Thousands march in Sydney Despite Heavy Police Presence and Intimidation
Several thousand gathered outside the Sydney Town Hall between 9.30 and
10 am to protest against Bush, the war in Iraq and the Asia Pacific
Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum leaders meeting. There was a heavy
police presence with George, Pitt and Castlereagh streets barricaded by
Police buses and police lining the Park street route to Hyde Park
North. Despite the heavy police presence and provocation the rally and
march was largely peaceful.
See also: Police Violence at a Park Meeting, Rally Numbers, Burning the US Flag,
Police remove badges - more Police violence,
Media Coverage
Photos: Collage of Rally, Rally photos on Perth IMC
Videos: Speeches 1, Speeches 2, Rally and March, Police at APEC, Water Cannon Inaction
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The Stop Bush Coalition who organised the march said that 10,000 people
attended while police estimated numbers at 5,000. While many people
gathered at the Town Hall, 500 student protestors rallied in Belmore
Park and marched to the Town Hall. Another 500 people, primarily trade
unionists, gathered outside the Maritime Union of Australia offices and
marched to the Town Hall rally.
At the start of the rally a neo-nazi group of about 20 people
dressed in black and some of them with bandanas over their faces
gathered at the Town Hall. The police allowed the counter demonstration
to be present causing anti-war protestors to accuse the neo-nazis of
provocation, with much shouting and chanting.
At the Town Hall and other convergence points police confiscated banner
poles longer than one metre long from anti-war protestors. While the
police had the power to confiscate such items in declared zones Alex
Bainbridge, from the Stop Bush Coalition disputed their right to do
this at the rally and march "We are not in a declared zone, and we do
not intend to go anywhere near a declared zone, so by confiscating
these poles, the police are actually breaking their own laws." Anti-war
protestors noted the police did not confiscate the banner poles from
the neo-nazi counter demonstration.
Damien Lawson urged the the people present to respect that this will
be a peaceful protest, and warned people not to be provoked either by
people such as the small group of neo-nazis present or plain clothes
police and that the march should remain unified and peaceful.
The march down Park street was led by the Maritime Union of
Australia and the Fire Brigade Employees Union. At the corner of
Castlereagh and Park streets the march came to a halt for about 20
minutes and organisers called for the crowd to sit down "to mark the
loss of democracy".
Chants included "Howard, Bush, USA, how many kids did you kill
today?", 'Troops out now!', 'The workers united will never be
defeated!' Banners included 'War criminals not welcome here -- Bush go
home'.
One group of protestors, dressed in formal attire, called themselves
'Billionaires for Bush' and carried banners saying 'Blood for Oil',
'How Many Species Do You Really Need?' and 'Clean Air, Can't Sell It,
Who Needs It'. Many others dressed colourfuly or in costumes giving the
march a carnival like atmosphere.
Mamdouh Habib attended the march and said "George Bush is a great
evil... He should get out of this country,". Habib was incarcerated in
Guantanamo Bay and released in 2005 never being charged with any
offence.
Peter McGregor, who is facing court charges for a Citizens Arrest of Attorney-General Philip Ruddock as a War Criminal
at a legal conference at the University of NSW, told Green Left Weekly
“whenever war criminals such as George Bush and John Howard appear in
public, it’s important people come out also in public, to protest
them.”
Dan Jones and Paddy Gibson attended the march though being on the
police blacklist and have been arrested, along with seven other
arrests. Paddy Gibson was later released by police as he was outside
declared zones.
The NSW Police intimidated protestors by flexing their new shiny hardware.
A water canon that makes up the centre piece of the Public Order &
Riot Squad. But they never got to use their shiny new toy. (Watch video)
Another example of the excessive police intimidation happened to Chris
Ward who took his wheelie bin sound system to the rally and march.
"I’ve been searched three times today for having a wheelie bin sound
system," Mr Ward said. Each time the search took half an hour and on
least one occasion police reinforcements had to be called when Chris
and his sound system and the 'searching' police officers were
surrounded by other activists.
Human Rights monitor Dale Mills described the search as an
overreaction to Channel Nine News. "In my opinion, that was just an
illegal search," Mr Mills said. "That’s the sort of aggressive attitude
… that provokes problems at protests."
At Hyde Park drizzly rain put a damper to the end of the rally with
protestors finding shelter under trees and umbrellas. Police have been
criticized for forming lines preventing people leaving the end rally in
Hyde Park.
At the end of the march one of the protest organisers, Damien Lawson
said "We're very happy, the turnout is double our expectations, there
are at least 10,000 people here and it's been a very peaceful march. We
got across the key issues: opposition to the war in Iraq, concern about
climate change and opposition to John Howard's WorkChoices," he was
reported as saying on Skynews.
See also: Police Violence at a Park Meeting
which details one incident of police provocation and also gives details
from the Police website that there were 17 arrested on the day.
Photos:
Sources:
- Protest peaceful despite arrests
- stuff.co.nz via AAP, Reuters Sept 8, 2007 - Protesters march through central Sydney
- Green Left Weekly Sept 8, 2007 - More than 5000 protesters at anti-APEC rally
- Green Left Weekly Sept 8, 2007 - Anti-APEC protesters: united and peaceful
- Green Left Weekly Sept 8, 2007 - Photos: Bush not welcome!
- Sydney Morning Herald, Sept 8, 2007 - Nine arrested at Sydney APEC protests
- Ninemsn Sept 8, 2007 - Police swoop on 'wheelie bin boom box'
- Sky News Sept 8, 2007 APEC protests peaceful
Re: Thousands march in Sydney Despite Heavy Police Presence and
ya all looked like a bunch of sheep hearded by pigs
Re: Thousands march in Sydney Despite Heavy Police Presence and
Indeed the men looked more like pigs and the pigs looked more liked men
as the killing of the beasts of burden prevailed. To affect a change of
worldly consciousness in such conditions is to beat one's head against
an indifferent brick wall. For pro-active change to occur the human
race must think globally but act locally. Even then, it is
disheartening to observe the level of draconion control 'some' have
over the sleeping majoriity. When money and 'fractional' banking is
disposed there may be equality, equity and humanity: Untill
then we have journalism and mediocrity.
Re: Thousands march in Sydney Despite Heavy Police Presence and
Thanks for that summary Anonymous.
The struggle, as ever, continues...
Re: Thousands march in Sydney Despite Heavy Police Presence and
They really exaggerate on everything and abuse from their power that was given to them. We have to do something to make sure that we could be prottected by them not be scared of them.
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