IMO Police smearing demonstrators before G20 so they can justify violence

[B Whale]

I'm convinced that police are desperate for it to get violent on wednesday's demonstrations. They are smearing the activities of the protestors prior to the event actually heppening. They have rang up organisors and other groups to warn them things will be extremely violent, which is a blatant threat to put people off going.

On the BBC a senior police officer has just said if people want to protest they should contact them first to facilitate it, if they want violence it will be an entirely different matter, creating a false dichotomy between those who called the police (peaceful) and those who did not (violent.)

In addition, a quote on this news story shows how politically corrupt they really have become. "Five held over suspected plot to disrupt G20 summit with explosives stunt"

On finding fireworks and imitation guns at an address in plymouth they have linked it to the G20 demo's by also finding 'material relating to political ideology' (i don't think he meant the Daily Mail)

"Asked to clarify the nature of the material, Netherton said: "It's political, it relates to political organisations, it's not extreme but it's a different political view"

A DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEW???????

read that sentence and tell me it doesn't chill you to the bone.

[fedsron2us]

1. Personally I think most of the demonstrators might as well stay at home and put their feet up

since the financiers and their political lackeys have f*cked global capitalism more thoroughly than a whole army of Trots and Anarchists could ever hope to do.

If I was a copper I would be more worried about whether there was going to be any money around to pay my wages and pension in the years to come.

[B Whale]

2. " A whole army of trots and anarchists" ???

well done. Take the line that the police and media feed. You immediately equated trots and anarchists with the demonstrators rather than think about it seriously.

You may be right that the financial system has been f,cked up completely by the financiers and politicians, but they will remake it and restart it exactly the same as it was before because that is to their personal benefit.

They must be held to account and new ideas and desires expressed. The demonstrations are a small but important part of this.

[fedsron2us]

7. Well if your unctous , condescending and patronising tone

is typical of those attending I am glad I am staying at home.

If you think Trotskyists and anarchists won't try and hijack the protest for their own ends then you clearly have not been to many demos over the years. Moreover, more than a few of them will be in the pay of the authorities who will be keen to use them to discredit the rest of you. Go read about Yevno Azev sometime and learn the joys of paranoia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yevno_Azef

The last thing the world needs now is more vanguardist intellectuals telling the workers whats good for them.

I expect as at the previous summits we will get the usual rag bag of disparate interest groups vying for attention for their particular cause, a few narcissists will break away to ruck with the police and grab all the TV coverage, and the politicians at the summit will bicker pointlessly before breaking off for a slap up feed at the taxpayers expense.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/28/g20-protests-london

Meanwhile, 30,000 minimum wage Woollies workers will still be on the dole, poor kids in the third world will still die needlessly from preventable water borne diseases and the planet will continue to be raped. It is going to take a bit more than parading up and down the streets of central London to change that scenario.

[B Whale]

8. On saturday i was marching with

35,000 people who were, in the main, trade unionists. We do give a sh1t about people from woolies on the Dole and for that very reason we marched through London. Its a small but important part of creating a fairer society out of this mess.

If you disapprove of that kind of 'parading up and down the streets' what do you suggest and what are you personally doing apart from posting messages on the internet?

[T_i_B]

10. And how many people were flogging "Socialist Worker"?

My own experience is that people on protest marches do give a shit, but many are also "old trots" from the many different far left parties such as the SWP, CPGB, Spartacists and so on. it's not unfair to point that much out if you ask me.

[B Whale]

11. as there always is, there was a few

selling the socialist worker. I find them boring and irrelevant, but its not illegal and they have every right to be there.

Why do you find them such a danger/threat?

[Nihil]

9. This is probably the bit that gets me most about such events ...

> and the politicians at the summit will bicker pointlessly before
> breaking off for a slap up feed at the taxpayers expense

... while pretending to be concerned about the problems of the world's
poor, starving and forgotten ... hypocritical junketing fools, posturing
politicians (of all countries) and their gross entourages of shit-sucking
hangers-on ...

:mad:

[Albus]

3. I agree. A riot is exactly what the police and the government want

That would allow them to pass even more oppressive legislation, curtailing civil liberties even more and giving even more powers and weapons to the police force.

The sad thing is, it's very likely that a small minority of protesters will smash a few Starbucks & McDonald's windows and give them just that opportunity.

[B Whale]

6. True, and then that will mean

the governemtn can dismiss any people protesting against their way forward as nut bags.

Mind you, the media are just as culpable. I was at the march on saturday and watching the footage afterwards it was as if the anchors out on the streets had their script already written (ie trouble) and when it didn't happen they were saying ok this is peaceful but just wait till wednesday.

Also, on the Beeb's footage they interviewed some moron (about 12 yrs old) from the anarchsists block and were asking him leading questions relating directly to violence. It was pretty disgraceful, particularly as there was about 20 of them amongst 35,000 others. the media simply are not interested in what ideas people had.

[T_i_B]

4. Police use CS spray in Parliament

Evidently you don't need the SWP for it all to kick off anyway

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7973346.stm

Police have used CS spray and arrested a man after a fight between journalists in the Houses of Parliament.

The scuffle involved two guests at a Commons party hosted by Conservative chairman Eric Pickles on Monday night.

The pair, whom Tory sources identified as journalists, left the event but continued arguing and were stopped in the corridor by a police officer.

One man was aggressive and CS spray was used. He was arrested and taken to a nearby police station for questioning.

[Albus]

5. not nearly often enough though (nm)