of protest.

32CSM protestors carrying coffin of the British Empire. The cops wanted to seize this prop...

About 300 assorted republicans, anarchists and other anti-monarchists braved an oppressive police presence to make public protest against the visit of Queen Elizabeth II on Sullivan's Quay this afternoon. Among the organisations present were Sinn Féin (who organised a stage, music (all republican ballads; perhaps some of the many anti-monarchist pop and punk songs would have been worth a play too SF folks?), Republican Sinn Féin, the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, and the Workers Solidarity Movement.
The police operation restricted public protest in Cork city centre to a section of Sullivan's Quay, with access to large areas of the either restricted in access or closed entirely for much of the working day. Thousands of school students were used by the authorities to pad out the tiny crowd gathered at the corner of South Mall and Grand Parade and create the illusion of a 'welcoming throng' for the elderly scrounger. They were also used to shield her eyes from the protestors across from the South Channel of the river Lee.
The heavy Garda presence included riot cops, dog handlers, the Garda helicopter and several other small aircraft, the Garda mounted unit and any number of uniformed and plainclothes officers. Public order units were seen on South Gate Bridge, Clarke's Bridge and St. Finbarre's Bridge. As protestors moved along the southside quays, Gardaí responded to block access off to the centre. In spite of this, a handful of protesting citizens made it as far as Washington Street, but were then confronted by numerous police.
In spite of the efforts taken by the Irish government and media to 'popularise' this visit, many of the streets the royal motorcade passed were empty, and but for the last minute dragooning of the bulk of the city's school students the centre would have been bare in comparison to a normal Friday in good May weather. So much for the 'boost' to tourism and the economy this 'visit' is bringing then. The 'great and good' may pronounce themselves pleased with their four-day mail-fisted celebration of imperialism at everyone else's expense, but the response of the population at large has been one of studied indifference, and no little opposition. Let's hope that this city never has to endure another 'royal' visit!

Despite this the 32CSMers still got it into the Lee.