Pics of pro-Rossport demo in Dublin (& pro-capitalist counter-demo!)

mayo | environment | news report

Saturday July 23, 2005 21:21

by William

+353 87 2861238

Capitalist counter-demo causes confusion

Several thousand people gathered at Parnell Square, Dublin on Saturday for a rally in support of the Rossport Five and of the Shell to Sea Campaign. Some protestors were confused by a small capitalist bloc, which called for "Free trade not free farmers!"

A four-strong capitalist counter-demo

The crowd included many from North Mayo, who had come up by bus. Quite a number of TDs were present, including Jerry Crowley (Ind) from Mayo, Joe Higgins (Socialist Party), Tommy Broughan (Lab) and several Greens, including Trevor Sargent, John Gormley and Trevor Sargent. Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and Mitchell McLaughlin were also in attendance.

As mentioned on an earlier post, the plan to finish up at the Norwegian embassy was mysteriously switched for a traditional speeches-at-the-GPO affair. There were about 29 speeches. At least that's how it seemed.

The only incident that threatened to cause trouble was a pro-capitalism counter-rally staged by four capitalists (see photo below). They jeered at the protestors, shouting: "We have the police! We have the police!" Nearby police were not amused.

The capitalists carried placards bearing slogans such as: "More money for less people"; "What about our jeeps?"; "You should be shopping!"'; "More cars less trees!"; "We hate hippies!" and "Free trade not free farmers!".

However, a top-level source told Indymedia she believed the "capitalists" were in fact anti-capitalists on a covert operation. The "capitalists" refused to speak to Indymedia, saying "We only talk to corporate media. Get a real job!"

Mary Corduff (centre) and Bríd ní Sheighin, wife and daughter of two of the Rossport Five, chat to Gerry Adams