Interesting how so many of the 'demonstrators' felt the need to wear masks. If you are making a lawful protest - what have you to fear? Interesting also - in the video clip - that it is these very same masked people who seemd to be right at the front of the violence - in fact it seems as though they may have been the instigators.
I'm sure there were some sincere people making a sincere protest, however this event was again hijacked by out-of-town rent a mob anarchists, who's only reason for being there was to stoke up a violent confrontation with the police.
The police response was correct, and not over the top after what happened in June.
Police 2 - mob rule 0

So nice of the Argus to try and portray an over the top look of the police.

By using this picture for example.

Bravo! for pro-active policing.

Read below for the comments from the bleeding heart liberals

Bunch of morons if you ask me, not only are they protesting against violence and then fighting but thier good for nothing fightathon made me an hour late home from work due to the police having to close roads in town. If you ask me they should all be shot!!
Don't get me wrong, I don't like the waste of tax payers money (and by that I mean the old bill), after all, I have lost count of the amount of incidents I/firends/family have been the victim of where the police have bent over backwards to do nothing about, just more paperwork for them to fill in. However, let's just imagine that some officers want to do something about crime, they wouldn't be able to due to having to babysit this bunch of childish no hopers.

I live in Church street where there was no violence by protesters ,but i personnally witnessed 2 acts of violence by 2 police medics .
about 30/40 protesters marched up church street followed by a hoard of riot police, police vehicals and dogs.
the air from the protesters was calm and the police were all dressed up with nobody to hit.
being outnumbered 3 to 1 atleast the protesters left the area the way they came.PEACEFULLY. And no i am not a bleeding heart liberal i am a 60 year old home owner of the area.

I for one am proud of our Boys In Blue. Any time they need being transported around. I`ll help where I can.

I told you the other day these soap dodgers would not be able to behave themselves.

I am begining to think a friend of mine went on the march, as he has been giving me the cold sholder of late,,,,makes you think dont it?

Mike if your out there, give me a call

In the video it's the protesters attacking police, they had them cornered against the van, and the police where just defending themselves.

This must have been frightening for young children and the elderly who happened to be passing at the time.

Funny how they protest about components used in some military weapons aswell as in commerical airliner & then react using violence. Thought they were all about stopping violence.

Peaceful protesters, since when, every one I've ever seen didn't like the idea other people have other opinions which differ to theirs......I believe these kind of people are called extremists.

Well done our boys in blue!

Waste of time & resources, that WE pay for!

WELL DONE SUSSEX POLICE, ABUSE TOWARDS POLICE FROM MASKED HOLIGANS INTENT ON GETTING THERE MESSAGE ACROSS NO MATTER HOW IT EFFECTS PEOPLE OR NO MATTER HOW MANY LAWS THEY BREAK. I WAS ALWAYS OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CRIMINAL DAMAGE, TRESSPASS, PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES AND UNLAWFUL GATHERINGS WERE ILLEGAL, ITS A SHAME THAT THE PROTESTORS DONT FEEL THE SAME WAY. THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT ALIENATE ANY PUBLIC SYMPATHY TOWARDS THEM BY DEMONSTRATING IN THIS WAY. WELL DONE THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD SUPPORT THE POLICE IN UPHOLDING THE LAW!!

but i personnally witnessed 2 acts of violence by 2 police medics ..yeah right! Medics are not in the business of inflicting damge on people its teh other way round.

I dont agree with Arms but protesting against it with Violence? Smacks of double standards to me..

Reports are coming in of a strange whirring sound in the vicinity of Eric Blair's grave.

feline1 wrote:
Reports are coming in of a strange whirring sound in the vicinity of Eric Blair's grave.

That's far too highbrow a joke to put on this messageboard!

Look at the pictures there, I can deduce that they are all nothing but benefit cheating, scrounging good for nothing hippies. They don't have jobs so cause disruption for every other hard working citizen by protesting and doing so with violence. You've made you point now go away, back to the broken vans you live in, the hovels you call home. Get a job you Dole scum!!

Brigadier Monty wrote:
Look at the pictures there, I can deduce that they are all nothing but benefit cheating, scrounging good for nothing hippies. They don't have jobs so cause disruption for every other hard working citizen by protesting and doing so with violence. You've made you point now go away, back to the broken vans you live in, the hovels you call home. Get a job you Dole scum!!

Harumph for that man!!

I agree that the vast majority of them are good for nothing, tree hugging, jobless, smelly, soap dodging, benefit cheating, spongers and they should be banned from the civilized world and banished to thier skanky motor homes surrounded by pitbulls, toothless adults, bundles of heather wrapped in foil, piles of big issues and moody gold. Scum of the earth. . .and the best bit is. . . none of them can afford a PC so they can't even argue back!! MWHA HA HA HA!!!

feline1 wrote:
Reports are coming in of a strange whirring sound in the vicinity of Eric Blair's grave.

That's George Orwell to the rest of us !!

What a complete waste of Police resource!! If the demonstrators actually worked for a living they may realise that a protest like this costs a huge amount of money which taxpayers have to cover! I highly commend the Police using such force, if indeed they actually did - it's a shame the government can't do the same to rid this country of such scumbag layabouts!

another "SMASH-EDO" protest, hardly sounds peaceful does it?

I have no problem with people protesting, after all that's what Britain is all about, however it's not right to intidimate and frighten people, cause criminal damage etc.

If these protesters are serious about it, then radical elements who plainly are not interested in any sort of peaceful protest,should not be allowed.

Public sympathy would be a lot greater I'm sure if your protests were seen to be legal and peaceful.

How about it?

god **** hippies. have a wash.

The protesters conveniently forget that it's the application of this technology which has bought them the liberty and freedom to protest.

ha! violent hippies! take it they ran out of weed or summut?! World peace? Does brighton count?

First off i am going to say how disgusted i was to learn that these little small minded idiots are protesting over something which isnt all they make it out to be.. I have become very annoyed and infact i am massively against the protestors and for EDO... I support EDO... No not for the so called Bombs they make and drop but for the fact they are believe it or not a peaceful company...
Where i live i have to endure these monkeys banging drum tins and random other pieces of metal (that they have stolen from nearby fields probably as they are all registered unemployable.)
Every week or so us residents to the east of the Brighton branch have to face and endure hours of horns, bangs and shouts and have our lives disrupted by these low life pieces of scum who get kicks out of having yet again another drama.. EDO however have never ever caused a problem and beleive it or not in the whole of my life as a brightonian ive never seen a single bomb come out of the factory or even been shipped anywhere... If they did make bombs i would be im support of EDO planting a few to blow up the protestors and giving us residents some piece and quiet.. I would like to ask also do any of them live close to the factory??? I bet not..
Also what gives these people the right to come into a magnificant city and in a matter of moments put not only the lives of the residents near the factory on edge (which we are used to by now having to put up with those cancer ridden inbred people) but also putting the business' and other central residents lives on edge as well..
Yes indeed have a protest if it is for the right reason or even maybe do your homework first.. Surely after so many wasted years protesting someone would think of calling it a day... Well not if your one of those protestors and havent got a brain...

What do these tree hugging retards want us to do - give in to terrorism and military regimes? Sadly we need the military, always have done and always will do, and the military must be armed and armed effectively which means someones has to make their guns bombs and other equipment much of which will be condsidered inhuman.

These demonstrators are effectively traitors as far as im concerned, they made all this disruption, put the lives and safety of our police at risk, for all the wrong reasons. Its about time they started to live in the real world.

If ANY piece of equipment this company makes in any way contributes towards the well being of our brave soldiers, and in so doing causes the demise of many terrorists and other scum bags, its all right by me.

Gabbafella wrote:

Brigadier Monty wrote:
Look at the pictures there, I can deduce that they are all nothing but benefit cheating, scrounging good for nothing hippies. They don't have jobs so cause disruption for every other hard working citizen by protesting and doing so with violence. You've made you point now go away, back to the broken vans you live in, the hovels you call home. Get a job you Dole scum!!

Harumph for that man!!

I agree that the vast majority of them are good for nothing, tree hugging, jobless, smelly, soap dodging, benefit cheating, spongers and they should be banned from the civilized world and banished to thier skanky motor homes surrounded by pitbulls, toothless adults, bundles of heather wrapped in foil, piles of big issues and moody gold. Scum of the earth. . .and the best bit is. . . none of them can afford a PC so they can't even argue back!! MWHA HA HA HA!!!

How very amusing. How many people quoting this echoing assumption of 'soap doging jobless SCUM' were actually there?
i think you'll find the majority of the public that got caught up in the police corden in church street WITNESSED what happend and therefore no assumptions need to be made.
I for one was there, along with several very elderly people that were at the demonstration to actively use their HUMAN RIGHT and CIVIL LIBERTIY to freedom of speech. are you going to call all the elderly people there, one disabled man that was pushed around by the police soap dodging, benifit using scum too? i think you people need to wake up.
You all gaggle on about 'oh they are protesting against the arms trade but using violence' intresting again,how many of you were there? none NONE of the protesters were armed.banners were used to let people know what it was about but that is all the protesters had.juxtaposing with over policing fed up that they had to be there for pointless policing just there to antagonize the people so they could justify them being there.
The question is, who were the ones with batons,pepper spray and police dogs? not the protesters.
There didnt need to have such a strong police presence otherwise none of this would have happend, the demonstration would have gone to the bomb factory and thats it.Instead,bored thugs,or rather the new corporate security guards for EDO got angry they were out in the rain with no reason to be there and thus started the violence to justify and make arrests so they could sustain their presence, suppressing the human right to freedom of speech for future demonstrations.
the police were the ones that forced the demo into the town centre,by not allowing anyone in or out of the 'bubble' they had created to escort people through the town.A group of 13 year old boys coming back from playing football were at the front line of this,being pushed around by riot police and not allowed out of their grasp for around 20 mins. They just wanted to get home,but instead one was pushed around by a shield and others pushed over by the heavy handed bully boys in florescent green.
This disgusting 'if youve got nothing to hide then youve got nothing to fear'notion is dangerous.Why wear masks?because its our human right to protect our privacy,and when you have a police camera in your face in a situation like that, everyone is a suspect.The minute you start to question the publics reasons for wanting to be annoynmous, representing the thousands of faceless victims,mothers,chil
dren of the war crimes EDO are complicit to is the second you justify these disgusting acts of murder.
For the gentleman that said he lives on church street and saw the medics brutality against the PUBLIC and young girls i would like to applaud you because YOU WERE ACTUALLY THERE.i think alot of the people on church street will say the same thing,plenty of people witnessed the heavy handing from the police yesturday and were quite frankly in shock and disgusted.
I was pinned up against a wall by police medic,who swore and spat in my face because i tried to get passed him whilst walking on the pavement.When people around saw what was happening and challenged it he told the rest of them to 'f*** off' and turned around and pushed a 60 year old man on the ground who was passing by. plenty of people caught this on camera and more incidents involving brutality from the medics and police were recorded.
The very fact that the police have medics just shows what they are there for.If the police werent voilent then they wouldnt need medics!!

'gabbafella' and the rest of you short sighted people that are so quick to judge and use the words' jobless scum' i would like to say WAKE UP AND STOP BEING SO PATHETIC. i was at the protest,i didnt insight any violence, i stood and watched as things unraveled before me. i have a computer, i have a very nice house,i dont have hygiene issues, and i dont hug trees. I have a full set of my own teeth and im not on benefits. im a full time student, in part time work and im involved in several voluntary projects with autistic children and charity shop work.

So dont start painting everyone with the same brush because your assumptions are WRONG.

Maybe you should question how fulfilling your life is.And when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital with a serious injury or a condition, maybe ill ask you a bunch of assuming questions about your life and work before i deem you good enough to treat as a human being?

Ah, good old right-on Brighton with its comical paradoxes: most of the organisers of this "smash up the arms dealer for peace" are also members of the "members only" anarchist club on London Road. The silly, silly people.

I really want to comment on this protest thing but seeing as i was arrested...and i wasn't part of the protest i'm worried that it may come bk on me. I am a full time student at Sussex and didn't know anything of the demo till i left to go home. What i saw of the police and the way they conducted themselves was disgraceful before the demo had even started police were using heavy handed tactics.

I met up with the demo again at the level as i wanted to film more of what was going on. At this point i have to explain that i do have a medical condition and was wrapped up as for me it was a cold day. I was pushed around by a policeman for filming. After this incident i then interviewed a women who was also not part of the demo who also said she had been assaulted by a policeman.

I then was asked to remove my scarf..which was a football club scarf. I refused and gave my reason, which is my medical condition to which after a short while lead to my being arrested. I have never before been in trouble with the police.

The police were totally out of control and a lot of innocent people who had nothing to do with the demo were injured/arrested as a result. The atmosphere from the police was to say the least a mob mentality where they expected nothing but trouble, even from those of us who had nothing to do with the demo and who were either just filming or getting on with our day. From what i saw of the protesters there was no violence..but then again i didn't see the whole demo...and those who have slated the protesters should think twice...as again they were NOT on the demo.

"So dont start painting everyone with the same brush because your assumptions are WRONG."

Many people here, as I do, witness the apalling behaviour of the demonstrators on a weekly basis. If they had their way, you wouldn't have a hospital to work in once qualified - the (or at least those at the heart of this) are nasty little anarchists. They would shut you down and nick your drugs. The rest are just brainwashed sheep who are pushed forward to the Magistrates' Court on a regular basis to the shame of their mummies and daddies.

The protests have absolutely no justification - if you are an anarchist, you don't need one.

