http://theorstrahyun.blogspot.com/2007/09/peaceful-sydney-anti-bush-
anti-iraq.html
http://tinyurl.com/yvybbn

Peaceful Sydney Anti-Bush, Anti-Iraq Shattered By Police Violence :
"That's The Way We Do Business Now"

Police Removed Mandatory ID Badges Before Unleashing On Protesters

Media Assaulted & Arrested, Women Shoved And Knocked Down, Hundreds Of
Undercover Police Infiltrated The Crowd Hundreds of uniformed police
removed their ID tags before the arrests and violence began

They came in their thousands, in defiance of a month long fear and
intimidation campaign by the state and federal governments, the police
and the Murdoch media.

Of the more than 6000-8000 who marched, all but a few dozen protested
peacefully, without violence or aggression. More than half of all
protesters were women, hundreds of elderly people marched, joined by
hundreds of families, with young children.

But the 2500 police deployed, backed by a full riot squad, a water
cannon, backpacks full of pepper spray, dogs and snipers in a helicopter
hovering above the crowd, were pumped for the long promised "worst riots
ever seen in Sydney." A promise made only by the police and state
government ministers over the past few weeks.

Protesters were wrestled to the ground, put in headlocks, had their arms
twisted up behind their backs, had knees rammed into their spines and,
in a number of assaults by police, were punched in the back and neck
with a flurry of hard blows while being held down. Few of those
assaulted and beaten displayed any resistance at all.

Dozens were removed from the Sydney protest on Saturday for taking
photographs or video of police, dozens more were shoved, thrown to the
ground and generally provoked. But still the crowd did not erupt into
the expected mass violence and disordert.

An accountant, who crossed the street in the wrong place, was slammed
onto the footpath and had his face rammed into the ground by at least
six police officers. His young son stood nearby, clearly trembling in
fear, as police wrestled the man who offered up no resistance, except to
protect his glasses. He was held in a police cell for 22 hours and was
denied contact with his lawyer and family members. Police didn't return
his glasses until after he was released from custody.

But for all the violence unleashed on the protesters, only a few were
arrested, and less than 10 face any charges at all. Two of the charges
related to nudity. Some were detained for swearing, others were dragged
away by police because they dared to question why someone else was being
dragged away. Some were charged with resisting arrest. You could be
arrested for resisting arrest by simply asking "why are you detaining
me?"

The media came under attack from the police as well. Photographers and
videographers were assaulted, detained and in some cases arrested.

The vast majority of the violent incidents mentioned above were captured
on video.

Of the actions of police, the new Chief Commissioner, Andrew Scipione is
reported as saying the tactics were well practised and cleared defined :
"That's the way that we do business in NSW now."
The majority of police officers involved in all the violent incidents
listed above had removed their mandatory identification badges before
they unleashed on the vastly peaceful protesters who gathered in Sydney
on Saturday to voice their dissent against the Iraq War and the presence
of President Bush in their city.

Hundreds of police were captured on video with no visible
identification.

The Police Service manual advises all uniformed police officers to
follow the law and display identification at all times.

Hundreds of police and detectives disguised themselves as as protesters
and infiltrated the huge crowd.

When a protester in Hyde Park moved as though he was acting to set fire
to a small American flag, six to eight undercover police or detectives
swooped on him and dragged him away.

One eyewitness claimed that one of those who took part in the arrest of
the potential flag burner had earlier been seen throwing small objects
from within the crowd and had been chastised by protesters. At least one
protester was reported in the media to have been dragged away by police
for throwing objects. The eyewitness refused to give their name, and
said he was fearful of repercussions from police.

The issue of police not wearing ID on their uniforms will be
investigated internally.

http://theorstrahyun.blogspot.com/2007/09/peaceful-sydney-anti-bush-
anti-iraq.html
http://tinyurl.com/yvybbn

Peaceful Sydney Anti-Bush, Anti-Iraq Shattered By Police Violence :
"That's The Way We Do Business Now"

http://theorstrahyun.blogspot.com/2007/09/peaceful-sydney-anti-bush-
anti-iraq.html
http://tinyurl.com/yvybbn

Peaceful Sydney Anti-Bush, Anti-Iraq Shattered By Police Violence :
"That's The Way We Do Business Now"