Photos (1) - Anti-war protest in Belfast city centre

by . Wed Apr 09, 2003 09:44

So the guys and gals in white overalls were the militant elements at the demo according to the BBC
Those 'white overalls' now where did I hear about them before hmmmmmmm!
The BBC also claimed many RUC thugs were were injured at the demo, HAH! Yeah right now which suit do you think works better for protection?
Who were wielding the batons?

by more drumming less boredom Wed Apr 09, 2003 13:26

I liked them drummers they were good, they drew a crowd, they're the type of people I'd like to see drumming in the city centre, none of that brass instrument choir hymn singing shite. See if you had them drumming in the city centre, it would draw a large crowd into belfast. Belfast needs people like them, they are an attraction, to relieve the boredom and mundanity of every day life. Belfast is grim enough without batonning harmless drummers.

by Continuity RUC Wed Apr 09, 2003 14:19

I don't understand these whinges about brutality, there was none! There were no assaults. All these pictures show is the PSNI using legitimate methods to restrain, move on and arrest those who are breaking the law. There were no beatings.

The real thugs are those who break the law and prevent ordinary people from going about their lawful daily business.

Not one officer assaulted anyone. This is utter distortion of the truth and it is shameful.

by Garrett Mussen - none Wed Apr 09, 2003 15:08 gmussen at mailcity dot com 18 Ravenhill Avenue Belfast 028 70833618

I was at the both the die in protest in front of the city hall and the ensueing sitdown protest on one side of road ouutside the city hall. I am affiliated to no group and simply thought that in the spirit of non-violent civil disobedience a short sit-down protest was both legitimate and reasonable.

I have to say after reading and watching the media coverage of this protest that, I am more shocked by the medias, particularly the (BBC's coverage)of what actually happened than the tactics of the PSNI on the day. The BBC described the protest as a violent clash between antiwar 'militants' and the PSNI. They notably omitted from their televisual report pictures which UTV showed, of one riot officer beating protestors in the front row of sit down protestors who offered nothing other than passive non-violent resistance to being moved.

I as one of the people sitting near the front row heard the same officer telling people that they were gonna be hurt for not moving when told. He made good on that promise by beating a guy, two people up on the chain of people of which I was one link. At that point I thought I was going to beaten but to my relief was only dragged unceremoniously out of the crowd.

Despite the batoning of several people in full view of the entire protest, no-one threw any missiles, no-one punched or fought with officers, but rather sat their ground and cried shame. At this point many passers by began supporting these cries and stood or sat behind and in support of those being beaten. Several of those who joined were school kids one of which sustained a suspected broken arm. How the police can claim they suffered 5 injured is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is that maybe a couple of them strained their backs when lifting us off the road. There was at no point violence directed against the police by the protestors. I challenge anybody to produce a photograph from the many media sources present which shows violence from the protestors.

by Garrett Mussen - none Wed Apr 09, 2003 15:08 gmussen at mailcity dot com 18 Ravenhill Avenue Belfast 028 70833618

I was at the both the die in protest in front of the city hall and the ensueing sitdown protest on one side of road ouutside the city hall. I am affiliated to no group and simply thought that in the spirit of non-violent civil disobedience a short sit-down protest was both legitimate and reasonable.

I have to say after reading and watching the media coverage of this protest that, I am more shocked by the medias, particularly the (BBC's coverage)of what actually happened than the tactics of the PSNI on the day. The BBC described the protest as a violent clash between antiwar 'militants' and the PSNI. They notably omitted from their televisual report pictures which UTV showed, of one riot officer beating protestors in the front row of sit down protestors who offered nothing other than passive non-violent resistance to being moved.

I as one of the people sitting near the front row heard the same officer telling people that they were gonna be hurt for not moving when told. He made good on that promise by beating a guy, two people up on the chain of people of which I was one link. At that point I thought I was going to beaten but to my relief was only dragged unceremoniously out of the crowd.

Despite the batoning of several people in full view of the entire protest, no-one threw any missiles, no-one punched or fought with officers, but rather sat their ground and cried shame. At this point many passers by began supporting these cries and stood or sat behind and in support of those being beaten. Several of those who joined were school kids one of which sustained a suspected broken arm. How the police can claim they suffered 5 injured is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is that maybe a couple of them strained their backs when lifting us off the road. There was at no point violence directed against the police by the protestors. I challenge anybody to produce a photograph from the many media sources present which shows violence from the protestors.