Yesterday's chaos casued serious disruption to many people and businesses. That's anarchy!

The police did a good job and are justified in being much much tougher.

Do the people who were involved in the violence represent a new type of political agitator? Are we witnessing Violent Pacifism?

These individuals on the one hand abhor violence (otherwise they would not demonstrate), yet they quickly resort to violence.

Have they had leftist political lessons from Billy Bragg in his 3.5m Mansion in South Dorset?

By the way on the subjetc of the Police I am surprised at how restrained they are. They wouldn't be at a football match, and neither would supporters be able to disguise themselves. I am sure they would be section 60'd pdq.

So there are laws in place that would disrupt these herberts from gathering etc., so lets see them in action here and not just at Withdean.

I blame Meridian tv, this would not have happened when my waves were penetrating the area.

God rest TVS - The Best view of the South 1982 to 1993

A few considerations.

Sadly for us all hypocrisy is a human condition. No matter how well meaning or self righteous you may be. But I think what is most difficult to address is when a person or group is so convinced of its moral righteousness it would sacrifice other areas of morality. Using Utiliarian Philosophys and rhetoric to convince itself and any that would listen that it is in the right. This is in order to achieve what is essentially a mute aim, to cause EDO to cease production of trigger release mechanisms for weapons systems on planes. A small component.

There are persons present at the protest with lawful purpose. And using lawful authority to prevent damage to property and breaches of the peace. Protestors refused to abide by a Section 60aa request to remove face coverings, as such coverings were previously used to disguise persons committing abhorent acts of violence.

Protestors attacked police crushing a small contigent against vans when they were lawfully prevented from entering Home Farm Road under Sect 14 of the Public Order Act. The larger bodies of officers were used to move unlawful protestors out of the highway. Sadly one officer cannot do this as the body of people showed on at least six occaisions that they would strike officers with banner poles and blocks of wood. If they would abide by lawful requests then maybe fewer officers could be used.

Protestors were met and greeted by police handing out notices of what authorities were in place to keep the peace, and police clearly did their best to prevent crimes and further injuries, but sadly, as stated, morals were dispensed with for the sake of self righteous acts.

I did witness a paramedic from the ambulance service in riot gear and a police medic help an injured protestor across the carriage way. Sadly the ambulance for this protestor was dealyed by the rest of the EDO demonstrators blocking the highway. Police vans had to be deployed across the road to try and minimise the risk to the protestors from the traffic. But I know they wouldn't see it that way.

I'd like to think that I am truly independant. I do agree that some type of reform needs to exist in the international management of conflict. As SMASH EDO have shown, making love not war is just not human. They attacked those that opposed their ideology, throwing stones at the rear of the factory and charging at police officers.

In turn there are undoubtedly officers that relish the thought of using their baton. This makes both parties guilty, the only abitration can be found no in the clash of Utilitarian attitudes we have so far seen, but in proper social reform on a much wider scale.

I only hope that those protestors claiming they want world peace are willing to make the true sacrifices that will incur. It is not enough to soak yourself in hypocrisy then immolate yourself in anti-police rhetoric, you must be prepared for less simple, mindless behaviour.

"Maybe you should question how fulfilling your life is.And when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital with a serious injury or a condition, maybe ill ask you a bunch of assuming questions about your life and work before i deem you good enough to treat as a human being?"

Thanks for the blackmail redshoes my love, remember us taxpayers fund you through Uni and pay for the NHS, so you will work in OUR hospital.

And, you clearly have a long way to go before you achive you lofty aim, you will need to sign the Hippocratic Oath, not the Hypocritcal Oath!

Wouldn't have happened if TVS were still on air- rip 1982 to 1992 - the home of Coast to Coast with your host Khalid Aziz

Just to add....


The protesters' actions have been indescriminate for years. They are against the working population of Brighton, shouting abuse at any stereotypical 'non scrounger' they see.

EDO is an incidental vehicle and really is nothing to do with their actions at all.

Most, including yesterday's tourists are there for a good old punch up.

Ergosum wrote:
A few considerations. Sadly for us all hypocrisy is a human condition. No matter how well meaning or self righteous you may be. But I think what is most difficult to address is when a person or group is so convinced of its moral righteousness it would sacrifice other areas of morality. Using Utiliarian Philosophys and rhetoric to convince itself and any that would listen that it is in the right. This is in order to achieve what is essentially a mute aim, to cause EDO to cease production of trigger release mechanisms for weapons systems on planes. A small component. There are persons present at the protest with lawful purpose. And using lawful authority to prevent damage to property and breaches of the peace. Protestors refused to abide by a Section 60aa request to remove face coverings, as such coverings were previously used to disguise persons committing abhorent acts of violence. Protestors attacked police crushing a small contigent against vans when they were lawfully prevented from entering Home Farm Road under Sect 14 of the Public Order Act. The larger bodies of officers were used to move unlawful protestors out of the highway. Sadly one officer cannot do this as the body of people showed on at least six occaisions that they would strike officers with banner poles and blocks of wood. If they would abide by lawful requests then maybe fewer officers could be used. Protestors were met and greeted by police handing out notices of what authorities were in place to keep the peace, and police clearly did their best to prevent crimes and further injuries, but sadly, as stated, morals were dispensed with for the sake of self righteous acts. I did witness a paramedic from the ambulance service in riot gear and a police medic help an injured protestor across the carriage way. Sadly the ambulance for this protestor was dealyed by the rest of the EDO demonstrators blocking the highway. Police vans had to be deployed across the road to try and minimise the risk to the protestors from the traffic. But I know they wouldn't see it that way. I'd like to think that I am truly independant. I do agree that some type of reform needs to exist in the international management of conflict. As SMASH EDO have shown, making love not war is just not human. They attacked those that opposed their ideology, throwing stones at the rear of the factory and charging at police officers. In turn there are undoubtedly officers that relish the thought of using their baton. This makes both parties guilty, the only abitration can be found no in the clash of Utilitarian attitudes we have so far seen, but in proper social reform on a much wider scale. I only hope that those protestors claiming they want world peace are willing to make the true sacrifices that will incur. It is not enough to soak yourself in hypocrisy then immolate yourself in anti-police rhetoric, you must be prepared for less simple, mindless behaviour.

You should all read this. It's the voice of reason. And he was THERE..

I was appalled by the protesters. I witnessed their behavior by coombe rd.As a parent and many parents collecting their children from school they caused nothing but upset to others. Why do they need to feel they should cover up their faces ?? Are the ashamed ?? I don't have a problem with people standing up for what they believe in but when my child is forced to look at the police trying to hold back protesters so that the public don't get hurt it makes my wander what will happen the next time ! Why did so many school children have to walk home ? Maybe because they decided to protest at a stupid time. waste of council tax payers money ! Well done to the police.

Redshoes 12,

Last time your lot protested on the level as I was driving home from work one of your lovely friends decided it was ok to attack my car!!

Is that your peaceful protest. SO yes I've seen what your lot do. Funny how most of them wore masks.

Thugs & vandals.

EDO make components for both the militery & commercail market. Ever flown in a plane, if so chances are they've got an EDO component in there.

Stop making EDO sound like that's all they do, Brighton has a lot more educated people than most of your group.

You should concentrate on getting your education & stop wasting taxpayers money on having to police events like that, when it could be used for more important issues.

The police asked these protesters way in advance to come and talk to them about the protest, but did they do it? No of course they didn't, because they never intended it to be peaceful.

EDO don't manufacture bombs or weapons, they manufacture some of the components that go into the process somewhere else.

Even if they did, the world needs weaponry, and always will.

Enemployed, elderly, on benefits, the dole, whatever... They all fall into the same category... People with too much time on their hands who watch too much TV and believe anything anyone tells them.

Wakey wakey Brighton. The police did what they could, innocent people will always get hurt if they insist on turning up at these things. Most of the people there probably needed a good battering anyway.

"Maybe you should question how fulfilling your life is.And when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital with a serious injury or a condition, maybe ill ask you a bunch of assuming questions about your life and work before i deem you good enough to treat as a human being? "

Enjoy your protest while you can because onec you go into medicine you are not gonna have any time for protesting and I doubt very much you would take that attitude with patients anyway.

And yes my life is fulfilling enough thanks.

The people in that factory are only doing their job, th residents are only going about tehir business - use your intelligence and direct your protest somewhere more meaningful..

i had frantic call from my sons school as the kids couldnt get home due to this protest as lewes rd was shut and no buses could get to the school nor could we get in by car!stupid idiots!

wow most of the comments here are longer than the article! I don’t see what the big issue is here, protesters came, police stopped them making too much mess it all ended. A success for all I reckon. The police look good as they stopped whatever it was they wanted to stop and the protesters get the publicity and raise the public interest in EDO, everybody 'appy.

you may like to send the Smash edo your thoughts here:

General Campaign Enquiries:
Tel: 077954611018
E-mail: smashedo@riseup.net

maybe they can answer why they were so brave that they had to wear face masks.....

oyl wrote:
"So dont start painting everyone with the same brush because your assumptions are WRONG."

Many people here, as I do, witness the apalling behaviour of the demonstrators on a weekly basis. If they had their way, you wouldn't have a hospital to work in once qualified - the (or at least those at the heart of this) are nasty little anarchists. They would shut you down and nick your drugs. The rest are just brainwashed sheep who are pushed forward to the Magistrates' Court on a regular basis to the shame of their mummies and daddies.

The protests have absolutely no justification - if you are an anarchist, you don't need one.

Yesterday's chaos casued serious disruption to many people and businesses. That's anarchy!

The police did a good job and are justified in being much much tougher.

are you really that stupid?

have you ever had a conversation with an anarchist? (a real 1 that is)

do you even know what the term "anarchism" means?

I THINK NOT! do some research before you start criticising something you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about.

EDO MBM/ITT not only supply the US/UK and Australian armed forces. they also supply the Israeli armed forces. who use the guidance systems to target civilians in their ILLEGAL occupation of Palestine. The British government is acting illegally by letting them trade in this country!...FACT!

if you are really interested in this, for or against. maybe you should take a look at the smashedo website.

www.smashedo.org.uk

find out what we are actually protesting about and why the take over by ITT will only make the campaign more detemained.

WE DO NOT WANT COMPANIES THAT HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH HITLER IN OUR COUNTRY!, LET ALONE OUR CITY...

and as far as the violence goes, it was all 1 sided. any violence by protesters was self-defence. i would not consider trying to push (not hit) our way through police lines as violence. i would consider that, DEFENDING DEMOCRACY. Protest and freedom of speech are the very basic principal's of democracy and the right of everyone in one. if you hold it so dear then dont complain when people exercise it!

i feel like im wasting my time writing this. people are so brainwashed by the everyday media and corporate advertising that the real things in life no longer matter.

read this, forget it and go and buy a mcdonalds..

hopefully when this generation are faced with the social and moral implications of what capitalism is doing to our world. they will do more than just go along with it.

wake up people...

I just want to thank all of those that took part in the demo for scaring the living daylights out of my children and hundreds of other school children that were trying to get home from the several local schools that were on the route of the march. So much for a peaceful protest. Also, who has to pay for the additional Police officers that were brought in from other Counties? That'll be the Council Tax payers in Brighton and Hove.. I'm guessing a large number of the protesters live in squats or student accomodation so aren't paying their share of the bill.. Thanks a bunch you time wasters that need to go out and get jobs and leave the citizens of Brighton & Hove to go about their business without the fear of getting a brick thrown at them because a factory makes tiny little solanoids that go in passenger planes, not just fighter jets!! Perhaps boeing are planning on putting skud missles on their new passenger planes in the future!?

Just-me, I thought this might help you explain your part in no-ones downfall.

Anarchism is the political philosophy of those who believe that a society based on shared ownership and voluntary agreements among individuals

Anarchy is the condition resulting from an absence of governing forces. Often synonymous with chaos or disorder. Anarchism is the political philosophy that holds that the destruction of government authority will yield justice and equality in society

Anarchism is a political philosophy and a way of organising society, from the Greek -without rulers

A stateless society that allows total individual freedom

The fundamental belief that the state, laws and all forms of government authority is unjustified, oppressive and illegitimate. Therefore the government should be abolished and social and economic issues be carried out by means of voluntary and consensual arrangements

Any theory or doctrine that proposes the absence of government in all forms; Specifically, a political philosophical belief that all forms of involuntary rule or government are undesirable or unnecessary and that society could function without a ruler or involuntary government (state)

I'll add that anarchists believe that all government is unlawful by their understanding of the term. Therefore oppressive and uses force to maintain itself. Therefore they are justified in using force against that state/government.

That's the root condition of anarchy, it believes that we can self govern by consensual arrangement. It has been tried and in some small communes has been sucessful. However tends to be dependant on a stable social system around it to maintain itself. This is because anarchic systems tend to fall into either oppressive Socialism or neo facism once any single individual within them decides that their cabbage is worth more than the beans you're offering.

It's a worthy ideology, however in the wrong hands becomes twice as dangerous as the faulty democratic system. There are problems in all areas of governing systems, mainly to do with supply and demand to any athropological group. My personal preferance is Democracy in its platonic function as first introduced by the ancient greeks.

Incidentally Anarchy is a greek invention, it is now a few millienia old and hasn't worked yet. Only democracy, not really changed in the same time, has stood the test of time.

@ just_me

You're right, it is just you.

