Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Dublin Grassroots Network MayDay 2004 Meeting

dublin | summit mobilisations | event notice

Thursday April 15, 2004 14:06

by Dublin Grassroots Network

Protect the Right to Protest: -Solidarity with Dublin Grassroots Network

Meeting: Sunday April 18th 12 - 5pm -Teachers Club (36 Parnell Sq. West)

The May Day protests have attracted a media feeding frenzy and a series of threats of police repression. This hysteria is geared to intimidating people from joining the protest and justifying the repression of civil liberties.

We are asking people who can't come out at the weekend or don't feel safe doing so to help us out in some other way. There's a meeting this Sunday, and a list of possible actions below if you can't come to that.

If the May Day protests are criminalised this will not just affect us. It will further restrict the scope of peaceful protest within Ireland to what is acceptable to the powers that be.

*** Protect the Right to Protest ***

Support Dublin Grassroots Network

Over the last few weeks tabloid scare stories about the May Day protests have gone beyond the bounds of sanity. We've been accused of having arms dumps, a secret army, and planning a bloodbath. These stories are aimed at intimidating ordinary people who might otherwise join protests.

They also justify massive repression of basic civil liberties (stories of 1000 planned arrests, temporary detention centres, preventative detention, "non-lethal weaponry", use of the army against protestors, etc.) If we are driven off the streets on May Day, all forms of democratic protest will suffer.

Our protests are peaceful and the real details are publicly announced on www.geocities.com/eufortress. Our meetings are open to all (the next one's this Sunday - see below) and are announced on www.indymedia.ie and elsewhere. We are ordinary people trying to raise serious issues about Fortress Europe, privatisation, EU militarisation and the lack of democracy in Europe. And we are being treated like terrorists.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Please come to the next Dublin Grassroots Network meeting and lend a hand. Even if you are unable or feel too intimidated to come out on May Day, you can help us with publicity, media work, finance or legal support. Teacher's Club (36 Parnell Sq. West), Sunday April 18th, 12 - 5 (come to all or part!) If you can't make it to the meeting, there's a list of other things you can do to help below.

We are going to explain in some detail what we have planned for the various events and look for volunteers to help out on the day. So don't worry if you haven't been to any of the earlier meetings, Sunday's a good time to start!

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you can't come to that meeting but want to help out, any of the following would make a difference:

- Circulate this information to friends who might be interested;

- Print off posters or stickers from our website at www.geocities.com/eufortress and put them up;

- Take some leaflets and distribute them(phone Andrew at 087 9934150);

- Send donations to Chekov Feeney, 46 Upper Gardiner St. Dublin 1;

- Call or text into chat shows that are covering the protests and give your opinion.

It may not seem like much, but it DOES make a difference. If we are isolated on May Day, it will be easier for the media and police to criminalise peaceful protest. The more people who are involved (whether you are with us on the day or helping out), the better.

Protect the right to protest - not just for us, but for everyone!

[This has been reposted as an event. Originally appeared at: http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=64283 ]

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Comments (7 of 7)

Idiots

by Luke - Myself

Sun May 02, 2004 04:47

ws2ws2ws2ws2 at yahoo dot com

You are a bunch of Idiots... Simple as that.

Message to the Cops reading this

by Piggy

Thu Apr 29, 2004 15:08

You are filth.

We will not react to you on Saturday

Gandalf

by i

Thu Apr 29, 2004 15:07

The real aggressors - see link:

These questions have been answered before

by Ray

Thu Apr 29, 2004 15:04

If you look on the grassroots site, they are quite explicit. There will be no stewards in uniform, but everyone is expected to take responsibility for keeping the march peaceful. If you see people carrying weapons, ask them what they're doing, remind them its a peaceful protest, and tell them if they don't want to protest peacfeully, they should go somewhere else. If you're not confident about doing that yourself, talk to the other people around you, and approach as a group.
Given that these policies have been stated before, and are on the relevant sites for anyone who is interested in finding them, this whole 'naive wonderment' thing is a little annoying.

What to do if infiltrated by violent elements???

by Gandalf - : - )

Thu Apr 29, 2004 14:50

Dear friends,

I am an individual who plans on protesting peacefully.

What is the plan if suddenly elements within our group (perhaps intent only on violence) but still within our group as there is no screening procedure - attack property or persons?

The entire group is at the mercy of the few - what is the response if rogue individuals or sub-groups incite or cause violence?

I am more worried about this than police or army attacks and I'm not the only one. I would actually understand and promote a harsh reaction to an attack from "our side" even if the individuals are purely there to seek such a response and not aligned to a 'cause' per se. Random violence is counter-productive and assinine and should be met with force.

In this regard all could be for nought if we do not police ourselves. It is the enemy within that is more freightening, sometimes.

I know that this view is probably as popular as a fart in a spacesuit in casual circles but I believe it is the biggest fear that protestors have - far greater than a fear of official reprisal. One reaps what one sows.

So - to allay my fears - what are the plans?
Simply saying "behave" and repeating that this is a peaceful march to a large group is all very well until the first rock is thrown even in response to provocation.

Re-assure me and re-assure those who will not protest as they find no common ground with those who inadvertantly cause harm and even death because they are not prepared for reality and blindly tolerate malignant thought and action as it is a 'freedom'.

There is a huge responsibility in protest. A mob is a mob is a mob. An army is an army is an army. No matter what way we cut it on Saturday - action will provoke reaction. Are you prepared for the consequences?

Accommodation for MayDay supporters in Dublin

by P. Lee - None

Sun Apr 18, 2004 19:54

Dublin County

A large number of supporters from across the country will be expected in Dublin for the parade. Anyone who can provide accommodation for one or two nights should help out- not fancy- just a room and basic facilities would be a great help to our fellow supporters. Contact the MayDay committee if you can help

Make sure you get along

by Joe

Fri Apr 16, 2004 15:27

I'd encourage those who have thought about going to meeting but not yet done so to get along to this one. We need everyone we can get!

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Dublin Grassroots Network MayDay 2004 Meeting

Comments (7 of 7)