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Report on Reclaim the Streets Dublin 2002 national |
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news report
 Tuesday May 07, 2002 00:11 by Daithi Mac Sithigh - Indymedia Ireland macsithd at tcd dot ie
 Events from 2-7 pm I worked with other IMC volunteers today in covering the Dublin RTS event. My area was audio; this will be uploaded later tonight. What follows is my personal account of sun, samba, and, unfortunately, violence - some of it directed at Indymedia reporters wearing highly visible identification. The afternoon started off with an energetic "Critical Mass" cycle, starting at the Garden of Remembrance (top of O'Connell Street) and taking in O'Connell Street itself, parts of Parnell Square and the quays, before converging on Burgh Quay. There they met with a crowd who had gathered for a "Reclaim the Streets Street Party" - the crowd was estimated at 800 people at that stage. They included drummers, dancers, cyclists and tourists, including some participants well prepared for a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon - with colourful clothes and costumes to be seen. The Gardai were directing traffic across onto the far quays and brought a fire engine to remove the barricade that had originally "reclaimed the street". But at that stage, there was no chance of moving the huge mass of people that were dancing, singing, and having a good time. Two samba bands were giving it their all, and a sound systems was banging out some harder sounds. Jugglers and Brazilian dancers were the focus of much attention - and the crowd remained at the same high level as the afternoon went on. The Gardai stood on, with increased numbers - including paddy-wagons at the ready. Around four o'clock, a rather dilapidated car was pushed out from a side street (which had been purchased specially for the occasion) and the doors were locked. The Gardai attempted to remove it, but were unsuccessful. A very small number of individuals tried to provoke trouble - by setting a red flare inside the car - but the vast majority of participants continued to dance to the beat of the bands. Gardai were at this stage beside the car, restraining the crowd; with ID numbers in absence. At this stage things turned violent - and the restraint and order that the Gardai had been enforcing disappeared in a flash. A number of people, some as young as 16, and one who was on crutches, were removed from the crowd with great force. Then, as Indymedia and freelance reporters continued to film, record and photograph the violence, a number of Gardai turned their attentions on us. Behind the police line, standing on a public pavement, three IMC reporters (including myself) were harassed and forced to retreat a substantial distance. No responses were given to our questions and attempts were made to damage our equipment. Many members refused to give their names. One reporter was dragged half way down a street to stop her from recording these events. The car was removed; and the party continued as the evening went on. A number of minor incursions were made by the Gardai into the crowd; and the Garda helicopter made an appearance. After half-six, the now hemmed-in crowd (numbering about 3 to 4 hundred people) moved towards O'Connell Bridge. Greeted by a blocked road of Garda and unmarked cars, they moved to the footpath and then moved along Aston Quay , dancing and singing behind the Reclaim the Streets banner. Gardai followed behind in vans and on motorbikes. The events of the rest of the evening were also very violent and troubling; but I was not present from then on. See Aidan's report on the newswire for full details of this. |
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Comments (18 of 18)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18I was present going down Aston Quay, in Parliament St., Dame St and the Civic Offices. I witnessed charges by Gardai on individuals which resulted in a number of people being viciously batoned and bloodied. The bully boy tactics were reminiscent of the RUC in their heyday and at their prime. The Gardai wanted to baton the people off the streets to subjugate them. Outrageous - to which the protesters stood firm. Finally things ended around 9 pm.
Here is a poem called 'The Citizen's proverb':
People of this friendly state
I have news for you
don't stumble at the Garda's gate
or stand on his shoe
Think you they are unarmed
and sweeter than the misty dew
they have special potions charmed
to try them out on you?
Citizens of this fallacy -
a republic, rogue run anew;
don't shudder at their policy
or drink the indignant brew!
Think you to strongly stroke
integrity's mass and woo?
that's fire dreamers naively poke -
their legacy to rue!
