"May Day, May Day – Any Gardai About?" NSP

by Noise Hack Wed Apr 21, 2004 06:11

Northside People: 21st April 2004
Page 8

A broad alliance of different political parties, trade unionists, community activists and campaigners recently held a press conference to outline their plans of protest for May Day in Dublin and give evidence to undermine what they say is the hype of violence from the gardai, government and media.

Among the speakers at the press conference included Rory Hearne from Another Europe is Possible, organiser of the May Day Carnival, Mick O Reilly, ATGWU, Patricia McKenna, Green Party MEP and Mary Lou McDonald from Sinn Fein.

“This alliance believes May Day will be peaceful and that the talk of 1000’s of anarchists coming from Europe is false and part of a strategy of fear and tension in the run up to May Day and George Bush’s visit,” said Rory Hearne.

“We will be calling on the government not to place riot police and the army on the streets on the day as this will lead to tension which we believe is unnecessary”.

Mr Hearne added that the carnival would be a colourful peaceful event that will begin at the central bank, Dame Street at mid-day on May 1 and continue to the Phoenix Park where there will be music.

Susan George, the internationally renowned debt and global justice campaigner, who is also vice-president of ATTAC, France will also travel to speak at the May Day Carnival.

by David Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:39

that anarchists are not violent people instead of implying that mayday will be peaceful because there will so few anarchists around

by Joe Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:28

Workers Solidarity is delivered door to door over quite a large area of Stoneybatter, Cabra and Broadstone. So people reading a claim by some guy in the local paper they pick up in the supemaket that the paper they get through the front door doesn't exist will doubt everything else he has to say.

Probably a bit much though to expect the SWP to oppose the anarchist - baiting thats going on in the media.

http://struggle.ws/wsm/ws/2004/index.html

Through the front door

by "Dangerous" community worker Wed Apr 21, 2004 14:50

What gets me is that any supposedly intelligent person would think that the demonstrators were in any way a threat to the local people. Many of the demonstrators are people who are involved in community organisations. I note that the person who raised the issue is a Labour Party person. Surely if he was that active in the community himself he would know better.

by Joe Wed Apr 21, 2004 15:36

Note that they reprint Roystons 'ban anarchists from Dublin' crap but fail to quote the DGN response to this article (from their last edition) at all!


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May Day, May Day - any gardai about?

IT has been alleged that gardai will leave Northside residents to fend for themselves should serious trouble break out during the May Day protests surrounding EU dignitaries visiting Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.

Following a meeting in the community centre on the Navan Road last week between residents and gardai, Cllr Brendan Carr (Lab) said that both he and residents were reliably informed by a Garda representative that if there is real trouble at the Phoenix Park, then the gardai will move to protect EU dignitaries attending the State function at Farmleigh House - even if this means leaving the local residents to fend for themselves.

?As far as I am concerned everybody should be afforded the same level of Garda protection, regardless of who they are,? said Cllr Carr.

?The fact that parents, children and the elderly will be virtual prisoners in their own homes for the duration of the visit is bad enough, but to be told that their safety does not rank as highly as that of our EU visitors is simply not acceptable.?

Cllr Carr added that he is calling on the Justice Minister to give an assurance to the residents living in the vicinity of the Phoenix Park that neither they nor their families will be put at risk as a result of the EU dignitaries visiting Farmleigh House.

A spokesperson for the Garda press office declined to comment on Cllr Carr?s allegations and said that a statement from the gardai regarding security arrangements for May Day would be issued in due course.

However, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Royston Brady, has made a call for anarchists to be prevented from entering Dublin in the run up to the May Day protests.

?Gardai should step up their presences at Dublin Port and the Euro port in Rosslare to ensure that those intent on causing trouble, damage or injury are prevented from entering the country,? said the Lord Mayor.

?In the past we have seen European police forces co-operating and sharing information to prevent football hooligans from crossing borders, a similar type of operation is needed to prevent violence in Dublin.?

However, one of the main organisers of forthcoming May Day carnival in Dublin, Rory Hearne, has dismissed claims that protesters are intent on causing trouble at the event.

?We believe that May Day will be peaceful and that the talk of thousands of anarchists coming from Europe is false and part of a strategy of fear and tension in the run up to May Day and George Bush?s visit,? said Mr Hearne.

by Observer Wed Apr 21, 2004 16:39

"Probably a bit much though to expect the SWP to oppose the anarchist - baiting thats going on in the media"
(Joe, WSM Above)
What????

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe Hearne is a member of the SWP and he has continually attempted at every opportunity to defned protest in the media and the media hype of anarchist violence.
Joe, seems hell bent on causing shit between left groups than actually making an argument against the state mobilisation. Good luck to you, your doing a great job for the cops.

by Joe - indeed WSM but writing in personal cap Wed Apr 21, 2004 16:54

Observer I'm referring to the line "We believe that May Day will be peaceful and that the talk of thousands of anarchists coming from Europe is false and part of a strategy of fear and tension in the run up to May Day and George Bush's visit, said Mr Hearne."

Now imagine the situation were reversed and the media were whipping up a storm about 1000's of violent SWPers coming from Britain to cause trouble. And imagine we were to answer this by saying 'the talk of thousands of SWPers coming from Britain is false and part of a strategy of fear and tension". An SWPer like youself might well consider this not much of a response to red baiting.

It's not that much of a deal, I think all in all the SWP are handling this a lot better than March 1st. But it might be no harm to include the idea that anarchists also have a 'right' to protest!

by Declan Wed Apr 21, 2004 18:05

"However, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Royston Brady, has made a call for anarchists to be prevented from entering Dublin in the run up to the May Day protests."

what the fuck is he like? will people have to pass through check points into the city and only be allowed to if they can show they hold non anarchistic principles? Or perhaps he assumes all anarchists wear black and look the same.

What's the point of the articles and the messing of the counciller involved, who is saying his constituents will be virtual prisoners in their homes?! Is the Northside completely crime ridden all of a sudden or does he think protesters are going to be banging on people's doors demanding tea and biscuits?

Stop the madness cos it's beyond a joke now. Someone's gonna get hurt

by Northsider Thu Apr 22, 2004 04:24

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=64222&condense_comments=false#comment68447

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=64222&condense_comments=false#comment68613