BY
NIKKI ULASOWSKI
PERTH Students have been undeterred by the increased police attacks on anti-war protesters, vowing to demonstrate again on April 4.
There have been many reports of police assaulting students and other demonstrators in the last two protests outside the US consulate. There are also reports of racist and sexist remarks, sexual harassment, intimidation, gratuitous search and seizure and name gathering by police. This was evident at the March 26 student protest organised by Youth and Students Against the War (YSAW).
At the March 26 protest, police led a horse charge through peaceful, seated protestors with little warning. Several people were injured. [For more information, see article on pages 14-15.]
Mark Cox, a spokesperson for the NOWaR Alliance, said victim and witness statements and photographic and video evidence were being gathered in order to prepare a report for the police minister, the police commissioner and the ombudsman.
Fred Fuentes from YSAW told Green Left Weekly that, Despite the intimidation and violence of the police at the protest we are determined to continue our peaceful protests against the war.
The police have made statements in the media that they will not give YSAW a permit to march again. We believe it is our democratic right to do so. YSAW is organising another rally on April 4, at 2.30pm outside Parliament House. We will be negotiating with police for a march permit but we are determined to go ahead with a march regardless. For further information call 9218 9608 or 0402 781 748.
From Green Left Weekly, April 2, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly
home page.