Think you they'd not manhandle
and trample the sprinkled dew
but when the knob fits the handle
a Police State waits for you! 1999
*I think this was relevant today*
well done to all concerned re: organisation of the Dublin RTS. amazing turnout, diverse crowd, and surprised it went on for so long.
as per usual the PO-LICE mutherfuckers step in with bully boy heavy handed tactics, beating up indiscrimnately. FUCK THEM! shower of pricks. how uneven a fight do they want? we come along with cheerleader pom-poms and footballs, and they hit back with batons and dogs..
respect to Dublin. shout out from Aotearoa. see you all next year.
[on staring at the Irish Crimes front page photo...] :
They're big men, with their big schtricks, up the
country boyo, we'll ring yer feckin necks. The landed gentry with a lovely pension to kickstart their political life after retirement. Tribunals cleaning out the country me arsh, sure this is what we have to deal with. Their names on polling slips of the future. Pro-choice? Try another state....
Look I'm proud to be from Cavan, so I ain't having no digs at muckers. We love it. I am having a dig at the cock handed way these boys "keep the peace". Just before I left those lovely green shores, I was reading "Lockout, Dublin 1913" on the riots and fierce police beatings that led up to the Bloody Sunday dispersal and I thought of Genoa and Italian fascist forces, and Spain and Seattle and wherever.
Not here, not anymore. I shuddered even to think that less than 90 years ago, the state had held such low regard for our citizens. But that was the RIC and the DMP (dublin met police) and was filled with Britz, right? We got our own police force then. They are Irish, enlightened, lovers of freedom and peaceful protest, born of it aswell as the rest (does the fear of the rest, the violent protest still lie so deep in their marrows that they cling to it, they nurture it, or they they worry it may be borne from any protest any day?).
But no. This is not my experience. I have seen them charge in heavy handedly when they had no call to, nothing but insignificant traffic laws to protect, placing these higher than the safety of the citizens, their paymasters. No right to even. But fortunately I have not seen with my own eyes the cold calculated brutality that I have just read about.
But I have seen it's embryo, the sharp violent unreasonable look in the eyes of gardai even as you try to reason with them.
I am so enraged and upset by these reports. These thick baton happy bloody thirsty callous cunts (excuse the use) are no better than the Italian bastard pigs who each had a kicking dig at a fallen protestor as they marched past him.
I may be rambling due to my rage so I will rap up. Also I am be raging due to being homesick today. I am worried that my good friend Clare Connolly may have being arrested (my empathy and hope goes out to any of those arrested or injured...I am sure to have met some of you), so if anyone has a list of those arrested could they post it here (if of course, this won't affect any legal positions in future...don't know about such things myself.).
86 years on and they are still beating up the people who only came out to make a point peacefully. Would they prefer we shoot at them like the 'ra? I hope not. They beat them then because the employers of the city set them on the workers. Who
the hell is to answer at the top for it this time? That's what I wanna know.
Ironically enough it was the Sindo that must churned out the anti-strike policy then (it was owned by the biggest employer) and today it seems to be carrying the most balanced reports (well obviously rallying around a colleage, but fair play nonetheless).
Well done to all involved and we'll all be there again at the next one. Their bully boys aren't worth shit and won't ever win the day.
Final word, alright path, good to have some buoyant words from you from down under.
Deco.
ps read some of this back, sorry it rambles, had to let it all out.....fuck.
Bloody Monday? Who got killed? Was anybody put into hospital for extreme bodily harm? Where do you come off with comments like that? The gardai only did they're job, when a number of this "peaceful march" went ugly. You have to admit that the stunt with the car, was pushing things a bit far. I dont mind that you wan to protest on the streets of Dublin, but when you and your fellow marchers break the law or try to force the gardai away, what do you expect will happen? That they'll roll over, and let you run riot in the capital? Not likely. The trouble makers got what they deserve, and those others that received damages? well it was your own fault for not restraining your friends from causing trouble.
Surprised that he wasn't pretending to be a taxi driver on the Joe Duffy show.
