The Smash EDO Brighton Mayday protests on YouTube (From The Argus)

looks like the police where told not to arrest anyone in case they died

I would just like to clear up a few issues regarding the protest. I was on the march and although the police may have seemed calm in the centre of town when we started heading out of town they were much more keen on their batons. The protest was largely good natured and many local young people joined in. If the police had allowed the march’s progression we would have been out of the town very quickly causing minimal issues. The people dancing on the store at the pier at the end of the day were mostly local kids. We took precautions in regards to the public, for example, telling everyone to go around the children’s park rather than through it. The police were outnumbered but continually blocked routes rather than minimise disorder.

I feel the protest was proportionate given the fact the EDO factory makes weapons delivery systems to be used in illegal wars and McDonalds owns 16,000 shares in EDO. A million people or more marched in London against the war in Iraq, but it went ahead. Complying with the powers that be leaves your cause ignored; doing the opposite gets you negative publicity but you have to get the issue out somehow. If you think we got it wrong, my challenge to you is to get out on the streets and show us how it’s done.

I agree with partygoer.

I missed the demo because I was on my way back from Strasbourg.

The police there used even more repressive measures during the G20 meetings. Residents of one district were not allowed to leave their homes without police permission. Not even to buy bread or to keep an appointment at the hairdressers.

There are a number of burnt out buildings, including shops and hotels.

So just how effective is heavy and violent policing in keeping the peace?

Another video at:

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=DQKkJPmfw
5g

And another video of Mayday in Brighton

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=qterd54Eo
3o