Riot police called out in London as protest ends in skirmishes

[IndianaGreen]

Source: The Independent (UK)

Riot police called out in London as protest ends in skirmishes

By Emily Dugan, Kaarina Miles and Richard Osley
Sunday, 4 January 2009

Riot police were dispatched to the Israeli embassy in London last night as a day of protests across Europe degenerated into ugly skirmishes.

In London Israeli flags were set ablaze and surging crowds were penned back by police with shields and batons. Some protesters were in tears, claiming they were being stopped from leaving peacefully, and organisers said they would complain about police heavy-handedness. Others, growing more aggressive as news of Israel's ground invasion spread, threw missiles while police tried to drive them back. Late into the evening, several hundred were still staring down officers outside the embassy.

The London ambulance service said it had helped one man with a head injury and others with minor bruises after sending a team of 25 to the scene.

Tens of thousands initially took to the streets, even as Israeli forces were firing shells from the border of Gaza. In London, where the largest rally was held, Trafalgar Square turned to a sea of black, white, red and green – Palestinian national colours – as what organisers claimed were up to 55,000 people showed up in the largest British demonstration for the Palestinian cause. Police claimed the size of the protest was far lower.

In the crowd was the singer Annie Lennox, the comedian Alexei Sayle, Tony Benn and George Galloway. Lennox told the crowd: "We are looking at a huge human rights tragedy in front of us. The idea of an air assault combined with a ground war in such a tightly packed area as Gaza is unimaginable. It will be a bloodbath. Hopefully now we will see dialogue, dialogue, dialogue."



Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/riot-police-called-out-in-london-as-protest-ends-in-skirmishes-1224474.html

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One of the signs: "Israel = terrorists"

[BeHereNow]

1. Now I love Annie Lennox even more...

Thanks Annie, for speaking the truth.
The situation is completely FUBAR.

BHN

[CHIMO]

2. Gaza protest march ends in violence

Protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza turned violent yesterday when demonstrators in London burned Israeli flags and hurled missiles including fireworks at police officers.

As Israel began a ground offensive, a crowd of about 5,000, dominated by young British Muslims, gathered around the country's London embassy.

Officers with riot shields sealed off local roads as a small group of angry protesters tried to storm the building. Older protesters were seen trying to calm sections of the crowd. As darkness fell the atmosphere became more heated, vocal and aggressive.

The group had broken away from a larger demonstration earlier when people had marched through central London to Trafalgar Square to protest against the attacks, which have left almost 500 dead. Police estimated that 12,000 attended the rally but Stop The War Coalition, which organised the march, claimed it was six times that number.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/04/gaza-israel-demonstration-trafalgar-square

I wonder. I really wonder if a protest in China would have brought about the same response?

[High Plains]

3. Good for London. Gordon Brown deserves a shoe to the head.

[Kolesar]

4. The thrust of the protest was aimed at the British govt's inaction over the Israeli attacks on Gaza

The street violence by the police would have been caused by the London police.

This article explains that Gordon Brown was urging a cease-fire: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brown-repeats-call-for-gaza-ceasefire-1224948.html

I don't know what else he could have done.

[WriteDown]

7. I guess the women in the photos.....

were given permission or orders by their husbands or fathers to go out and protest. Just saying...

[ShortnFiery]

8. Yes, let's not miss any gratuitous attempt to disrespect some Islamic Cultural practices.

:eyes:

[WriteDown]

9. Didn't realize the subjugation of women...

was a cultural practice. I guess you can throw female circumcision under that category as well.

[T_i_B]

5. I remember watching an anti-Israel protest in Trafalgar Square a few years ago

It must have been late 2001 or early 2002. It did confirm me as resolutely neutral in matters relating to Israel/Palestine as I found people shouting "victory to the intifada" and so on to be a bit of a turn off.

[reggie the dog]

6. who is the oppressed, who are the oppressors?

Israel oppresses the Palestinians, therefore the Palestinians have a moral right to rebel.

[T_i_B]

10. No, neither side is justified

And that was my conclusion after watching the anti-Israel demo back then.