EuroMayday in Dublin

dublin | summit mobilisations | feature Saturday May 01, 2004 12:57 by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland

Reporting on a full day of actions across the city

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***EuroMayDay compilation of reports by IMC UK *** ***Live video stream from IMC Barcelona *** More *** Mayday Around The World *** Int'l reports on Irish actions

11.32 Very strong police presence on O'Connell St., but crowd is dispersing and only a handful remain at GPO. Riot squad is still visible.

11.15 Garda statements say some of those arrested are to come before special sitting at Cloverhill court tonight

10.52 March is at Dorset St., reports of a confrontational and provocative attitude being taken by police.

10.38 Crowd Now Passing the 'Joy' - 'The Rocky Road to Dublin Whack Fol al de Da'. Large group of riot police following; some emerged from vans as passed the prison.

10.35 From The Newswire: Firsthand Account of Events
EXCERPT: "When the demonstation was close to the police there was a call from the block near the front that the police were stopping the demo and people would try and continue - if anyone didn't want to take part they should move back. Some time later the block linked up and moved to push against the yellow jackets. Little was thrown at this point - some placards and cans."

10.00 RTE News Reporting 25 Arrests. Supposedly bad 'Internationals' rather than good 'Irish'

9.45 Bloc of 800 or so coming back into town en masse. First time Protesters have Gathered into a Coherent Group in an Hour. Going Down NCR. Mountjoy Direction.

9.42 Police getting Bored and Impatient: Feigning Baton Charges but not Carrying Through. Some injured people still behind Police lines

9.28 Messy Situation Developing: Horses being Used: A small group reports (unconfirmed as yet) the Gardai Attempted to Force them backwards into Horses. Slow process of pushing Crowd back the way they came. Various reports confirm that a few missiles (empty cans) from body of crowd was awnsered with a Police Baton charge. (8.40-8.55) There was NO concerted attack on Police at any stage. Riot Police 4 Deep following Slowly Retreating Crowd. Water cannon still in use

9.12 Irish television (RTÉ) showing images of riot squad and use of water cannon, reporting on unknown number of injuries and arrests: Reports from Scene say crowd are now marching back the way they came followed by Riot Squad and Cannons: Some still trapped by Police in Sidestreets. DGN legal support and Sky News both reporting 13 arrests.

9.04 Crowd Moving Back 20m or so:' Brave' People throwing stuff over heads of the frontline protesters: Report from Medic of two bad headwounds from Baton Charge: Cannon trying to walk Crowd Backwards: Snatch Squads Appearing From Sideroads according to a Medic: 'You Must Leave This Area Immediately' sez the Wag with Loudhailer: Crowd not Retreating: Police trying to force People down Side Roads

8.55 Last Warning Given: 2nd Cannon Now Deployed: Protesters sitting on Ground Taking Force of Cannons: 'Spokespeople from DGN and AEIP Pleading with Protesters to Leave. Not Working for Now

Further reports at "feature continued" link below - as it happened! 8.50 'RUC OUT OUT OUT' being chanted: This is a reference to provenance of the Gardai's New Toys

8.45 2nd Cannon Being Deployed: Baton Charge Took Place: One Bloody Head Injury Reported so Far

8.45 Crowd are standing Ground Booing Watercannon and Gardai : Batons Drawn : 'Water Water Everywhere and not a Drop to Drink' ;-)

8.40 Water Cannons Deployed and In Use: Crowd Retreat: Baton Charge Coming Now

8.40 RIOT Police moving up to Front Line: 30 in Padded Bloc: Tension Very High and Atmosphere Confrontational

8.35 WOMBLES Have Appeared at Front Line

8.32 Barricade in the Way: Crowd Advancing Anyway: No Riot Police there Yet

8.27 Face-Off with Gardai Now On: Tension High: Protesters Deciding if they will 'Continue'.

8.18 Gardai Getting into Formation: Tension Increasing: They got there on Double Deckers. They are 5 mins from Protesters

8.07 The march has now paused at the top of Navan Road - just at Ashington gate. Having a sit-down 200 yards from Park.

8.00 A Double Decker full of Gardai just went up the Nephin Road

7.27 Bring The Noise now on New Cabra Road / Navan Road

7.07 Bring The Noise now on Berkley Street Heading North: Classy Atmosphere

7.00 Bring The Noise Marchers Have Made it to The North Circular Road

6.40 Bring The Noise is now Hitting the Road North on O'Connell St. Estimates of numbers still varying between 1000 and 2000.

6.10 5000 have hit the street in Barcelona for their EuroMayday March. Black, Pink and Catalan Blocs. There is an English Language Filter on their Site.

6.00 Big Crowd Gathered at GPO, O'Connell St for beginning of Bring The Noise March to the EU Summit. Estimates so far at 1000- 2000. Better estimate soon hopefully.

