Community | April 16, 2009 | 4 comments

Raids on two social centres during the G20 illegal

source: http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1181

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PostFactMedia
On the Thursday following the G20 protests, two squatted social centres in East London were raided by riot police, apparently looking for instigators of the attacks on the Royal Bank of Scotland. RampART Social Centre, which has existed for more than four years, and a newly opened Convergence Centre in Earl Street were both being used to house and feed protesters throughout the period of the G20 summit. In both cases, the police acted illegally but, other than a brief report in the Independent which referred to unwarranted violence, the raids remained largely unreported. In both buildings, people were subjected to physical violence and verbal abuse and those that were arrested were later 'de-arrested' for lack of any supporting evidence. Our only 'crime', it seems, is that we are political activists and squatters and thus deemed to be suitable targets.

read on at: http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1181
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4 comments // Raids on two social centres during the G20 illegal

  • gringoninjo
    • 0
      gringoninjo  

    • I don't think I've ever heard such a one-sided story in my life! The way this is written is as if they were having tea and scones with the WI when the police barged in.
      I obviously can't say the police weren't there but who would really buy into this story as it stands? It reeks of they're-all-out-to-get-me syndrome.

    • 3 years ago
  • PostFactMedia
    • 0
      PostFactMedia  
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    • gringoninjo:

      Have you read the full story? Why would you not believe their account? Do you believe the police only beat up peaceful protesters, but don't raid the places were they get together? I went to that place after the raid, it was people sitting around and having tea. There was nothing else going on, except for some very shaken nerves after that experience.

      If you look at their website, they organise a lot of meetings, info events with speakers on different issues, film screenings and parties. Is that illegal somehow?

    • 3 years ago
  • gringoninjo
    • 0
      gringoninjo  
    • gringoninjo:

      Yes, I did read the full story, and yes, I know the police raid places such as this, and yes, I still think this was very much a one-sided story making out that the people who visit (reside?) here are of a sickly-sweet nature. They tell the story like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

    • 3 years ago
  • ClareW
    • 0
      ClareW  

    • This is really shocking, I can't beleive they actually carried out illegal violent raids... not to mention unethical, illegal raids are just downright stupid as any evidence gained is completely invalid. These really are dark times for British police.

    • 3 years ago
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