Nobody was defending democracy or free speech, they were abusing it. Your reply otherwise speaks volumes.

sorry for interrupting your day...

not our intention or fault. it was the police who blocked the roads for so long, not us.

we'll just give up now and let innocent people die so you can "go about your business"

i probably sound really angry right now, and thats because i am. the world is bigger than you or me!

and just to note... boeing already put misslies on their planes...

http://www.boeing.co
m/defense-space/mili
tary/fa18/index.htm

@just_me.

Brief correction.

The protestors blocked the road by cycling in and out the traffic. And chose to walk down the road instead of the footpaths. The police blocked the road to allow the march down to the bottom of Home Farm Road. This was to protect the protestors right to demonstrate lawfully and safely without being run over.

Sadly the protestors decided they wanted to go up the hill, where Sect 14 of the POA had been put in place to protect the citizens that work there. In a reaction to this police were attacked and crushed against their vans then had paint thrown, abuse and taunts hurled, verbally and intellectually insulted. Then finally struck with banners and blocks of wood.

Look on the EDO site, see the mass of protestors swamping police. Police tried once to minimise response and had the railings thrown at their forward lines.

This isn't anarchy, it's not even ideals. I know of these things.

This is just angry young man/woman syndrome. You'll settle down eventually, into a day job you try to justify. It's because you love web chats like this. It's because you are the fabric of teh state you spit upon. You willingly suckle on the benefits of our oppressive government, yet scream when you are refused ideological pocket money.

I am wide awake observing your nightmare. Don't tell me on any other free minded free speaking citizen that you are better than them or that they need to wake up. Your opinion is mute and your position as a westerner and priviledged child, untenable. Sad but true.

where does this assumption that all protesters are on benefits come from?

i am not on benefits!

and many anarchists refuse help from the state!

and it may surprise you that most of the campaign are either students or work in health care...

i do not claim i am better than you or any other person. i believe we are all EQUAL. the very fact that there is such a thing as privileged disgusts me!

do you say the same things about demonstrations about things that affect you? would you tell the people that rioted over the pole-tax or the people protesting over the closure of hospitals "to do it on the pavement?"

when i say "wake up". i for some reason hope that it will encourage people to think for themselves and to stop regurgitating the mindless bo**ox that they get fed!

and theres was no section 14 put in place that i saw. it was section 12. "failure to disperse will result in arrest". is this really a law that should be used on protesters in a democracy?

the intention of police was never to stop harm coming to us or the employees of edo. it was to kettle evryone into 1 place and intrusively collect all the information they could on them for the national database being constructed to root out the organisers of demonstrations. the very reason people wear masks!

i would like to note that no employee of edo has ever been assaulted by a protester from smash edo.

just_me wrote:
where does this assumption that all protesters are on benefits come from?

i am not on benefits!

and many anarchists refuse help from the state!

and it may surprise you that most of the campaign are either students or work in health care...

i do not claim i am better than you or any other person. i believe we are all EQUAL. the very fact that there is such a thing as privileged disgusts me!

do you say the same things about demonstrations about things that affect you? would you tell the people that rioted over the pole-tax or the people protesting over the closure of hospitals "to do it on the pavement?"

when i say "wake up". i for some reason hope that it will encourage people to think for themselves and to stop regurgitating the mindless bo**ox that they get fed!

and theres was no section 14 put in place that i saw. it was section 12. "failure to disperse will result in arrest". is this really a law that should be used on protesters in a democracy?

the intention of police was never to stop harm coming to us or the employees of edo. it was to kettle evryone into 1 place and intrusively collect all the information they could on them for the national database being constructed to root out the organisers of demonstrations. the very reason people wear masks!

i would like to note that no employee of edo has ever been assaulted by a protester from smash edo.

When you have rentamob you will always have clashes. I dont doubt that there are some people who wanted to protest peacefully. Yet why is it these things always descend into violence? I would lay £1million that the police were only reacting to the idiot rentamob. Also, your weblink is incorrect.

And while no employee got attacked, their personal property did. How very brave of you.

now get back to watching jeremy kyle and reading your Marx bible

Just_me.

I'd rather you didn't call my political and social beliefs such ugly words.

I'm not regurgitating anything. When I use the term "benefits" I am talking about food, water, clothing and various other things living here under the protection of the state provides.

Section 14 was the authority to prevent protestors going up to Home Farm Road. I saw officers handing out leaflets at the start and also a large banner was pinned up the hill reading that notice. The dispersal order you refer to came after some considerable time was allowed for dalliances and protest in the road.

If you consider that you are oppressed or totured demonstrate in France for world peace. Or perhaps Italy, the Germanic policing policies would surely allow you to do as you please to factories and ideologies you disagree with.I wonder what gives demonstrators the confidence to shout direct threats to the police and then push (if it suits your delicate conscience better) through these officers lines? Could it be that you know the police are not even half as vioent as the protestors that I saw.

Incidentally New Zealand is meant to have one of the most uncorrupted state systems in the world.

As an Independant observer I recall yesterday a member of the local residents getting very upset with a protestor. It was a police officer as I recall that prevented the resident assaulting the protestor and went on to ensure no assault had occured.

I'm not for either party. I just think that you could do with a bit of quiet thought time. The police are not the thing you oppose.

You nit pick at areas of my last comment and yet remained away from the body of the opinion that I have expressed. You energies are mis-directed by manipulative peers and your ideology confused by outmoded political thinking.

for god sake if your going to do this then do it after school time,my son was stuck in school,no way to get home and was very scared as were the others with him,no-one knew what was going on and all buses were stopped!!

. I have no issue with your difference of opinion, and you are blessed that you live in a society that allows it. You are correct that the French would not allow people to attack their police force like yesterday, nor the Germans. It is only that the UK allows violent protests like this that you can express yourselves in such a fashion.

I also support your comment about the state providing basic rights - but how do you think said state can provide this? not from thin air - from people who work hard for aliving and provide a financial contribution and framework that allows unemployed rentamobs to conduct themselves in such an appalling, cowardly and abhorent fashion. Just count yourself lucky you have the opportunity to do so.

Wat a bunch of inconsiderate idiots!!!! Why choose 2 do this on a weekday wen kids have 2 use buses 2 get home from school?? My daughters school wasn't informed until 2.30pm that the buses had been stopped an there was no way 4 the kids 2 get home,my daughter phoned me in a panic fretting about how she was going 2 get home. My daughter is 11yrs old an only started Falmer school in September this year so as well as getting used 2 getting used 2 a secondary school she also had the worry of how she was gonna get home,don't suppose u "protesters" thought of the uneccassary panic an fear that u put hundreds of school kids through???? No u jus thought of yourselfs!!! If it wasn't for my brother fighting 2 get thro the traffic then god only knows how long my daughter would of been stuck at Falmer for cos there was no way i would of been able 2 get there for at least a few hours as i would of had 2 get 2 buses 2 Falmer 2 pick her up,i think it's disgusting that u can put fear an panic thro hundreds of kids cos u all got a bee in ur bonnet about something!!!!!!!!! Well done 2 Sussex Police for the way in which they handled these mindless thugs cos thats how they portrayed themselves yesterday!! As for Roger French,did u not think 2 talk 2 Sussex Police about lettin a bus thro 2 pick up the poor innocent,stranded kids from Falmer??? Or was u 2 worried about one of ur buses being damaged!!!! We pay disgustin prices 4 bus travel yet u can't even manage 2 help out stranded kids at school!!! Wat would of happened if my brother couldn't of battled thro the traffic 2 pick my daughter up? Would she of had 2 walk back 2 Kemp Town,would she of had 2 of waited at school until i cud of got there which wud of taken me a few hours at least,wud she of been caught up in the violence that these thugs were showin??? U all make my blood boil an u have no thought or consideration for the innocent kids that were caught up in this stupid protest!!!!!

hello.
i am a self described anarchist, i often smell quite bad (especially when i have to spend all day running away from police). I have on occasion literally hugged trees, as well as engaged in activity that some would consider to be violent with police. i have even willfully destroyed property at demos in the past. and no i don´t pay council tax or have a job.
so yeah say you like about me. i´m sure if i met you i´d hate you as much as you would me.
but don´t tar us all with the same brush. almost everybody who attended the protest had a genuine and passionate commitment to contributing in whatever way they could to the wider movement for a world free of barbaric chaos being inflicted by States armed with sickeningly effective weapons of mass destruction such as those which EDOMBM in Moulsecoombe make components for.
Many of them had jobs, had washed that morning, and had sacrificed their time, often at great financial expense to be there.
The vast majority of them did not undertake any activity that could be described as violent. This was why those at the front tended to be those more prepared to resort to force, in order to protect the mass of the demo from the brutality of the police.
I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents.
the demo had to happen in working hours because that´s when the factory is also open, and a protest outside a closed factory would be pretty pointless.
I would like to address some other misconceptions that people have written about here.
Firstly the idea that we should "do our homework". I can assure you that many of the more involved people involved in the campaign think, talk and read about very little else than EDOMBM, the wider political and economic complex that they are a part of, and the tragic human consequences of their actions. Most of this information is available on the internet. the smash edo website is a good place to start.
secondly the notion that the arms trade "defends freedom" or "democracy". We do not need the State to tell us whether or not we have a right to protest in order to do so, and whats more, to do it effectively, which is just as well.
Iraq and Palestine are not "democratic" countries by any meaningful definition, despite the fact that the majority of people there desire them to be, and this is because the Israeli, British and US governments actively pursue policies to hamper efforts by the people to achieve democracy, because they fear this would harm their economic interests.
Even if these wars somehow ensured "our" freedom in Britain, i would still oppose them because the suffering of these people is so shockingly disproportionate.
a lot of the statements made here suggest a worldview that values the lives of employed, tax paying UK citizens above the lives of others.
The proportion of Iraqi or Palestinian people actively engaged in terrorism is tiny. most of the people suffering from air strikes, by the very nature of this form of warfare, are civilians who can not be seen as complicit in terrorism in any way.
In any case the wars are government are presently engaged in were not started to protect us. Saddam Hussain was NOT a credible threat to British security. Iraq´s economy had been crippled for over a decade by sanctions supported by our government, and there was never any evidence to suggest Saddam was developing weapons of mass destruction.
In fact, the wars have done the reverse of ensure our freedom as citizens. They have bred a new generation of angry, disaffected people who are much more likely to join terrorist organizations and kill British citizens, as they did on 7-7-2005 in London.
Not to mention the fact that there has been a marked increase in police repression of protest movements, state surveillance and new powers for the police to detain people without charge, often simply on the basis of their perceived ethnic group.
What i believe we achieved yesterday was to demonstrate that it is possible for ordinary people to resist State oppression.
Contrary to what was reported in the Argus today, the plan the police had was to herd us all up home farm road where they would then detain all of us indefinitely, arrest a large proportion of us and at least get as much information as possible about the rest.
We however, saw through this pathetic plan, obviously based on a severe underestimation of our intelligence. Our intention was always to move into town. This was made impossible however by a line of police vans all the way across the entire road. When we attempted to walk around the vans we were viciously attacked with batons to the head and pepper spray to the eyes, and many required medical attention, though we held our own for the most part.
We then decided to go through the forests, and successful made it through several attempts by riot police to stop us, despite also trying to manoeuvre a sound-system in a wheelie bin. we beat the police several times throughout the course of the day, simply, in my view, because they are limited by a hierarchical mode of organisation, whereas we were able to adapt easily to the situation.
Anyone who finds it hard to believe that the State would desire to violently suppress dissent does so because they are blinded by fear and do not want to accept the idea that their security blanket of faith in the State to act in the peoples interest might be based on illusions.
For those of us who have seen this brutality with our own eyes and have chosen to spend our time critically analyzing the systems of power that affect us all, daily, throughout the world, this "overreaction" is entirely what we expect. The state is only strong when the people are weak, either intellectually (as in the case of many of the ranting quasi-fascists on this page), or physically, e.g. with regard to tactics, as is the case of most of the political left.
Resistance is ongoing and growing in scale. We, those who would take to the streets for the principles that give our lives meaning, are already here, experiancing the beauty of human solidarity every time a stranger helps pick us up after a we have been struck by a policemans steel plated glove. We are waiting for the rest of society to wake up to the basic fact that we are oppressed and have the power collectively to liberate ourselves and our fellow human beings around the world.
As for those who are simply perplexed let me leave you with one more, simple fact
WE COVER OUR FACES BECAUSE THE POLICE TAKE PHOTOS OF US TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ARREST US. THE IDEA THAT THE INNOCENT HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR IS A NAIVE AND DANGEROUS LIE. WE TRIED TO MAKE THE MASKS AT LEAST A BIT MORE INTERESTING THIS TIME, SORRY IF WE DIDNT DO WELL ENOUGH FOR YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS THEN PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST COME TO THE WEEKLY NOISE DEMOS AND GET INVOLVED INSTEAD OF JUST RAMBLING INCOHERENTLY ON WEBSITES.
thanks to anyone who actually takes the time to read this. sorry its so long but so far this page has been so one-sided that it´s making me sick

redshoes12 wrote:

Gabbafella wrote:

Brigadier Monty wrote: Look at the pictures there, I can deduce that they are all nothing but benefit cheating, scrounging good for nothing hippies. They don't have jobs so cause disruption for every other hard working citizen by protesting and doing so with violence. You've made you point now go away, back to the broken vans you live in, the hovels you call home. Get a job you Dole scum!!

Harumph for that man!! I agree that the vast majority of them are good for nothing, tree hugging, jobless, smelly, soap dodging, benefit cheating, spongers and they should be banned from the civilized world and banished to thier skanky motor homes surrounded by pitbulls, toothless adults, bundles of heather wrapped in foil, piles of big issues and moody gold. Scum of the earth. . .and the best bit is. . . none of them can afford a PC so they can't even argue back!! MWHA HA HA HA!!!

