Baise Le Police

From a Stop the War Coalition email:

Many thanks to everyone who joined the George Bush Not Welcome Here demonstration last Sunday. Called at short notice and with Bush's movements kept secret till the last moment, we still mobilised over 3000 protestors. Disgracefully, and for the first time, a Stop the War demonstration was denied the right to march peacefully up Whitehall and past Downing Street, where George Bush was having dinner with Gordon Brown and -- among the other guests -- Rupert Murdoch.

Enforcing the ban on our march, the police attacked protestors with metal batons. At least three protestors received head wounds and many others were battered and bruised by blows to their arms, shoulders and backs.

One protester, who was hospitalised with a gashed head, described what happened, "First I was yelled at to move back from the barrier, but I couldn't move because there were so many behind me. Seconds later, I was hit by a number of policemen and policewomen. It was a very frightening experience."

Another said, "I was here for a peaceful protest -- this was our chance to show George Bush how despicable his war crimes are. The police were blood hungry -- it was absolutely unprovoked." To make matters worse police arrested 25 protestors and held many of them overnight, charging just three with minor offences. A few others were bailed pending possible charges. This aggression marked a new departure in policing of the anti-war movement. The Stop the War Coalition has formally complained to the home secretary Jacqui Smith and requested a meeting.

I say well done to our luminous allies for sorting those hippies out.