The Glasgow Defence Campaign condemns the latest provocation
by Strathclyde police. Between 15.00-18.00hrs yesterday a peaceful protest against
the presence of PM David Cameron in Glasgow City Centre was faced with lines of
uniformed officers intimidating people with the threat of arrest for merely
being in the area. Plain clothes officers mingled within the demonstration. Two
arrests were made – the GDC is waiting for confirmation of a third arrest. One
Socialist Workers Party activist, who has been the target of arrest before, was
detained after the protest dispersed with officers following him around the
corner. This shows once again the need for vigilance before,
during and after taking part in democratic protest in this country. Always stay
in a group of people – entering or leaving a protest yourself is not safe.
Workers and onlookers passing through town, heard protestors
voice loud and clear, and were generally in agreement, that the real criminals were
Cameron, his cronies and his defenders. Five minutes’ walk from the Glasgow
Central Hotel, where Cameron appeared, thousands of disability benefit
claimants have been denied basic welfare by the government contracted multinational
Atos. Two minutes walk from there a nightly soup kitchen feeds hundreds
of homeless and poor Scottish and migrant peoples. These are the victims of the
capitalist crisis and society and Cameron, as a mouthpiece and organiser for
the ruling class, is a perpetrator of this imposed misery.
The use of the Public Order Act 1986 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64 - to dictate that the demonstration had to move away from the entrance of the hotel
and be dispersed by 17.30hrs confirms once again that effective protest in
Britain must be backed up by effective defence against criminalisation. We must
defend the right to protest by defending people harassed, intimidated and
arrested for practicing the democratic right to oppose injustice. Footage of
the officer reading out the act can be seen here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4319214340928
The Glasgow Defence Campaign is aware that the two people
arrested are being held in Stewart Street police office (0141-532-3000) and
urges people to phone the office to demand that their welfare and rights are
not abused. They will both appear in Glasgow Sherriff Court tomorrow. The GDC
will post any updates on their cases when it is appropriate.
Glasgow says
Cameron not welcome!
Strathclyde
Police hands off protest!
Oppose
criminalisation!
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