Since when did batoning people viciously and using bully-boy tactics constitute doing one's job? Mr George Orwell wrote about double speak in 1984 and that's exactlye what that is!
The gardai siochana, guardians of the peace, servants of the people, drew blood from the heads
of a least one person I know (indirectly). There are
photos available on the ws site and here showing
bloodied heads. They beat people unnesscarilly.
There was never any threat of violence from the peaceful rally, as far as I can make out from here or
even the mean-stream medja.
I wasn't there. I am in Asia. I was posting in empathy. It's clear to me you didn't read my post thoroughly if you missed this point. How many other points did you miss? The comparison was to
the bloody events on the streets of Dublin at the hands of the police forces in 1913. Geddit? I didn't say anyone died. Did I? Oh let me check. Gosh no, I didn't. You did. Ok? Glad we sorted that out.
In arresting possible troublemakers, agitators, suspects (and stating reason for arrest), or dispersing the crowd peacefully (and I'd hope asking them to disperse first), the gardai would have being doing their jobs. In taking off id numbers so they could go hell for leather with their batons, as has being accused (and will be shown to
be true or false in the forthcoming inquiry), they were certainly overstepping the mark and in the first case (id badges), definately breaking the law.
> I dont mind that you wan to protest on the >streets of Dublin
thats great and big of you. But you see, in a democracy I don't care if you mind or not. I doin't have to. The right to protest is in the UN Dec. of human rights. Ireland is supposed to uphold that.
This is why your opinion is also allowed on this site and I welcome it. Freedom of expression right? I am not going to send the boys round to your house just cos you intimidate me. No I first try to reason with you.
>break th law or try to force the gardai away, what >do you expect will happen? That they'll roll over, >and let you run riot in the capital?
No one was running a riot. "Where do you come off with comments like that?" The gardai should have shown restraint and distance and acted professionally. It's no more than one should expect from a well trained force, founded to protect the people. The people over the law. Smashing heads, and clubbing people who are on the ground, defenseless, in order to protect them from glass, or in order to clear a road blockage (on a bank holiday?!!). Makes me sick to think of anyone justify violence in order to clear a road and make themselves look good, save face.
Look you made one single good point. Perhaps the car was a bit much. But they are trained to deal in stressful situations, right? (eh.....). They lost the head and hopefully some of theirs will roll.
I can't see J Donohoe doing anything but a whitewash.
I just read this : "a little kid was brought to hospital because of serious injuries." Justice? Justification? Gwan, have a go.
deco
Has anyone noticed? Decades ago if you had a streak of violence o(r worse) in you that you wanted to express legitimately, what organisation did you join...? The clergy. Now where do the sick, bullying, bloodthirsty, twisted people go? The guards. Down with the guards as thay are, because they are most certainly not guarding anyone apart from the interests of the privileged few, I hope (although I don't hold out much hope) that all you guards that hurt peaceful protestors are brought to justice...it will come to you eventually.
Has anyone noticed? Decades ago if you had a streak of violence o(r worse) in you that you wanted to express legitimately, what organisation did you join...? The clergy. Now where do the sick, bullying, bloodthirsty, twisted people go? The guards. Down with the guards as thay are, because they are most certainly not guarding anyone apart from the interests of the privileged few, I hope (although I don't hold out much hope) that all you guards that hurt peaceful protestors are brought to justice...it will come to you eventually.
