Students invite USI President Gary Redmond to demonstration against brutality.

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Sunday November 07, 2010 13:20

by Lorcan Myles - FEE

Demonstration called for Wednesday against police violence. Students call on all opposed to police violence against those who protest to attend.

USI President Gary Redmond and Ógra Fianna Fail

Lorcan Myles, spokesperson for the Free Education for Everyone campaign, today extended an invitation to Gary Redmond to attend a demonstration next Wednesday evening against the police brutality seen last week.

On Merrion Row, hundreds of members of the national student union, the Union of Students in Ireland, were assaulted by the Public Order Unit. One young woman was dumped unconscious on the street by police officers having been removed from the Department of Finance, and baton attacks on the crowd were frequent and indiscriminate.

“Gary Redmond had issued a press statement condemning those at Merrion Row before the extent of the violence dealt out to them became clear” Myles said. “Video footage from Merrion Row has since shown that the violence came about as a result of the actions of the Public Order Unit. Several students were badly injured during events outside the Department of Finance, a fact by and large ignored in the media”

An image of Gary Redmond among members of Ógra Fianna Fail UCD and several government ministers next to a banner encouraging students to ‘VOTE FIANNA FÁIL FOR JOBS’ has resurfaced since events, and leaves serious questions about the ideology of Mr. Redmond. “His refusal to condemn attacks upon his own members, launched by the police force of a state growing increasingly uncomfortable with any dissent, indicate perfectly where his feelings rest on the issue” Myles stated.

A demonstration has been called for Wednesday, meeting at 6pm at the Wolfe Tone statue next to Stephen’s Green park and opposite the Department where the Garda riot took place. Students have requested that those present march behind a single banner, and peacefully show their opposition to heavy handed policing. “With the budget ahead of us, such Garda violence could become an all too familiar sight.” Myles stated. "Examples like Rossport and the student demo could become much more common, something nobody wants to see"

Students and supporters will walk to Pearse Street Garda Station.

Owing to the immediacy of the demo, we appeal to those who support it to promote it as best they can.

*ENDS*

JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION.
WEDS 6PM WOLFE TONE STATUE.