- XR Rebel Daily #3 (incl report from Lambeth bridge kettle) Archived Message
Posted by Ian M
on September 5, 2020, 10:29 am
|
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2020/09/04/rebel-daily-3-pop-the-kettle-on-authoritarian-regime-is-starting/ Rebel Daily 3: Pop the kettle on, ‘Authoritarian Regime’ is starting September 04, 2020 by Extinction Rebellion The Macho Enforcement Team (MET) shows its muscle. Photo: Gareth Morris By day 3, the Rebellion has fully warmed up: we’ve seen bold and beautiful actions all over the place. And yet, as we bring more love, the police bring more aggression. At Lambeth Bridge we saw the most shocking scenes of this Rebellion so far. During a critical mass bike ride, a swarm of police vans rushed in and kettled over 200 peaceful protestors. The Met held rebels in the rain for hours, searched and arrested everyone (including bystanders, independent legal observers and welfare rebels) and confiscated hundreds of bikes. Full story below. Sadly, this unwarranted aggression is in no way an exception. Whether it’s misinformation, disproportionate use of force, or straight-up racism, this country’s police is once again being employed in an attack on our civil liberties. We know that many officers are lovely people – with some even questioning their role – but in terms of policy, it’s looking like we’re on the path to Belarus. As one person on Lambeth Bridge described as she awaited ‘processing’, more frightening than the process or even the climate science is the thought that “We are up against a wall that doesn’t want to hear the truth”. This writer finds it scary too. This rebel’s crime? Holding a banner on the pavement. Photo: Jonathon Vines But if the police are a wall, we’re a flood. They hope to scare us off the streets and fortify the myth that we are powerless – but we know better. We’re here because we’re out of other options, and we know that peaceful civil disobedience works. These outrageous moves by the Met could even indicate our success: arbitrary use of force suggests a state that’s insecure, not ‘strong and stable’. This illegitimate system’s foundations are starting to quiver. Heavy-handed police response to peaceful protestors in Cardiff. If you want to stand with us against this ecocidal tyranny, please join us on the streets (see upcoming), in cyberspace, or consider donating to our legal defence fund. Intimidation will not work – we’re not going anywhere. See this moving video of day 3’s action. For amazing recent photo coverage, see here and check out XR Unchained. And for an update on the CEE Bill, see here. [content warning: Monbiot] [...] Illegal mass arrests on Lambeth Bridge 3 SEP | London Disturbing scenes unfolded on Lambeth Bridge last night in the first big show of force from the Met police this Rebellion. Rebels arriving for a critical mass cycle action were shocked to find themselves kettled by the police with no warning— or option to leave. Lines of officers and vans prevented anyone leaving the bridge, whether compliant or not, and everyone there (over 200 cyclists, as well as legal observers, wellbeing rebels, bystanders and journalists) was arrested. One rebel reports being held for 6 hours on the pavement in a side road off Whitehall before being ‘de-arrested’. XR Legal was quick to point out that this is totally illegal, and are adding this to the growing list of police misconduct towards rebels. In a repeat of last October, we are considering taking legal action. You can help support rebels with legal fees here. We got plenty of video footage of you, Met. Netpol drew comparisons with another mass arrest of a critical mass at the 2012 Olympics (182 arrested). The arrest was found to be illegal and the police were ordered to compensate all the cyclists. In a strange turn of events, several passersby who happened to be on the bridge at the time had their Boris bikes confiscated by the police! We hate to think of the extra fines they racked up there. Such a blatant abuse of power is clearly meant to intimidate us and deter future disruption. Unlucky for you, Met police— our resolve will not be shaken and we’ll be back on the streets, demanding a real response to the crisis we face. We will not be bullied out of our right to protest. |
| Message Thread:
|