How very amusing. How many people quoting this echoing assumption of 'soap doging jobless SCUM' were actually there? i think you'll find the majority of the public that got caught up in the police corden in church street WITNESSED what happend and therefore no assumptions need to be made. I for one was there, along with several very elderly people that were at the demonstration to actively use their HUMAN RIGHT and CIVIL LIBERTIY to freedom of speech. are you going to call all the elderly people there, one disabled man that was pushed around by the police soap dodging, benifit using scum too? i think you people need to wake up. You all gaggle on about 'oh they are protesting against the arms trade but using violence' intresting again,how many of you were there? none NONE of the protesters were armed.banners were used to let people know what it was about but that is all the protesters had.juxtaposing with over policing fed up that they had to be there for pointless policing just there to antagonize the people so they could justify them being there. The question is, who were the ones with batons,pepper spray and police dogs? not the protesters. There didnt need to have such a strong police presence otherwise none of this would have happend, the demonstration would have gone to the bomb factory and thats it.Instead,bored thugs,or rather the new corporate security guards for EDO got angry they were out in the rain with no reason to be there and thus started the violence to justify and make arrests so they could sustain their presence, suppressing the human right to freedom of speech for future demonstrations. the police were the ones that forced the demo into the town centre,by not allowing anyone in or out of the 'bubble' they had created to escort people through the town.A group of 13 year old boys coming back from playing football were at the front line of this,being pushed around by riot police and not allowed out of their grasp for around 20 mins. They just wanted to get home,but instead one was pushed around by a shield and others pushed over by the heavy handed bully boys in florescent green. This disgusting 'if youve got nothing to hide then youve got nothing to fear'notion is dangerous.Why wear masks?because its our human right to protect our privacy,and when you have a police camera in your face in a situation like that, everyone is a suspect.The minute you start to question the publics reasons for wanting to be annoynmous, representing the thousands of faceless victims,mothers,chil dren of the war crimes EDO are complicit to is the second you justify these disgusting acts of murder. For the gentleman that said he lives on church street and saw the medics brutality against the PUBLIC and young girls i would like to applaud you because YOU WERE ACTUALLY THERE.i think alot of the people on church street will say the same thing,plenty of people witnessed the heavy handing from the police yesturday and were quite frankly in shock and disgusted. I was pinned up against a wall by police medic,who swore and spat in my face because i tried to get passed him whilst walking on the pavement.When people around saw what was happening and challenged it he told the rest of them to 'f*** off' and turned around and pushed a 60 year old man on the ground who was passing by. plenty of people caught this on camera and more incidents involving brutality from the medics and police were recorded. The very fact that the police have medics just shows what they are there for.If the police werent voilent then they wouldnt need medics!! 'gabbafella' and the rest of you short sighted people that are so quick to judge and use the words' jobless scum' i would like to say WAKE UP AND STOP BEING SO PATHETIC. i was at the protest,i didnt insight any violence, i stood and watched as things unraveled before me. i have a computer, i have a very nice house,i dont have hygiene issues, and i dont hug trees. I have a full set of my own teeth and im not on benefits. im a full time student, in part time work and im involved in several voluntary projects with autistic children and charity shop work. So dont start painting everyone with the same brush because your assumptions are WRONG. Maybe you should question how fulfilling your life is.And when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital with a serious injury or a condition, maybe ill ask you a bunch of assuming questions about your life and work before i deem you good enough to treat as a human being?

"How very amusing. How many people quoting this echoing assumption of 'soap doging jobless SCUM' were actually there? "

I wasn't there - I was having a bath.

Nicki27 wrote:
Wat a bunch of inconsiderate idiots!!!! Why choose 2 do this on a weekday wen kids have 2 use buses 2 get home from school?? My daughters school wasn't informed until 2.30pm that the buses had been stopped an there was no way 4 the kids 2 get home,my daughter phoned me in a panic fretting about how she was going 2 get home. My daughter is 11yrs old an only started Falmer school in September this year so as well as getting used 2 getting used 2 a secondary school she also had the worry of how she was gonna get home,don't suppose u "protesters" thought of the uneccassary panic an fear that u put hundreds of school kids through???? No u jus thought of yourselfs!!! If it wasn't for my brother fighting 2 get thro the traffic then god only knows how long my daughter would of been stuck at Falmer for cos there was no way i would of been able 2 get there for at least a few hours as i would of had 2 get 2 buses 2 Falmer 2 pick her up,i think it's disgusting that u can put fear an panic thro hundreds of kids cos u all got a bee in ur bonnet about something!!!!!!!!! Well done 2 Sussex Police for the way in which they handled these mindless thugs cos thats how they portrayed themselves yesterday!! As for Roger French,did u not think 2 talk 2 Sussex Police about lettin a bus thro 2 pick up the poor innocent,stranded kids from Falmer??? Or was u 2 worried about one of ur buses being damaged!!!! We pay disgustin prices 4 bus travel yet u can't even manage 2 help out stranded kids at school!!! Wat would of happened if my brother couldn't of battled thro the traffic 2 pick my daughter up? Would she of had 2 walk back 2 Kemp Town,would she of had 2 of waited at school until i cud of got there which wud of taken me a few hours at least,wud she of been caught up in the violence that these thugs were showin??? U all make my blood boil an u have no thought or consideration for the innocent kids that were caught up in this stupid protest!!!!!

nicki,my son is at falmer too,and was very upset,had a call from in a panic that the bus had turned up but drove off before the kids could get on it and left them all behind,no-one knew what was going on,i called the school back and they didnt know either,only info they had was what was on this site on the traffic report!!!tons of kids stuck at school and no-way home!

what was it i missed?

the police are infact part of the thing i am against.

as dead prez point out so well...

It is the po-lice department. it is the army, the navy
It is the prison system, the courts, and what have you
This is the state -- it is a repressive organization
But the state -- and gee, well, you know,
Youve got to have the police, cause..
If there were no police, look at what youd be doing to yourselves!
Youd be killing each other if there were no police!
But the reality is..
The police become necessary in human society
Only at that junction in human society
Where it is split between those who have and those who aint got!

i couldnt put it into better words...

i do not consider myself tortured. although i do consider almost everyone in the world oppressed. be it through social pressure (which can be gd. we wouldnt want it to be socially acceptable to kill people now would we) or corporations."you need this", "you wont fit in if you dont". is it any wonder we have so many social problems. anorexia, yobs, drug addiction. the list goes on...

if water, food and clothing (the very basic needs of all humans) were supported by the state, we would not have to pay ever increasing prices for them!

and your right, there was a member of the public threatened with arrest for shouting abuse at the demonstrators. im not saying that all police are scum. that would be stupid. many, if not all go into the job to protect people. its not always the people in job thats the problem. its the job itself. they are puppets of the state, corrupted (not all) by the illusion of the power they think they have!

my eyes hurt..

have i missed anything?

Ive been told the punters at the Bat and ball had a scrap with the crusties.Anyone confirm this? I hope the next march planned is refused permission or at least let the fuzz go in a bit harder.Most of these thugs can be found in Sydney street cafe's or in their 'homes'parked by the racecourse. i always bang on the side of their wagons late at night.brighton needs to rid itself of this lot and the Level mob of drinkers.Off abroad one day where at least in spain they crack a few a heads-such protests are rare as they know the police will sort them out and the govt wont let sponge for years!

"I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents."

Empty, silly words.

What about outpatients on their way to the hospital, missing their chemotherapy appointments?

How about People with learning difficulties frightened out of their wits because they didn't understand what was happening.

Pregnant women on the way to hospital.

Visitors to a dying relative.

All of these things happen daily to real people, and are much more important than some misplaced ideolgy. You may be on a freedom moped to hell, taking no prisoners, but the rest of us have real lives to lead.

oyl wrote:
"I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents." Empty, silly words. What about outpatients on their way to the hospital, missing their chemotherapy appointments? How about People with learning difficulties frightened out of their wits because they didn't understand what was happening. Pregnant women on the way to hospital. Visitors to a dying relative. All of these things happen daily to real people, and are much more important than some misplaced ideolgy. You may be on a freedom moped to hell, taking no prisoners, but the rest of us have real lives to lead.

well said!!!!

joanne77 wrote:

oyl wrote:
"I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents." Empty, silly words. What about outpatients on their way to the hospital, missing their chemotherapy appointments? How about People with learning difficulties frightened out of their wits because they didn't understand what was happening. Pregnant women on the way to hospital. Visitors to a dying relative. All of these things happen daily to real people, and are much more important than some misplaced ideolgy. You may be on a freedom moped to hell, taking no prisoners, but the rest of us have real lives to lead.

well said!!!!

as much as i sympathise with you...

so what!

1 day of your life was inconvenienced for few hours so people could try and make the world a better place.

think of all the families that lose loved ones everyday because of the things the factory makes. imagine if you couldnt have busses or cars because your country had sanctions put on it by another invading country. meaning you didnt have the fuel to run them. imagine if you didnt have hospitals or schools or the power to run any public services for the same reason. im mostly talking about palestine here. the gaza strip to be more precise. but it happens in many places!

please dont think i dont care people were inconvenienced because of yesterday, i do. and its regrettable that it had to be the way it was. not because of protesters and maybe not because of the police. but because this is the world we live in. if they didnt suffer and were denied resources, we wouldnt be as privileged as we are. making people suffer for our benefit is wrong!

its undeniable that the world is changing, reaching a breaking point. which way it goe is still unclear. it will either get worse before it gets better, simply get worse or maybe we'll just kill eachother and it'll all be over...

i suggest people battle with their conscience now. decide whether some disruption for a better world is the price you are willing to pay or whether its not.

PEACE, LOVE and SOLIDARITY to you all!

The police took their clubs and truncheons with them to this demonstration. Clearly they went intent on violence.

"as much as i sympathise with you...

so what!
"

So there we have it.

A dewey eyed anarchist conspiracy theorist declares the unilateral right to cause misery, and then makes light of it.

oyl wrote:
"I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents." Empty, silly words. What about outpatients on their way to the hospital, missing their chemotherapy appointments? How about People with learning difficulties frightened out of their wits because they didn't understand what was happening. Pregnant women on the way to hospital. Visitors to a dying relative. All of these things happen daily to real people, and are much more important than some misplaced ideolgy. You may be on a freedom moped to hell, taking no prisoners, but the rest of us have real lives to lead.

Well said Oyl!!!! As i said earlier,they only care about themselves!!!!


Bibble......did u not see the video clip of the protester hittin a police officer over the head with a wooden banner 4 no reason??? The police were protectin the residents of Brighton + Hove from these mindless thugs,thats why they took batons with them!!!!

Nicki27 wrote:

oyl wrote:
"I personally would like to express my sincere empathy for anyone who was distressed as a result of the demonstrations, especially children and their parents." Empty, silly words. What about outpatients on their way to the hospital, missing their chemotherapy appointments? How about People with learning difficulties frightened out of their wits because they didn't understand what was happening. Pregnant women on the way to hospital. Visitors to a dying relative. All of these things happen daily to real people, and are much more important than some misplaced ideolgy. You may be on a freedom moped to hell, taking no prisoners, but the rest of us have real lives to lead.

Well said Oyl!!!! As i said earlier,they only care about themselves!!!!


Bibble......did u not see the video clip of the protester hittin a police officer over the head with a wooden banner 4 no reason??? The police were protectin the residents of Brighton + Hove from these mindless thugs,thats why they took batons with them!!!!

Nicki27, perhaps you are not aware that the police assault innocent members of the public and get away with it. They also kill innocent people and get away with it.

This demonstration was not against residents of Brighton and Hove, it was against a bomb-part making company that happens to be in Brighton.

The police, as usual, get their big sticks out to hit people with. That is because the police are thugs.

just_me wrote:
what was it i missed? the police are infact part of the thing i am against. as dead prez point out so well... It is the po-lice department. it is the army, the navy It is the prison system, the courts, and what have you This is the state -- it is a repressive organization But the state -- and gee, well, you know, Youve got to have the police, cause.. If there were no police, look at what youd be doing to yourselves! Youd be killing each other if there were no police! But the reality is.. The police become necessary in human society Only at that junction in human society Where it is split between those who have and those who aint got! i couldnt put it into better words... i do not consider myself tortured. although i do consider almost everyone in the world oppressed. be it through social pressure (which can be gd. we wouldnt want it to be socially acceptable to kill people now would we) or corporations.@just_m
e.

You missed everything.

I defined Anarchy so people could see how well meaning it is.

I simply pointed out, purely objectively, that the protest did not represent those ideals. And, further, that in the last 4000 years, despite lots of free thinking, it's not worked.

Policing is a term, not a person. You embue the police with their powers when you make a fuss of what they and the tri-forces represent.

I can honestly say I think you are equally mistaken in your ideologys. Both of you think that you are "good" and the other "bad". It's nothing to do with these banal terms. It's just life, or the misery that living causes. I'd just rather that you figured that out before you get too old to have a philosophy as opposed to a very loud opinion.

well done!

read the first part and disregard the rest...

what the hell do you know about misery?!

are even reading what your writing?

"they only care about themselves"

HELLO!

