G8 - Todays action

international | anti-capitalism | news report Monday June 04, 2007 19:54 by Arise

Bully tatics employed by police against activists

Today the 4th of june in Germany saw a marchs focusing on the demands for freedom of movement and equal rights for all. A demonstration with several thousand participants at the Immigration Office in Rostock, and another at the Sonnenblumen House in Lichtenhagen, where the Nazi attacked refugees in 1992. The later demo was to begin at 1pm. Activists surprised police by getting off the train to Rostock a stop earlier to avoid heavy controls at the main station. Within minutues a heavy police presence blocked the activists within the station and refused to move to train or to let the activists leave. Activists were trapped for over an hour by riot cops. Once the main march reached the station however the activists jumped the railings of the station to join the march.

On arriving at the refugee camp (eventually after many stops by police) activists got the oppertunity to talk to the refugees, many of whom had been in the camp for over 7 years. The refugees informed activists that they are unable to leave a few mile radius of the camp. The refugees thanked the activists for their support. After music and speechs the march attempted to march back into Rostock. However the police were having none of it. After advancing about a mile the march was stopped for about 2 hours. Demands from the police that all activists remove masks, take down all hoodies and remove all sunglasses were not accepted by activists. Eventually we were allowed advance about another mile before again being stopped.

News reached protesters that about 2000 activists had been prevented from joining the march and leaving rostock. They was later news of huge riots in the city and the first reports of Police using rubber bullets against the activists. The assumptions amoung activists was that the police were stalling the march reaching the city in fear of being over powered.

Police then informed the march after many hours that they had to disperse or face 'consequences'. Rioting is reported to be still taking place in the city.

Police are employing tactics which, this activist, sees are only inciting the activists to riot. They have yet to employ any tactics of de-esculation. The entire area of rostock and its surrounds have been converted in a police state. No one is able to travel to rostock without heavy control, bag searchs and police intimidation.

More info videos and photos at the following links:

http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/181152.shtml

http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/181175.shtml

http://de.indymedia.org/2007/06/180923.shtml