VIDEO promo BUSH Visit J25 J26

by pc Wed Jun 16, 2004 15:00

or have scare stories been thin on the ground re bush, or have the papers just been busy with the elections?

by seedot Thu Jun 17, 2004 14:39

Given the amount of hype from Feb. on it must have been a bit offputting that this was the biggest MayDay in Dublin in years.

It seems silence is the strategy this time - partly because of the number of political figures who have said they will be protesting.

by cynic Fri Jun 18, 2004 17:49

May Day involved scare tactics and in the end a thankfully low amount of police brutality(sorry to anyone on the receiving end, i'm speaking relatively).

I'm kinda surprised that the media tactics are not being repeated, but at the end of the day, the authorities may simply have estimated that they are not necessary.

The difficulties faced by protesters are amplified by the rural setting and by being away from Dublin (again no offence to those living on the west coast who i'm sure can match their east coast comrades in creative protest).

You can be sure that if the security arrangements have been scrutinised by the Bush security team, and that if they were found lacking in any way, the Irish authorities would be pulled into line.

I just hope that whatever protest is planned doesn't underestimate the lengths to which the security operation will go to keep protest to a minimum and at a considerable distance from Bush. And lets hope that the authorities do underestimate the level of unwelcome there is on this island and the creativity of those who are going to express it.

But i fear that protesters hoping to turn up to an effective demonstration may have their work cut out - people should be clear that whereever possible they should organise - there will be a need to be flexible and co-operate with others who similarly arrive in Clare and are confronted with unexpectedly secure arrangements - but they can, and we will overcome.

Organise, or you can't complain if the organised state ends up stiffling your voice.

by Suzanne O'Shea - San Francisco Peacemakers Fri Jun 25, 2004 20:41 kucinichisthe1 at yahoo dot com San Francisco

Thank you Indymedia and all in Ireland who are protesting George W. Bush's visit to Ireland. He is destroying my country (the USA) and the world community for corporate profit. We have participated in every street protest, letter writing campaign and opportunity to vote to get him out of office and stop his exploitation of the world's people and resources. We are encouraged by your voices and use of the media to get the truth out. Stand up and be heard!! Go out to the streets and say no!! Your voice is important and necessary.
Thank you sincerely,
Suzanne O'Shea
San Francisco