WE WERE PROTESTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE THAT MOST OF US HAVE NEVER MET, IN PLACES WE'VE NEVER BEEN TO. TO NOT GET BOMBED, DRIVEN TO NEAR DEATH, HAVE THEIR FAMILIES TAKEN AND THEIR LIVES DESTROYED BY INVADING COUNTRIES!

and

FOR THE FREEDOM TO PROTEST!
TO BE ALLOWED TO GATHER AND CONDUCT A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION ON POLITICAL ISSUES THAT WE (THE PUBLIC, MEMBERS OF SOCIETY) FEEL ARE IMPORTANT. WITHOUT HAVING HIGH COURT INJUNCTIONS, PUBLIC ORDER ACTS, BYE-LAWS, TRUMPED UP CHARGES AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY CAN THINK OF US USED TO STIFLE US.

BECAUSE WE ARE WINNING!

hopefully other people will see it a different way and realise the bigger picture.

WE ARE NOT THE CRIMINALS!

i never said i was an anarchist. because im not. i think many of its ideas are great ones and may, one day work on a global scale. for now, its only chance of truly existing is in communes and the people that live it on a personal level. as they do throughout the world today.

capitalism has most of the rest. consuming and wasting the resources of the world, plunging us onto an age of darkness. its not sustainable and wont be here forever. something has to come next...

i am an anti-capitalist. the opinion i state here is none but my own and i dont expect it to be anyone else's. it's not an immature phase or something i'll grow out of. its a way of life.

I was at the demonstration yesterday and was dismayed at the police's disproportionate and heavy-handed response. What was meant to be a peaceful protest against the arms trade became a battle between us and the police, which was not our intention. Of course, like at many protests, there were a small number of individuals who clearly set out to cause trouble but you must remember that the vast majority of us wanted to make our point in a non-violent way. The police's overbearing tactics just served to antagonise people and ended up doing more harm than good.

nicki27, my kids go to Falmer as well and they phoned up in a panic because they couldn't get home and i couldn't get to them. As it was they used their common sense and walked with a group of friends from Falmer to white hawk. They had to go past the police and some of the protesters and were shocked by what they saw. This was not a peaceful protest as some claimed it was and I'm annoyed that innocent by standers especially children have had to witness this.

How defensive these poor little "innocent" twits are now. Take note all you anarchists or protestors (or whatever you are); whether you claim you're on benefits or not; whether you work or go to university (of course the little lambs always follow) or do nothing; whether or not you sit in trees drinking scrumpy or hug the trees; or are hash heads; the fact is you have embarrassed yourselves with your violent, aggressive and childish behaviour towards the whole of Brighton Town residents/workers/ch
ildren. (Read above, the majority hate you). Maybe we should find out where you all live/work and stand outside screaming, fighting and smelling and see how you like it.
I must say. I wish it had rained yesterday, you may all be smelling a little better today. You're all an insult to Human beings and your defensive comments are boring.
Oh and by the way, was the demo about EDO, anti war or just to have a go at the old bill and irritate everyone else like a flee bite ... ha ha ha ha!

if you would like to watch the documentary on the smash edo campaign. you can download it from

the smash edo website by simply clicking the link.

www.smashed.org.uk

this is bitorrent only :(

Unemployable, unwashed, unprincipled, uncompromising, unskilled, ill dressed, ill mannered, foul mouthed, troublemaking, lefty scum. Obey the law like everyone else when you wish to protest and recognise (unnamed spokesman) that a proportionate response to violence against the police is going to involve physical intervention. If you cannot behave and follow instructions, you can have no sympathy from law abiding people who chose to do something more worhtwhile with their lives.

sorry..

www.smashedo.org.uk

how can most of you cast judgement on protestors when you were'nt there to witness it first hand? the fact is it was a PEACEFUL protest (which is allowed by our civil rights) hence why every protestor was unarmed, unlike the police who had batons, pepper spray and dogs. the police reaction will always be to assume we are out to cause violence which is not the case. the fact that the protest rolled into brighton is due to the fact that we were not allowed anywhere near the factory in the first place.
as ella99 says, there ofcourse was a small majority who did have the intention of expressing they're opinion in a violent manner, but needless to say that does not label everyone as part of this majority. my 16 year old brother was at the protest with me and was assualted by a police officer, who then proceeded to do the same to an elderly man, both of these people did nothing to antagonise the police and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and felt the anger of a thug police 'medic'.
To all the people who stereotype protestors as smelly tree hugging hippies, grow up. The is obviously not the case, we are simply expressing our opinion about the fact there is a factory that makes weapons systems for the US and Isreali government in Brighton to fuel violence and mass murder on a large scale in conflicts that are unjust and imoral. Do not cast judgement until you have seen all the evidence from both sides. WATCH ZEITGIEST (a free film, available to watch on googlevideo or youtube). It will make you think, rather than blindly and childishly insulting protestors.

just_me wrote:
i never said i was an anarchist. because im not. i think many of its ideas are great ones and may, one day work on a global scale. for now, its only chance of truly existing is in communes and the people that live it on a personal level. as they do throughout the world today. capitalism has most of the rest. consuming and wasting the resources of the world, plunging us onto an age of darkness. its not sustainable and wont be here forever. something has to come next... i am an anti-capitalist. the opinion i state here is none but my own and i dont expect it to be anyone else's. it's not an immature phase or something i'll grow out of. its a way of life.

One question - do you have a job or do you live state benefits?

whatithink wrote:

just_me wrote:
i never said i was an anarchist. because im not. i think many of its ideas are great ones and may, one day work on a global scale. for now, its only chance of truly existing is in communes and the people that live it on a personal level. as they do throughout the world today. capitalism has most of the rest. consuming and wasting the resources of the world, plunging us onto an age of darkness. its not sustainable and wont be here forever. something has to come next... i am an anti-capitalist. the opinion i state here is none but my own and i dont expect it to be anyone else's. it's not an immature phase or something i'll grow out of. its a way of life.

One question - do you have a job or do you live state benefits?

whatithink- surely you are a facist spy agent of the secret conspiracy to even ask that question? :-)

To those protesters that claim the intention was peaceful protest - the online videos and photos say otherwise. Strange how thousands of Albion fans were able to hold many marches with no trouble what so ever. We were more than happy to support our cause without being cowards by covering our faces. In the days of football violence ( which I in no way condone ) at least the thugs were "brave" enough not to hide their faces. If you really thought you were morally right then you'd be prepared to be identified and therefore indentified as linked to you cause.

The Smash EDO web site contains so many technical inaccuracies that you clearly don't even know what you're protesting about. As you bused in rent-a-thug from all over the country it's noting to do with Brighton so hold your pathetic, pointless, violent protest in another city next year - maybe Crawley where you can protest against Thales ?

MyWord wrote:
How defensive these poor little "innocent" twits are now. Take note all you anarchists or protestors (or whatever you are); whether you claim you're on benefits or not; whether you work or go to university (of course the little lambs always follow) or do nothing; whether or not you sit in trees drinking scrumpy or hug the trees; or are hash heads; the fact is you have embarrassed yourselves with your violent, aggressive and childish behaviour towards the whole of Brighton Town residents/workers/ch ildren. (Read above, the majority hate you). Maybe we should find out where you all live/work and stand outside screaming, fighting and smelling and see how you like it. I must say. I wish it had rained yesterday, you may all be smelling a little better today. You're all an insult to Human beings and your defensive comments are boring. Oh and by the way, was the demo about EDO, anti war or just to have a go at the old bill and irritate everyone else like a flee bite ... ha ha ha ha!

You accuse us of being "childish", yet the fact that you've resorted to playground insults shows that you have nothing informed or constructive to say.

Like I said before, there was a small minority of people who acted in an aggressive manner. But how exactly have we embarrassed ourselves? We got a fair amount of support from passers-by and observers and have undoubtedly raised awareness of our cause.

In response to your question, the demo was against the EDO factory in Brighton and as such was also against the arms trade in general. You can find out more about it by visiting the Smash EDO website.

I really wanted to keep out of this argument and just say my piece...it is in there somewhere...for those who can't find it my story is i wasn't part of the protest but because of my medical condition, which means i have to wrap up nice and warm (this means me wearing a scarf around the lower part of my face) i was taken as being a protester and arrested for failure to remove my scarf.

I think both parties are to blame. There are those who were on the demo hell bent on having a fight...then there were those on the police force hell bent on a fight. Mob mentality can be seen on both sides and neither is pretty. The police blame those protesting and those protesting blame the police.

From what i saw the police were heavy handed from the start and ready for a fight. I do not blame the police totally though as there is always those on the other side just as willing to cause trouble where there doesn't need to be any.

It would have been better if this demo had been planned....and if the police had worked with the demonstrators and vice versa...that way buses could have got through...children wouldn't have been scared out of their wits and everyone would have been happy as there would have been the protest to get the message through....it wouldn't have been necessary for the extra police...saving us Brighton folk from paying the bill and those innocent people like myself would not have been caught in the middle.

Nothing is ever that simple though.

There should be a right to voice political protest without the heavy presence of police...but with that it should be expected that no protester will use violence as a way of expressing that message.

Still it doesn't help when people slag off whatever group...let it be the protester or police person. Those parents who's children were stuck in the middle of all this i can understand the anger...i have a niece myself and the thought of her being caught up in all that sends chills down my back. But if you want to blame someone blame both sides but accept that it is the minority from both sides not the majority that makes such demonstrations violent. For an example just look at past demo's such as the poll tax and the Stephen Lawrence demo's...both ended up as riots but it was the minority not the majority that caused this to happen as the majority were everyday people like those who have commented on this story who did stand up and say no more.

"acoustic88, eastbourne says...
9:07pm Thu 16 Oct 08
how can most of you cast judgement on protestors when you were'nt there to witness it first hand?"

In the same way you can cast judgement on the conflicts you're protesting about whithout having been there to see them first hand maybe ? Or prehaps how you can pass judgement on EDO without seeing what they produce first hand ?

The armed forces are sent into action by our government. They do not choose their 'enemies'. We should send them fully armed and prepared.
I was, and remain, totally opposed to the Iraq war, but I want every boy and man that we send out there to come back unharmed.
Make your anti-war protests, but not against factories providing our forces with the best possible chance of a safe return.

if the "unnamed spokesperson" was aimed at me, i am not a spokesperson for anyone except myself.

if all you have is insults then im out. i came on here to read the article and felt i needed to put right the misunderstanding of the campaigns aims and approach to the protest as i understand it.

there was definitely no intent to annoy or disrupt brighton residents.

and no, i dont receive any benefits what so ever.

im struggling to remember all the points i've already made and im certainly not reading all this again (although i hope others will)

im out.....

PEACE!!

TO EVERYBODY AGAISNT THE PROTEST...

u sit there sayin how ill mannered unwashed ect, but do u actully know any of us? no.... but u can b so quick to judge anyone doing things differently to how you would you clearly dnt understand that we are piping up to people like yourself to let you kno your in the wrong you can sit here and type as many nasty words an "average" pesron could manage but thats where you fail because under dirty skin or clothes blood still runs and feelings are there what you fail to see is that we didnt set out to agrovate anybody our intentions was to protest peacefully yet the POLICE still use force and ignorence better than anyone im wonderin if your a police officer? if they didnt make us get angry we wouldnt have looked angry? yet you still forget the fact WHO WERE THE ONES WAVING BATS??????? and who were the ones smilling US get that into your head because i kno for a fact that the people who were in that croud ARE all very well manered and very peacefull people like i say u dont know us because you havnt given us a chance yet or your just ignorent and stupid because you think everything is happy go lucky but its clearly not you too deluded in your own little world of money coz money is power isnt it n you thrive of it and you call us scum??? our point to be made has been simple and clear from the start we dont care about the police we know there idiots and brutal our point is we dont want any company who had anything to do with people suporting hitler pinochet ect doesnt that defy the point of our ancentors fightin to keep us british and keep evil scum like edo mbm/itt from doing the things there doing GO FIGURE you may think our explanations are boring but IGNORENCE IS BLISS AND TRUTH HURTS DOESNT IT! we could sit here and argue all day and night but whats the point? fighting solves nothing and anyone who dissagreed with the protest clearly got the wrong message and we are SORRY if so the police did make us a little angry only because they were soo forcefull and if anything is ever gunna work we need to work together not against eachother

WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GB WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE CRAZY BOMB COMFORMING BRAINWASHED BY GOVERMENT IDIOTS!!

PEACE X

No one is against your protest or reasons behind it, but you broke the law, the protest was not lawful!!! sec 14 was in place, so was sec 60aa. as the old saying goes if you dont like the heat get out of the kitchen. Maybe if the organisers tried to comply a good lawful march protest could be arranged with much better support from the public. you can see from this sight alone how many people are upset by your actions, surely these are the people you are trying to get on side!!!!

sam647 wrote:
No one is against your protest or reasons behind it, but you broke the law, the protest was not lawful!!! sec 14 was in place, so was sec 60aa. as the old saying goes if you dont like the heat get out of the kitchen. Maybe if the organisers tried to comply a good lawful march protest could be arranged with much better support from the public. you can see from this sight alone how many people are upset by your actions, surely these are the people you are trying to get on side!!!!

I disagree. Plenty of people ARE against the demonstrators and their reasons.

Law is just something that is used by a few people to keep others under control. It doesn't mean it's just or right. It used to be the law in this country that women could not vote. Did that make it right? Would we have common suffrage without the illegal demonstrations at the time? If the law stated that only one protestor could demonstrate at a time would that be right? Was Hitler right because he had laws? Or Stalin? Or Mugabe?

The people who are upset by the demonstrators' actions will NEVER see the other side of an argument.

