Eye witness report on protests and events at G8 Summit in Edinburgh

by dave - swp Fri Jul 08, 2005 19:23

it wasn't wrong mate
and the one time the fence actually came down i was thru it too
but i think we can get caught up in trying to outplot the security forces to the exclusion of trying to build a mass movement which isn't seen as exclusive and as simply the other side of the coin to that which its supposed to be fighting.
Also I think its only fair if everyone who is going to be involved in an action is fully aware what the action is going to be in advance.
Having a hardcore bloc who split off from a main march which has been advertised as a peaceful protest probably pisses off a lot more people than it involves.
Anyway the real question is did it work?
oh yeah and whats your name?

by One of 'Thatcher's children' Fri Jul 08, 2005 15:58

"I think it was brilliant that we managed to breach at least some of the security."

So why was it wrong to attempt the same at Shannon or on Mayday.

by Dave Lordan - swp Fri Jul 08, 2005 14:14 dlordan at hotmail dot com

I was in the field and up at the second fence with 20 or so irish and others who had travelled on the iawm bus.
I think it was brilliant that we managed to breach at least some of the security.
Saw the clowns going around in there as well as the noise brigade and a few other dissenting irish, which was cool.
We made a group decision to head back when the horses, dogs, helicopters etc arrived.
The stewards we heard were telling people that the riot police were about to attack and if the wanted to avoid being penned in they should move it. Nobody was being told what to do, just being informed of the options.
Stewards, including a couple from ireland stayed behind until the end to help people get out of the field.
Also number of stewards had been arrested by snatch squads earlier in the morning in edinburgh. So the anxiety levels were undoubtedly high.
I think it was great victory for the movement considering the pigs had banned the march in the morning and were forced to let it go ahead when G8 Alternatives threatened to march on the US consulate in edinburgh.
Everyone who i spoke to over there was really enthused by the whole weeks events and wanted to get stuck into activism back home.

by socialist Fri Jul 08, 2005 09:47

I agree we need an honest debate. I agree with above post. I was at Gleneagles and was at G8 alt. meetings and was on the demos. I wasn't given the impression that it was G8 alt. organisers intentions solely to run into a field towards the G8.
For me and the above person may disagree, but there was little/no chance that the people there could have made much of an impact on the proceedings based on the sheer numbers of riot police, etc.
Also the person talks about revolution. Jumping a barrier and running through a field to get your head cracked open by riot cops-which is what was happening is hardly what I would describe as something to bring about revolutionary change in society which many of of us want.
I believe there is definitely a debate needed and I welcome above posters call for a proper debate. These questions posed were already in my head prior to the demos- black bloc, taking on the police, mass demos, etc.I think interesting debates on what stewards did or what their responsibilty was are important as are debates on the merits of Black Bloc actions and the debate on this site on "the end of an era for the Black Bloc". Let the debate begin...

by g8'er Wed Jul 06, 2005 23:08

Rather than get into the bitchyness (as above) with the SWP as per usual, lets have a frank, open, and honest discussion with them at this event. At the fence at Gleneagles, when people tossed the fence aside to shut down the G8 and cause disruption (which is what G8 Alternatives had been calling for all the time), the G8A/SWP stewards legged it on them and told everyone else to come along.

Why do they do this? Why talk the talk of revolution, but when it comes to actually going over that slight edge, why do they continually back down? Why the encouragement to 'move along to the rally'? This is the G8 - the biggest gathering of capitalists and exploiters on the planet, if any time is good to confront authority and what it stands for, surely this is it.

I'd like to go along to this and ask these questions but I think I am going to be working... Pity. But I would like a serious answer from Rory, rather than a dismissive wave. Its also not much solidarity to walk away from people that do decide to take a different course of action - the stewards could even just have waited to make sure people were OK instead of turning their backs, they didnt have to walk up to the fence themselves if they didnt want to.

Please folks - constructive dialogue

by Masters Voice Wed Jun 29, 2005 16:10

Rory: When can we expect the annual letter to the left telling us how to behave and an appeal for unity etc. Cant Wait ;-)
with wespect,
MV

by MV Wed Jun 29, 2005 14:12 mastersvoice at dublin dot ie

Cant,
The SWP are that far embedded in the political closet they dont know who they think they represent or are. IAWM/ARN/MPH/ASBOS/USI/GR/BIN TAX etc.
Why oh why can they never be the swp?
with wespect,
Masters Voice

by the likely lads Wed Jun 29, 2005 13:39

You are commited and its right you should be commited but answer me this Rory.

Why are you going over to the G8 as the Irish anti-war movement?

Did you not attend the G8 with GR.

What everhappened to Globalised Reluctance.

Its just a transparency issue here.

Keep up the good work!

by l Tue Jun 28, 2005 19:06

or are you just going to the counter summit ?
we'll be blockading the G8 summit on july 6th.
the rural convergence site is 20 miles away in stirling. there is also a council site in edinburgh.
all welcome.
for stirling, bring a tent.
see www.dissent.org.uk for all event details