The G20 protestor who saw Ian Tomlinson die
02 April 2009
Gayle O'Donovan is a Manchester Green Party activist who attended the G20 protests. Here she describes her experience...
I went to the G20 to see the urban eco-village being created by Climate Camp on Bishopsgate. It was inspiring. Colourful pop-up tents and flowers every where. Bike-powered sound systems, a vegan kitchen, and workshops. All erected outside the European Climate Exchange to protest against the woeful carbon market system.
Late in the evening we got a call from a friend trapped in the police cordon outside the bank. He had been there for several hours in the heat with no water after receiving a head injury by the police. We were concerned for him and the people trapped in these conditions. We brought them water but the police would not allow us in to give it out. They said they were clearing the area. We saw the police chasing people back with dogs. A few minutes later we crossed the road and saw several medics beginning CPR on a man lying on the ground.
I am unsure whether Mr Tomlinson had intentionally gone to the G20 protest or if he was just trapped because of the police tactics. They are indiscriminate about who they corrall at protests, peaceful or not. Police shut off part of an area, trapping all inside the area…even city workers passing through. Parents and children and the elderly often get caught up in this tactic. It's known as kettling, because it serves to raise the temperature and basically make it more likely that there will be an outburst of anger. It’s a dangerous tactic and it needs to be investigated.
Using force to detain thousands of people at a time, and people wonder how these riots start? It was only a matter of time before someone died. It is very dangerous and is currently being challenged legally by Climate Camp. Corralling is a form of mass arrest, despite the fact that no-one has been charged with an offence. It is degrading and immoral. People have the right to protest, but when you beat people and trap them indiscriminately people will turn angry. This is human nature and no surprise to any thinking person.
I tried to return to Climate Camp later, still quite shook up, only to find out that the police had begun forcefully removing peaceful protestors. The music and singing had stopped, replaced by the sound of helicopters, dogs and shouting riot police. They were chasing people, with dogs and truncheons. Many people including elderly people sitting on the ground were being beaten for wanting to protest peacefully. What I witnessed has given me a new perspective on the behaviour of our police force. The force my council tax has just increased to fund.
This country is turning a dangerous corner. When you destroy the right to protest peacefully you create a space for extremism to evolve.
We are calling for a full inquiry into the police tactics of crowd control at demonstrations, and into the tragic death of Mr. Tomlinson. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
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