I am afraid, Sam647, that you are one of the masses of unthinking and accepting people in this world. If the "law" told you that 2 plus 2 was 5 you would accept it.

Fight Back wrote:
"acoustic88, eastbourne says... 9:07pm Thu 16 Oct 08 how can most of you cast judgement on protestors when you were'nt there to witness it first hand?" In the same way you can cast judgement on the conflicts you're protesting about whithout having been there to see them first hand maybe ? Or prehaps how you can pass judgement on EDO without seeing what they produce first hand ?

This is ridiculous, saying I must go to areas of conflict to see the damage caused.
Firstly all you have to do is look at the facts- over 1 million Iraqi civilians have been killed by weapons used by the US alone (this is not counting the Isreali government, to whom EDO also supply weapons systems).
Secondly, I have seen what they produce- weapons release systems and main components for hellfire missiles, amongst other things, which is the main weapon used by the US and Isreali Armed Forces in Air to Ground and Ground to Ground attacks.
In regard to the protest itself, It was not unlawful, as we are entitled to the right to protest. Its is one of our civil liberties, such as free speech, which everyone is exercising on this forum now. All the Police were doing was qouting by-laws temporarily put in place after co-operation with EDO itself, which is wrong. The Police should not be a mass security serive for an arms company. This happened last year, and after evidence of this co-operation became public, all charges and inditements against SmashEdo members wered dropped, due to the Police not wanting this information to reach the national press.

freedom-fighter wrote:
TO EVERYBODY AGAISNT THE PROTEST... u sit there sayin how ill mannered unwashed ect, but do u actully know any of us? no.... but u can b so quick to judge anyone doing things differently to how you would you clearly dnt understand that we are piping up to people like yourself to let you kno your in the wrong you can sit here and type as many nasty words an "average" pesron could manage but thats where you fail because under dirty skin or clothes blood still runs and feelings are there what you fail to see is that we didnt set out to agrovate anybody our intentions was to protest peacefully yet the POLICE still use force and ignorence better than anyone im wonderin if your a police officer? if they didnt make us get angry we wouldnt have looked angry? yet you still forget the fact WHO WERE THE ONES WAVING BATS??????? and who were the ones smilling US get that into your head because i kno for a fact that the people who were in that croud ARE all very well manered and very peacefull people like i say u dont know us because you havnt given us a chance yet or your just ignorent and stupid because you think everything is happy go lucky but its clearly not you too deluded in your own little world of money coz money is power isnt it n you thrive of it and you call us scum??? our point to be made has been simple and clear from the start we dont care about the police we know there idiots and brutal our point is we dont want any company who had anything to do with people suporting hitler pinochet ect doesnt that defy the point of our ancentors fightin to keep us british and keep evil scum like edo mbm/itt from doing the things there doing GO FIGURE you may think our explanations are boring but IGNORENCE IS BLISS AND TRUTH HURTS DOESNT IT! we could sit here and argue all day and night but whats the point? fighting solves nothing and anyone who dissagreed with the protest clearly got the wrong message and we are SORRY if so the police did make us a little angry only because they were soo forcefull and if anything is ever gunna work we need to work together not against eachother WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GB WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE CRAZY BOMB COMFORMING BRAINWASHED BY GOVERMENT IDIOTS!! PEACE X

you quoted fighting solves nothing..so what do you do if someone wants a fight but you dont do you just walk away? what if you cant walk away what then ? what if someone wants to kill your family do you just stand there and let it happen ? you say we need to work together but what about the people / countrys that dont want to work together do we just let them take over ? what did our ancestores do they fought with guns if it was not for these brave men and guns then we would not be here today . can you please just answer this not if but when world war 3 brakes out what do you want your country to do for you would you rather them fight for your freedom or just sit there and let your country be taken over . i think next time they should get the fire brigade out and hose the lot of you down . and while there at it throw a few dozen bars of soap in

TO EVERYBODY AGAINST THE PROTEST...

u sit there sayin how ill mannered unwashed ect, but do u actully know any of us? no.... but u can b so quick to judge anyone doing things differently to how you would you clearly dnt understand that we are piping up to people like yourself to let you kno your in the wrong you can sit here and type as many nasty words an "average" pesron could manage but thats where you fail because under dirty skin or clothes blood still runs and feelings are there what you fail to see is that we didnt set out to agrovate anybody our intentions was to protest peacefully yet the POLICE still use force and ignorence better than anyone im wonderin if your a police officer? if they didnt make us get angry we wouldnt have looked angry? yet you still forget the fact WHO WERE THE ONES WAVING BATS??????? and who were the ones smilling US get that into your head because i kno for a fact that the people who were in that croud ARE all very well manered and very peacefull people like i say u dont know us because you havnt given us a chance yet or your just ignorent and stupid because you think everything is happy go lucky but its clearly not you too deluded in your own little world of money coz money is power isnt it n you thrive of it and you call us scum??? our point to be made has been simple and clear from the start we dont care about the police we know there idiots and brutal our point is we dont want any company who had anything to do with people suporting hitler pinochet ect doesnt that defy the point of our ancentors fightin to keep us british and keep evil scum like edo mbm/itt from doing the things there doing GO FIGURE you may think our explanations are boring but IGNORENCE IS BLISS AND TRUTH HURTS DOESNT IT! we could sit here and argue all day and night but whats the point? fighting solves nothing and anyone who dissagreed with the protest clearly got the wrong message and we are SORRY if so the police did make us a little angry only because they were soo forcefull and if anything is ever gunna work we need to work together not against eachother

WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GB WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE CRAZY BOMB COMFORMING BRAINWASHED BY GOVERMENT IDIOTS!!

PEACE XTO EVERYBODY AGAISNT THE PROTEST... u sit there sayin how ill mannered unwashed ect, but do u actully know any of us? no.... but u can b so quick to judge anyone doing things differently to how you would you clearly dnt understand that we are piping up to people like yourself to let you kno your in the wrong you can sit here and type as many nasty words an "average" pesron could manage but thats where you fail because under dirty skin or clothes blood still runs and feelings are there what you fail to see is that we didnt set out to agrovate anybody our intentions was to protest peacefully yet the POLICE still use force and ignorence better than anyone im wonderin if your a police officer? if they didnt make us get angry we wouldnt have looked angry? yet you still forget the fact WHO WERE THE ONES WAVING BATS??????? and who were the ones smilling US get that into your head because i kno for a fact that the people who were in that croud ARE all very well manered and very peacefull people like i say u dont know us because you havnt given us a chance yet or your just ignorent and stupid because you think everything is happy go lucky but its clearly not you too deluded in your own little world of money coz money is power isnt it n you thrive of it and you call us scum??? our point to be made has been simple and clear from the start we dont care about the police we know there idiots and brutal our point is we dont want any company who had anything to do with people suporting hitler pinochet ect doesnt that defy the point of our ancentors fightin to keep us british and keep evil scum like edo mbm/itt from doing the things there doing GO FIGURE you may think our explanations are boring but IGNORENCE IS BLISS AND TRUTH HURTS DOESNT IT! we could sit here and argue all day and night but whats the point? fighting solves nothing and anyone who dissagreed with the protest clearly got the wrong message and we are SORRY if so the police did make us a little angry only because they were soo forcefull and if anything is ever gunna work we need to work together not against eachother WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GB WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE CRAZY BOMB COMFORMING BRAINWASHED BY GOVERMENT IDIOTS!! PEACE X


Perhaps I might take your opinion a little more seriously if you could write coherently...or would that be too much to ask...perhaps it goes against your right to be an ignorant, tunnel visioned, idealist who has no idea about the real world. It's the very fact that we DON'T live in a police state that allows you to entertain us with your gibberish. grow up and get real. The world is an ugly place at times. That is unfortunate, and indeed sad. However I know where I would rather live. If you really want to help the oppressed of the world, go out to them and do some voluntary work (oops I used the four letter word). No? A lot easier to stay in this terrible land no doubt. Now had a member of the public assaulted a protester where could they go to complain. Not the police surely...that would be double standards wouldn't it? What if a protestors granny got burgled. Who would they turn to for help...surely not the police. Will your anti state views really go that far?

Lastly you do have freedom of speech, hence this forum. You do NOT have the right to choose which laws you obey and which you don't. If you break the law don't cry when the full force of the law, in whatever guise that might be, stops you from doing so.

I propose a rival group called SUPPORTERS OF EDO/ITT. We could have regular demos and confrontations with the 'squatters soap dodgers, tree huggers, benefit thieves, new age travellers, anarchists and other traitors and dregs of society' that make up this disgusting group of smellies. Direct action - good idea?

This is the balanced argument in favour of stopping everyday life

acoustic88, eastbourne says...
11:38pm Thu 16 Oct 08

"This is ridiculous, saying I must go to areas of conflict to see the damage caused."

acoustic88, eastbourne says...
9:07pm Thu 16 Oct 08

"how can most of you cast judgement on protestors when you were'nt there to witness it first hand?"

Witnessing the protesters first hand is something I've done. I have also looked into the issues - in between munching on McDonald's burgers, of course.

The 'sources of information on the internet' are nothing but a collection of 'he said she said he said' rumour mills. There is nothing more than that, but our activists run with it, because it's their ticket to follow their havoc creating hobby.

The first hand experience with the protesters would be funny if they weren't such wasters. There is a central contingent who are uncannily like Monty Python's "People's Popular Front". The rest are well meaning, but blind followers.

My axe to grind? A local resident who is inquisitive about the issues, generally tolerent, used to a bit of bolshiness myself, but passionately in favour of letting people live their lives. I am fed up with this comedy act, paid for by the rest of us. I am pleased to see the police act - more please!

Its pretty obvious from reading all this that a violent protest has not benefited the protesters cause one bit!

Why? - because the real point of your protest has been completely overshadowed as the general public & media who are more focused on how you protested rather than the original purpose of your protest! - and thats now the type of publicity you are getting..

If you learn anything from this then keep your protest non violent, in future then maybe your message will get across.

(Had to laugh at the security word "idea-over")

Issac Hunt wrote:
I propose a rival group called SUPPORTERS OF EDO/ITT. We could have regular demos and confrontations with the 'squatters soap dodgers, tree huggers, benefit thieves, new age travellers, anarchists and other traitors and dregs of society' that make up this disgusting group of smellies. Direct action - good idea?

Set it up. I'd join. And judging by all the posts here - which I guess is a reasonably fair snapshot of the population of Brighton and Hove - I think you would get a far larger following than the childish, ill informed Smash EDO lot.
The problem with Smash EDO is that just don't have any public support. They are a minority group who make a lot of noise, but ultimately have no support within this community or the larger countrywide one.
400 protestors? B&H has a population of a quarter of a million, and is known for being radical and free thinking. And that is really the BEST that they could do? And it's well documented that out of that 400 a decent percentage were from out of town.
In fact LESS people attended than at the last demo in June.
Time to all go and get proper jobs I think, rather than waste anymore taxpayers money.

I dont suppose as many people would of had a problem wid u "protesters" had u of done it on a weekend or at a time wen the kids weren't about 2 leave school,but seein as u did it on a day an time that upset + scared the livin daylight out of kids,disabled people + the elderly,u deserve evrything that people are throwin at u!!! I myself am only angry cos my 11 yr old daughter was in a panic about getting home an scared out of her wits!!! As 4 sum1 sayin it was a peaceful protest......was u at a different protest than the one that is bein discussed here!!!!! Video evidence proves otherwise!!!!!

whatithink wrote:

Issac Hunt wrote: I propose a rival group called SUPPORTERS OF EDO/ITT. We could have regular demos and confrontations with the 'squatters soap dodgers, tree huggers, benefit thieves, new age travellers, anarchists and other traitors and dregs of society' that make up this disgusting group of smellies. Direct action - good idea?

Set it up. I'd join. And judging by all the posts here - which I guess is a reasonably fair snapshot of the population of Brighton and Hove - I think you would get a far larger following than the childish, ill informed Smash EDO lot. The problem with Smash EDO is that just don't have any public support. They are a minority group who make a lot of noise, but ultimately have no support within this community or the larger countrywide one. 400 protestors? B&H has a population of a quarter of a million, and is known for being radical and free thinking. And that is really the BEST that they could do? And it's well documented that out of that 400 a decent percentage were from out of town. In fact LESS people attended than at the last demo in June. Time to all go and get proper jobs I think, rather than waste anymore taxpayers money.

I'm with you!

Let's start with a quotation shall we?

"Of course, like at many protests, there were a small number of individuals who clearly set out to cause trouble but you must remember that the vast majority of us wanted to make our point in a non-violent way. The police's overbearing tactics just served to antagonise people and ended up doing more harm than good."

When will those associated with Smash EDO take responsibility for their action? If indeed it is a small minority of hangers-on who turn your demos violent, why can't you police those people? They at least have some aims in common with you. Surely you should be able to either direct their aims or prevent them from taking your protests in the wrong direction. How can you accuse the Police methods of dealing with them when you do nothing about such people yourselves? Answer: it's much easier to 'blame the state' than to accept responsibility.

Second Quotation:

"and as far as the violence goes, it was all 1 sided. any violence by protesters was self-defence.."

Of course it was. I think anybody who has watched any of the videos from the day can see that it wasn't. But again, this suits your purpose doesn't it? Can you honestly say that there was no violence on Smash EDO's part? Before you argue about the 'small minority', refer back to my first point. Stop passing the buck, take the blinkers off and conduct your protests in a more effective way.