The events of monday have highlighted what many working class dubliners have known all along, that the violent elements within the gardai taint and diminish the good work done by the rest. In tallaght in the early 80s many a young man was dragged into the station for a kicking, it got so bad that a local nun sr veronica was forced on many an occassion to bail these men out and made many complaints to that effect...none of which were heeded. Myself a victim of gardai violence and intolerance, stood amazed in court as a garda sergeant from pearse street station lied unbelievably in court to have myself and 4 friends convicted on public offenses (a conviction i had overturned on appeal, my friends were too disgusted with the system to bother), ask any inner city youth or parent and they will tell you stories of "such an such a garda who is known for heavy handedness". Gards are human, and so are prone to temptation and corruption like all of us, we need a division within the force, such as CID in england, who will police, from within and who can root out those who do not deserve the title "guardian of the peace". Finally to those of you who say those protesters got what they deserve, may I say that without people like them in the past, misguided or not, we would not have the rights we take for granted today, james connolly would turn in his grave if he heard you!
demos are just a pile of crap to pass the time. i say so because i participated on one as a favour to a mate thats all.
if you want to highlight a view or "THE CAUSE" do it in a manner that wont provoke the guards.there were a few wankers looking for trouble and on monday they got it...........
Before we know it Bono or Sinead O'Connor will have penned a song for the long haired leftie wasters that got thier nuts cracked open on Monday.If I had my way I would have got the mounted Gardai to charge into them and let them know just who exactly runs the streets, Where were the water cannons and the Garda dog unit?We have got to fight fire with fire these parasites are crippling this country enough is enough
Just like to propse a toast to deco, cheers, exactly what I would've said, only put much better. Decided not to hold the whole Cavan thing against you after all...
Shamey, would you shut the fuck up!! What are ye the fuckin delegated representatives of the Hill?Obviously whereever you live you've never seen the ugly side of the Guards. Good for you. Others have only seen the guards when they come to harass, or when they are needed there nowhere to be seen. "get a life and a job", ye sound like ye work in the labour. "Send in the dogs", what are you on some hate buzz, go and join the guards they need people like you...
UP THE DUBS...
if'n you didn't notice, i write from melb.australia,
and aint pretending to know what went down in
dublin. i'm only sorry i wasn't still living
there when it happened, it looked like a good party
. but we've had very similar
experiences with violent cops without names/
numbers and harassment of independant media.
if you just say, 'some gards are bastards' i think
you're missing the point. the state maintains
a goodly number of bastards on the force to enable
crackdowns on undesirable or dangerous actions,
'unAustralian' our Orwellian PM calls them.
you know, truely decentralised incorruptible
grassroots dissent, cooperation and solidarity.
thats what scares the planet fuckers in suits, and
thats why the gards know they can get away with it.
and they do, again an' again.
we're all learning just how prepared we need to be.
Just something I think you shower need to be made aware of:
You all are utter wasters!!! Go and get fucking jobs so you'll have better things tobe doing with your time.
The Gardai have every right to disperse violent protesters, and if that means using battons -so be it. I only regret I was'nt there to help them out.
So essentially, Lads, remove thine heads from thine arses and copthe fuck on!!
Cheers to the Dublin RTS and fuck-all to the piggy boys.
Jesus I was raised over here to think the Gardai were the saviours of Ireland at least that's how my granny used to speak of them but she was ever wrong. They're just more pigs; let's call a spade a spade shall we in the ghettoes in America they're known as motherfuckers...
We had an RTS over here near Chicago last summer and the same happened; pigs charging in with batons and pepper spray, they nearly killed a kid for chrissake
Yer man is right; the pigs ARE just doin their job; their job IS to kill and maim and beat and OPPRESS organic manifestations of freedom. british, irish, american, nazi theyre all the same species. motherfuckin PIGS.
in the words of the Chicago Martyr Adolph Eichmann.
"Hurrah for Anarchy!"
you sad fucking idiots. reclaim the streets? how fucking pathetic an excuse is that to march. you deserved to get your ugly heads cracked open for being such a pack of wannabe revolutionaries. what were you tossers thinking? That your protest/ excuse to have a go at the guards and maybe get your face on telly was going to actually work? god it was funny to see you all running back home to get daddy to bring a lawsuit against the guards for hopping the shite out of you. welcome to the real world folks: you antagonise the guards, theyll sort you out. and rightly so. im with the state 100% on this one. those guards should be decorated for kicking your arses