5.15 No Borders Group Numbering Well Over 1000 now off to Top Oil at Amiens Street - Photos / Report

*** ANOTHER EUROPE IS POSSIBLE MARCH / CARNIVAL VIDEO ***

From The Newswire: Report from a Cork Anarchist Conspiracy Wideboy
On my way to the grassroots protest at Stevens Green I ran into the the Another Europe is Possible protest. It took up a large part of the quay. I was impressed at the turn out as they took up half the quay, I thought that there were not enough activists in Ireland to go round, but as I went to the Grassroots gig there were the usual contender punks, anarkos , press and police, it looked like a punks picnic. Then the flags went up and people appeared from left front and centre. I never saw so many heads so up for it !!!!!!!!

Another Europe is Possible Photo Report

TIMELINE UP TO 5PM

**** In Barcelona and Milano the EuroMayday Parades are also taking place this afternoon [Call]. For up to the minute information see IMC-Barcelona and IMC-Italy. Audio and Video streaming from Barcelona (Esp) | Audio streaming from Milano (It)****

4.40 No Borders Group (Now est. 1000 ppl) leaving Fitzwilliam SQ - Destination Unknown. Fitzwilliam Square Photos Here

4.00 Live Streaming Audio from EuroMayday in Barcelona (Spanish Lingo). Reports from Milan indicate 100,000 are on the street for EuroMayday. Milan Audio in Italian Lingo

3.50 IMCer on Scene Estimates No Borders Travelling Demo Grown to 500 or more. 150-200 people have now invaded the 'Private' Fitzwilliam Square with the assistance of a friendly passer by. Reclaim the City Indeed. Irish RTSers have been talking about doing this for Years. Police around but still all calm.

3.40 US Citizens have been warned by USGOV to stay out of Dublin Today

3.30 Stuck at Home? Get your Avatar On and Join the Very Rockin' EuroNetMarch

3.20 Banner Drop at old Magpie Squat - Homes not Jails - Reclaim Derelict Space - Police and loads of Press there - all quiet and relaxed so far.

3.00 No Borders On the Way To Leeson St for a spot of Squatting?

3.00 From The Newswire: Dublin's practically deserted, I've never seen it so quiet on a Saturday. March is at the Bridge by Heuston station now, Don Baker and King Sativa are due to play, interspersed with speeches. Guards are clustered in fours, chilling out and chatting about the football. no hint of problems in the city centre. March was peaceful, lots of "Fianna Fail are wankers" stuff, red/black banners and rainbow peace flags. Mostly its the usual suspects, there is as yet no visible contingent from overseas. Mind you they could be disguised as tourists in shades and t shirts, hand in hand on the streets or smoking pensively outside the doors of the bars. Business is definitely down, maybe Dublin's gone to the beach. Some Mammies are bringing kids to the Cyprus welcome out in Bray, ice creams and tunes. Who knows? It's Mayday, It's Bealtine, the dawn of a glorious summer. As the teenagers chant: "hooray hooray the first of May, outdoor sex begins today!" Rally due at GPO at 6 local time, organisers pissed off because of closure of Parkgate street and lack of access to the park. A couple of doors down from the GPO on O'Connell Street you will find Easons, a long established bookshop. Inside the front entrance they have a display of titles well known to anti globalisation activists - Naoim Klein, Michael Moore, Joseph Stiglitz. Looks like they're hoping for a bit of business from the hyped masses of protestors but all they've got are empty tills and smiling shop workers enjoying the easiest saturday a shop worker could possibly have.

2.50 No Borders moving off from Stephens Green at 3.00

2.35 Bridge at Heuston across to North of Liffey Sealed Off By Police - Lots and Lots of Them

2.30 No Border Crew chilling in Stephens Green till at least 3.00 / Jinks Lennon (Dundalk Massive) Rocking at Heuston - 'I was in a sex shop on capel st. / when the twin towers blew up-ah'

2.30 Another Europe is Possible related Radio Show
Conall O Caoimh from Comhlamh Trade Justice Group is speaking at the moment on Near FM 101.6 FM

2.00 No Riot Squad in Sight on AEIP March. Great Sunshine and Drumming - Estimates of Numbers have gone up to Two Thousand+

1.30 Another Europe is Possible March Has Kicked Off

Estimated numbers of 1000-1500 at gathering point for the AIEP March/Carnival

AEIP Statement - 'We will not be Intimidated'

AEIP and DGN Photos from Dame Street

11.00 No Borders Kicks Off
11-11.30 - Having left the city hall, the "No Borders" action (concerned with issues of immigration, asylum and the expansion of the EU) performed some stories about these issues on one of the Liffey bridges before marching off further into the city.

No Border Demo Photos
No Borders Video Clip From Indy Travelling Circus
Early Mayday Photos
No Borders Demo Photos form Travelling Circus
Speech from the Bridge