Quotation Three:

"The police took their clubs and truncheons with them to this demonstration. Clearly they went intent on violence"

The Police take their batons with them to every job. Burglaries, drink drivers - even sudden deaths. Wearing uniform and equipment does not constitute intent. No doubt the stones and paint thrown at Police just happened to be lying in the road. No, I don't believe that either.

Quotation Four

"The very fact that the police have medics just shows what they are there for.If the police werent voilent then they wouldnt need medics!"

This shows no such thing. It shows that the Police have to take responsibility for their actions. Let's imagine a protestor hit a Police Officer and caused him or her an injury. Would that protestor stay to check that officer's welfare? I doubt it. They'd more likely say he/she deserved it for being being 'a puppet of the state', score it 1-0 and walk away. The best part about this quotation is that the author finished by saying

"..and when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital.."

Presumably hospitals are only there for violence too - otherwise why would we need them or their staff Such is the twisted, blinkered logic.

Here is my favourite quotation

"WE WERE PROTESTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE THAT MOST OF US HAVE NEVER MET, IN PLACES WE'VE NEVER BEEN TO. TO NOT GET BOMBED, DRIVEN TO NEAR DEATH, HAVE THEIR FAMILIES TAKEN AND THEIR LIVES DESTROYED BY INVADING COUNTRIES!."

Which is really what it's all about isn't it? Do you imagine the people for whom you protest are cheering you on? Do they even WANT your support? You don't know. This means you can never be judged as either a success or a failure. Your protests pass without the people of Iraq, Palestine or Israel even batting an eyelid. You aren't succeeding. You can't be judged as failing either. But what is nice about this is that it can't be measured and that means you can all feel really good about yourselves without worrying about results. You can tell yourselves that YOU did YOUR bit. Well done you.

To the casual onlooker you come across very differently. You turn up, make a bit of noise, achieve very little (EDO is still there) and then walk away blaming everybody else for any damage or distress you may have caused.

(and before you ask, no I wasn't there and yes I am)

Let's just for a minute assume all the protestors on this thread are telling the truth. Including the bit about only the police having equipment with them that could be used for violence.

Now lets look at the Smash EDO web site - oh - you throw paint at the EDO. Now did you happen to find this growing in a near by tree ? Or, as is more likely, did you take it with you ?

Hmmm .... bunch of violent hypocrites - hopefully the police will break a few of your bones next time.

On dear, oh dear.

The unscrubbed of the world decide what is a worthy business and what should be erradicated.

Smash EDO ? Or smash the police ? Or just smash whatever does not fit in to your nice world where evil does not happen and therefore does not need to be addressed.

Let's see you contribute to society. Get a worthwhile job - medical, social, charitable - all decent causes, where you can have a warm glow when get return home from work. Believe me, a half of cider always tastes better when you buy it out of money earnt.

So, trundle back to your home towns and make a contribution to society that you and others can be proud of. You really will not be making a difference to world peace by targeting firms that are legally permitted to manufacture items that are used to defend this country.

Take your violence elsewhere, dressed up as 'ethical thuggery', it disgusts us locals and we really could do without it.

Smash EDO claim to speak for the people of Brighton.

That looks a bit silly now, doesn't it?

After reading some of the fascistic posts on this website, it surprises me to think that people this oppressive actually exist. But to those of you who are just mis-informed and believe that you live in a democracy and that anarchism is chaos, read this.

What is democratic about anarchism? Anarchism is pure democracy.

Democracy means, simply, rule by the people. And that’s what anarchism is – by removing hierarchy, an anarchist society allows the populace to control the direction of society from the ground up.

That’s more 'democratic' than our government. In our government, a small, elected minority rules, supposedly as representatives of the populace. But can that minority really appreciate the opinions of the thousands beneath them? Even though they are elected, often it’s only as the lesser of two evils. And they usually have a greater calling than the voices of the masses: their own image, and of course, money.

What is anarchism then? It’s not chaos: anarchism was characterized as a madly violent thirst for destruction by the governments of the 19th century, and nothing has changed since then. To them, anarchism was a considerable threat to their power: it was an enormous social movement demanding total equality, and total freedom: politically, socially, and economically. That “destructive lunatics” stereotype is perpetuated, but what is anarchism really? What does it mean to be an anarchist?

Anarchists envision a society run by the people, where each can live his own life any way he or she wants without fear. Anarchists don’t elect corruptible representatives and give them the power to make decisions for us. We simply make the decisions ourselves. And what are the rights in this society? Essentially, we’ll have the right to do *anything* that doesn’t breach that equal right of others.

Individuals decide what to do with themselves. Entire communities decide what to do with society. It’s that simple. The people rule, directly. That’s a purer democracy than we could ever pretend to have in this republic.

The protest, as an act of free speech, is democratic action. If only our “representatives�
� can speak and advocate change, whom do they represent? And, as far as I’m concerned, anarchism is as democratic as you can get.

I think you have some misconceptions about anarchism, though. I personally suggest you go read about it. Anarchists have a long history, and in the USA too. From anarchistic thinkers like Emerson and Thoreau (some of our country’s greatest philosophers) to declared anarchists such as Emma Goldman, Benjamin Tucker, and Voltairine de Cleyre, to name just a few.

Anarchists have been behind the causes of liberty long before either party touched them: abolitionism, racial equality, feminism, free speech, queer rights, and fair labor were some of the major causes they came to first. They influenced the formation of such vital groups as the ACLU, when a *Democratic* president (Wilson) was deporting people on the basis of their ideas (the Espionage Act of 1917).

So I do hope you’ll drop the uninformed bias against anarchists and go learn about them rather than resort to invective. You’ll probably find more to like than you were expecting. There are anarchist works, from history and the present day, all over the internet. I invite you to consider them– perhaps not to bring you over to our side, but at least to understand what our side is about.

Just to add to my last post, if you just want to back up the mainstream media in scape-goating, labeling and villianizing anarchists based on lies and false accusations, then you are no better than them and will be confronted for your complacence and defense of the disease that is strangling our society. We will take our black flags with us to the conventions, and they will fly by the thousands. For a world free of domination and sham democracy, for anarchy!

@FTP

Just got up then?

1. Redshoes - "And when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital with a serious injury or a condition, maybe ill ask you a bunch of assuming questions about your life and work before i deem you good enough to treat as a human being?"
Er...it is not "your" hospital. It has been paid for by British taxpayers (and as you are a "full time student" I assume you are not a tax payer). God help us all if someone as illiterate as yourself(punctuation
, spelling, capital letters) can qualify as a doctor. If I ever end up in hospital please make yourself known to me so that I can ask for someone competent instead.
There is only one reason for wearing a mask on a demonstration - to break the law and try to get away with it, so don't give me this "privacy" nonsense - you are on a public demonstration - YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
In a few years' time, when you have a job, family and responsibilities, you will look back at your actions and words with shame and embarassment.
2. Smelly anarchist - "I am a self described anarchist, i often smell quite bad (especially when i have to spend all day running away from police). I have on occasion literally hugged trees, as well as engaged in activity that some would consider to be violent with police. i have even willfully destroyed property at demos in the past. and no i don´t pay council tax or have a job.
so yeah say you like about me. i´m sure if i met you i´d hate you as much as you would me".
Well, that's enough said by you in your first couple of paragraphs for me to know that the rest of your post is just ignorant drivel without wasting my time reading it.

Excellent idea Isaac - although I'm off to the Doctor first to ensure that my jabs are up to date before I come into contact with them in close quarters.

Next time do not send the police in. Let the protesters have a "peaceful" protest. Let them all reach the factory. When the riot starts surround them, record it all and arrest them for criminal damage.

can someone please point me in the direction of the video thats shows the protesters starting the violence?

the video on here clearly shows it was the police that hit out first and the then the protesters defending themselves.

where is this definitive evidence that shows us as jobless, dirty, scrounging, violent, good for nothing, drains on society?

i again would like to point out that most of us do have jobs in education, healthcare, community based projects, charity work and lots of other socially positive jobs.

this view that all protesters are scum is STUPID! you say without thinking or remembering that the very rights you have today came from people standing up to the state.

and you all claim we are thick one's...

do some research.....

Lester Beck wrote:
Let's start with a quotation shall we?

"Of course, like at many protests, there were a small number of individuals who clearly set out to cause trouble but you must remember that the vast majority of us wanted to make our point in a non-violent way. The police's overbearing tactics just served to antagonise people and ended up doing more harm than good."

When will those associated with Smash EDO take responsibility for their action? If indeed it is a small minority of hangers-on who turn your demos violent, why can't you police those people? They at least have some aims in common with you. Surely you should be able to either direct their aims or prevent them from taking your protests in the wrong direction. How can you accuse the Police methods of dealing with them when you do nothing about such people yourselves? Answer: it's much easier to 'blame the state' than to accept responsibility.

Second Quotation:

"and as far as the violence goes, it was all 1 sided. any violence by protesters was self-defence.."

Of course it was. I think anybody who has watched any of the videos from the day can see that it wasn't. But again, this suits your purpose doesn't it? Can you honestly say that there was no violence on Smash EDO's part? Before you argue about the 'small minority', refer back to my first point. Stop passing the buck, take the blinkers off and conduct your protests in a more effective way.

Quotation Three:

"The police took their clubs and truncheons with them to this demonstration. Clearly they went intent on violence"

The Police take their batons with them to every job. Burglaries, drink drivers - even sudden deaths. Wearing uniform and equipment does not constitute intent. No doubt the stones and paint thrown at Police just happened to be lying in the road. No, I don't believe that either.

Quotation Four

"The very fact that the police have medics just shows what they are there for.If the police werent voilent then they wouldnt need medics!"

This shows no such thing. It shows that the Police have to take responsibility for their actions. Let's imagine a protestor hit a Police Officer and caused him or her an injury. Would that protestor stay to check that officer's welfare? I doubt it. They'd more likely say he/she deserved it for being being 'a puppet of the state', score it 1-0 and walk away. The best part about this quotation is that the author finished by saying

"..and when i finish my degree and you walk into my hospital.."

Presumably hospitals are only there for violence too - otherwise why would we need them or their staff Such is the twisted, blinkered logic.

Here is my favourite quotation

"WE WERE PROTESTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE THAT MOST OF US HAVE NEVER MET, IN PLACES WE'VE NEVER BEEN TO. TO NOT GET BOMBED, DRIVEN TO NEAR DEATH, HAVE THEIR FAMILIES TAKEN AND THEIR LIVES DESTROYED BY INVADING COUNTRIES!."

Which is really what it's all about isn't it? Do you imagine the people for whom you protest are cheering you on? Do they even WANT your support? You don't know. This means you can never be judged as either a success or a failure. Your protests pass without the people of Iraq, Palestine or Israel even batting an eyelid. You aren't succeeding. You can't be judged as failing either. But what is nice about this is that it can't be measured and that means you can all feel really good about yourselves without worrying about results. You can tell yourselves that YOU did YOUR bit. Well done you.

To the casual onlooker you come across very differently. You turn up, make a bit of noise, achieve very little (EDO is still there) and then walk away blaming everybody else for any damage or distress you may have caused.

(and before you ask, no I wasn't there and yes I am)

we not only imagine they are cheering us on, we KNOW they are! they have come to the demos and shown their support for what we are doing.

and how would they not be happy that we are fighting against the powers that keep their lives a misery?. its in this country that people can change it. we can protest against the people that drop the bombs. they can only get bombed...

ever tried waving a banner at paveway bomb as it's crashing through your living room window?... i doubt it would listen...

nemesis_ben wrote:
I just want to thank all of those that took part in the demo for scaring the living daylights out of my children and hundreds of other school children that were trying to get home from the several local schools that were on the route of the march. So much for a peaceful protest. Also, who has to pay for the additional Police officers that were brought in from other Counties? That'll be the Council Tax payers in Brighton and Hove.. I'm guessing a large number of the protesters live in squats or student accomodation so aren't paying their share of the bill.. Thanks a bunch you time wasters that need to go out and get jobs and leave the citizens of Brighton & Hove to go about their business without the fear of getting a brick thrown at them because a factory makes tiny little solanoids that go in passenger planes, not just fighter jets!! Perhaps boeing are planning on putting skud missles on their new passenger planes in the future!?

One of my children walked past the Level on the way home from school,and was also scared, but only by the savagery of the police.

nemesis_ben wrote:
I just want to thank all of those that took part in the demo for scaring the living daylights out of my children and hundreds of other school children that were trying to get home from the several local schools that were on the route of the march. So much for a peaceful protest. Also, who has to pay for the additional Police officers that were brought in from other Counties? That'll be the Council Tax payers in Brighton and Hove.. I'm guessing a large number of the protesters live in squats or student accomodation so aren't paying their share of the bill.. Thanks a bunch you time wasters that need to go out and get jobs and leave the citizens of Brighton & Hove to go about their business without the fear of getting a brick thrown at them because a factory makes tiny little solanoids that go in passenger planes, not just fighter jets!! Perhaps boeing are planning on putting skud missles on their new passenger planes in the future!?

One of my children walked past the Level on the way home from school,and was also scared, but only by the savagery of the police.

MyWord wrote:
How defensive these poor little "innocent" twits are now. Take note all you anarchists or protestors (or whatever you are); whether you claim you're on benefits or not; whether you work or go to university (of course the little lambs always follow) or do nothing; whether or not you sit in trees drinking scrumpy or hug the trees; or are hash heads; the fact is you have embarrassed yourselves with your violent, aggressive and childish behaviour towards the whole of Brighton Town residents/workers/ch ildren. (Read above, the majority hate you). Maybe we should find out where you all live/work and stand outside screaming, fighting and smelling and see how you like it. I must say. I wish it had rained yesterday, you may all be smelling a little better today. You're all an insult to Human beings and your defensive comments are boring. Oh and by the way, was the demo about EDO, anti war or just to have a go at the old bill and irritate everyone else like a flee bite ... ha ha ha ha!

Bella 99 wrote:
You accuse us of being "childish", yet the fact that you've resorted to playground insults shows that you have nothing informed or constructive to say.

Like I said before, there was a small minority of people who acted in an aggressive manner. But how exactly have we embarrassed ourselves? We got a fair amount of support from passers-by and observers and have undoubtedly raised awareness of our cause.

In response to your question, the demo was against the EDO factory in Brighton and as such was also against the arms trade in general. You can find out more about it by visiting the Smash EDO website.

Really? (You sure about that?) As said ... grow up!

MyWord wrote:
How defensive these poor little "innocent" twits are now. Take note all you anarchists or protestors (or whatever you are); whether you claim you're on benefits or not; whether you work or go to university (of course the little lambs always follow) or do nothing; whether or not you sit in trees drinking scrumpy or hug the trees; or are hash heads; the fact is you have embarrassed yourselves with your violent, aggressive and childish behaviour towards the whole of Brighton Town residents/workers/ch ildren. (Read above, the majority hate you). Maybe we should find out where you all live/work and stand outside screaming, fighting and smelling and see how you like it. I must say. I wish it had rained yesterday, you may all be smelling a little better today. You're all an insult to Human beings and your defensive comments are boring. Oh and by the way, was the demo about EDO, anti war or just to have a go at the old bill and irritate everyone else like a flee bite ... ha ha ha ha!

Bella 99 wrote:
You accuse us of being "childish", yet the fact that you've resorted to playground insults shows that you have nothing informed or constructive to say.

Like I said before, there was a small minority of people who acted in an aggressive manner. But how exactly have we embarrassed ourselves? We got a fair amount of support from passers-by and observers and have undoubtedly raised awareness of our cause.

In response to your question, the demo was against the EDO factory in Brighton and as such was also against the arms trade in general. You can find out more about it by visiting the Smash EDO website.

Really? (You sure about that?) As said ... grow up!

Ok lets get one thing straight from the start. Im an ex soldier and im no angel and I have done things in differant parts of the world no man should ever have to do.So that aside lets look at the facts shall we, you protest because EDO makes parts that release bombs, killing innocent people and saving soldiers lives in hostile war zones, spilling their blood for the rights and freedoms you lot seem to take for granted.
(Hostile zones people, not police that wont let you have your own way).Bombs used in Iraq and Bosnia. Oh wait why were we there. Oh yeah oil, wrong because Saddam Hussien gassed an entire village. Men Women and Children. I know I was part of Desert Storm. I have seen the photos and the ruined villages.I have seen frightened people. I have seen the mass graves and the execution spots and I was really happy when the bombs being dropped were stopping me and my buddys getting killed. I dont recall seeing any flag waving protesters there. "Not in my name", No way you havent got the guts to stand up in a Hostile zone and fight for freedom. You havent got the guts to get your hands bloody for anybody elses freedom. Things are worse in Iraq, really just ask the Kurdish people who's familes were taken away and executed for no reason.
You say bombs used in palastine. Er isnt that a Terrorist state once run by a self confessed terrorist and now run by a recognised terrorist goverment ( Hamas anybody). And havent they fired rockets and bombs into neighbouring Israel killing families, and didnt they Kidnap, torture and Kill two israeli Soldiers who's bodies were only returned to their families for burial after the release of several terrorsits convicted of terrorism by a jury of their peers!And you state that Edo ship components to Austalia . Well the only people they are fighting is the Taliban in Afghanistan. So if your against them being bombed it can only mean one thing.You support the taliban.
You cover your faces ( So do terrorists)
You support a terrorist Goverment
(So do terrorists)
and you support the Taliban ( Linked to Terrorism)
And you hate the democratic goverment and the Social state and would see it all brought down.
Protesters I think not, your closet terrorists and now we know.
Dont give me your drivel, pick up a gun and go and fight for your terrorist buddies, You might at least get to see the fruits of EDO's Labour first hand.

i really dont understand most of you people...

calling us terrorists, claiming we only care about ourselves. saying we are childish...

can you not see we are trying to make the world a better place?...not with the excuses of money or religion...but because we believe that everyone is equal.that they are ALL entitled to the same treatment, rights, opportunities and resources and eachother.

if it were you in their situation you would be crying out for help!..as they do..

whether it be violently or non-violently. if you think that standing up for the rights of human beings(whether you know them or not) is wrong... you have some serious moral issues to contend with...

and micheal knight...

you fought for democracy.. check out the ITT corporation on wikipedia or any other site you can find that has information on them. see how they supported the Nazi's, providing the S.S with funds and helping build the Luftwaffe fighter plane. plus their involvement with various other fascist rulers.

still want them in Brighton?
still want them in England?
still want them to exist??!!!

they play both sides for cash!
cheaply earn't blood money!

maybe the argus and all national newspapers should be reporting on this...

maybe they and YOU should be asking why the British government hasn't been questioned on breaking the law. allowing EDO/ITT to trade with Israel who have been illegally invading and occupying Palestine for many years!

i really dont understand most of you people...

calling us terrorists, claiming we only care about ourselves. saying we are childish...

can you not see we are trying to make the world a better place?...not with the excuses of money or religion...but because we believe that everyone is equal.that they are ALL entitled to the same treatment, rights, opportunities and resources and eachother.

if it were you in their situation you would be crying out for help!..as they do..

whether it be violently or non-violently. if you think that standing up for the rights of human beings(whether you know them or not) is wrong... you have some serious moral issues to contend with...

and micheal knight...

you fought for democracy.. check out the ITT corporation on wikipedia or any other site you can find that has information on them. see how they supported the Nazi's, providing the S.S with funds and helping build the Luftwaffe fighter plane. plus their involvement with various other fascist rulers.

still want them in Brighton?
still want them in England?
still want them to exist??!!!

they play both sides for cash!
cheaply earn't blood money!

maybe the argus and all national newspapers should be reporting on this...

maybe they and YOU should be asking why the British government hasn't been questioned on breaking the law. allowing EDO/ITT to trade with Israel who have been illegally invading and occupying Palestine for many years!

I didn't know that ITT had supported the Nazis. I still don't, even though I have now read about it, and found it interesting and humbling.

It rakes up anger and sorrow.

Then I return to think about the protests and I get even more angry.

How dare the protesters be so swaggeringly eager to use this as a tool to stir up hate?

Now, ITT is a global corporation employing many people, making a lot of useful stuff, I read. A bit like Germany, really. By SmashEDO logic (heavy irony there) all Germans should be drummed out of Brighton - weren't they involved in Nazism at some point or am I so addled by McDonalds that I dreamt that?

Keep posting, anarchists. You are giving the rest of us (fascists, and morons by your superior judgement) a good eyeful of how you really are.

Being part of an angry mob, surrounding a place of work that YOU don't agree with, throwing stones, intimidating its staff and anybody in your path including me, and painting it with slogans reminds me of something. Can you think what it is?

I pay taxes, i have a full time job, i shower and i was on the demo. The police reaction was like nothing i ever expected to see in the uk. i would like to ask all those that are critical how they would react if a man in the street smacked them with a batten then they can maybe understand why these protesters have the attitude that they have. also i feel so sorry for all those mums that couldn't pick there kids up from school. come on guys what about all the kids in iraq and the mothers that have to live in fear every day, i have a friend that has lost 6 family members in the conflict (a couple from air assaults by f16 and f15 fighter jets which edo make parts for)one day of disruption for one of the richest cities in the world so that people can take to the streets and show that they are not excepting edo in our town i only wish that this happened in ever city then maybe some of my friends family would be able to feel safe and walk down the street.

its not a tool to stir up hate...

its just another 1 of the many reasons we dont want this company in our city...

it might surprise you that not all Germans were pro nazi... only the fascist and misguided ones. and no, i wouldnt mind at all (infact i would be happy) if all the fascists in brighton were to leave. german or not.

and we are not trying to intimidate you, merely point out the reasons for our actions...

if you are too blind to see that what we are trying to do is for the good of EVERYONE, that is your problem...

also, it wasnt just "at some point". ITT were prosecuted by the American government just last year for breaking the law on weapons supply...

"ever tried waving a banner at paveway bomb as it's crashing through your living room window?... i doubt it would listen..."

I'm not the one waving banners. You are. In fact, just_me is quite an accurate name really.

ps - throwing paint and stones is no more effective.

Micheal Knight wrote:
Ok lets get one thing straight from the start. Im an ex soldier and im no angel and I have done things in differant parts of the world no man should ever have to do.So that aside lets look at the facts shall we, you protest because EDO makes parts that release bombs, killing innocent people and saving soldiers lives in hostile war zones, spilling their blood for the rights and freedoms you lot seem to take for granted.
(Hostile zones people, not police that wont let you have your own way).Bombs used in Iraq and Bosnia. Oh wait why were we there. Oh yeah oil, wrong because Saddam Hussien gassed an entire village. Men Women and Children. I know I was part of Desert Storm. I have seen the photos and the ruined villages.I have seen frightened people. I have seen the mass graves and the execution spots and I was really happy when the bombs being dropped were stopping me and my buddys getting killed. I dont recall seeing any flag waving protesters there. "Not in my name", No way you havent got the guts to stand up in a Hostile zone and fight for freedom. You havent got the guts to get your hands bloody for anybody elses freedom. Things are worse in Iraq, really just ask the Kurdish people who's familes were taken away and executed for no reason.
You say bombs used in palastine. Er isnt that a Terrorist state once run by a self confessed terrorist and now run by a recognised terrorist goverment ( Hamas anybody). And havent they fired rockets and bombs into neighbouring Israel killing families, and didnt they Kidnap, torture and Kill two israeli Soldiers who's bodies were only returned to their families for burial after the release of several terrorsits convicted of terrorism by a jury of their peers!And you state that Edo ship components to Austalia . Well the only people they are fighting is the Taliban in Afghanistan. So if your against them being bombed it can only mean one thing.You support the taliban.
You cover your faces ( So do terrorists)
You support a terrorist Goverment
(So do terrorists)
and you support the Taliban ( Linked to Terrorism)
And you hate the democratic goverment and the Social state and would see it all brought down.
Protesters I think not, your closet terrorists and now we know.
Dont give me your drivel, pick up a gun and go and fight for your terrorist buddies, You might at least get to see the fruits of EDO's Labour first hand.

Clearly Michael Knight, you read none of my previous post or you would realise there is a struggle going on internationally to fight for a democratic society, which currently doesn't exist in any form across the globe. On this island we live in a 2 party creeping dictatorship in which people like you, the 'soldiers of democracy' are endorsing creeping fascism, and would fight for the greater glory of Britain (the notion of a nation ultimately ends in nationalism and therefore fascism) without realising you are on the very opposite side to which you think you are fighting. There is a war on, not only in the middle-east, but in this country, in the USA, in every country in which the a state exists. We will not stop fighting until we win and gain equality for all, not a notion of false equality in which people live in today, where they are quite contented (yet ultimately bored) in their comfortable homes when there are people on the streets who are unable to get a job due to the polarized society in which we live where the poor remain poor and the rich get richer.

And you are wrong when you say 'No way you haven't got the guts to stand up in a Hostile zone and fight for freedom.' That is precisely what we are doing. We live in a hostile zone in this country, the hostility is shown clearly on the comments on this website, and by the actions of the police on Wednesday. We will stand and fight, we have done so before and we will do so again. And we will win.

Bring on the credit crunch and lets see how many of you start opposing state policies.

I have a friend who is in the riot police, but is currently injured and could not assist in policing the demonstration last week. On Saturday this officer told me that they were "gutted" that they couldn't be there. I said jokingly "Wanted to get in there and have a crack, did you?" - to which they enthusiastically agreed and called them "bastards" and "scum"...

...makes you think, doesn't it, if the Police actually arrived at the demonstration with that attitude?

if the police got to do more like that i'd join up in a flash! Well done this time boys in Blue!

Hmmm, I think they can do without you, edstan. I would feel far safer knowing you're not in the service.

I'm not really interested in the protest as such and I think there are far bigger things going on in this country to protest about, but I am interested in the attitudes of the police. I always thought they were there "to serve and protect", rather than wallop people over the head with sticks whether they were provoked or not.

To shut down the arms trade and prevent wars, there is far more direct action that could be taken, and is being taken by thinking people. EDO is actually a ridiculously irrelevant target. So, we all know that's not what the protests are about.

The protests are actually a vehicle for anarchy. Anarchy is a very interesting topic, but best left in the lecture room with spotty kids studying politics rather than as a new practical proposition. In an ugly world containing 6 billion people, the organised and corrupt chaos of semi democracies, dictatorships, bullying policemen and war is actually better than anarchy. We should strive to make it better still, but that's not what the protesters want - they want to replace it with a soap free zone.

So, thanks for the offer to make things better, just_me, (reminds me of the Harry Enfield character with the flat cap), but we don't need your 'help'.

oyl, your the sort of person that it is pointless to debate with. a bigot...and everyone can see it...

your idiotic statements like "they want to replace it with a soap free zone." just go to show the level, or lack of, reasonable argument you have to back up why living in the "organised and corrupt chaos of semi democracies, dictatorships, bullying policemen and war is actually better than anarchy."

UP WITH THE SPOTTY KIDS!