Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/575/7167
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 April 2009
G20 Summit death: Bring the cops to account
THE DEATH of Ian Tomlinson, a bystander at the G20 summit protests, at the hands of a baton wielding officer of the London Metropolitan police is a scandal. The cop responsible should be put on trial over Mr Tomlinson's death.
This shocking incident is a symptom of increasingly heavy handed and repressive policing methods, by an unaccountable police force.
Yet sections of the right wing media seem more interested in the fact that Mr Tomlinson suffered from alcoholism and was living in a hostel - the implication being that he contributed to his own death! As the widely seen video recording of the incident shows, he was struck from behind by a baton wielding policeman in a completely unprovoked attack.
Referring to the policing of the anti-G20 summit protests, May Day detainee* Lois Austin said: "The use of containment, as the main police tactic on demonstrations, causes crushing and panic on the inside and outside of the police cordon.
"We are also concerned at the use of baton charges and the indiscriminate attacks using batons on protesters and non-protesters such as Ian.
"There should be an immediate investigation into the use of 'kettling' and into the number of protesters injured in recent protests by police batons.
"We are currently preparing to take our case to the European Court of Human Rights where we aim to get the use of containment on demonstrations ruled illegal".
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In The Socialist 15 April 2009:
MPs' snouts in the expenses trough
Stop the slaughter of Tamils
Sri Lanka: Stop the war - fight for democratic rights
Stop the war in Sri Lanka: Protest at India House
Socialist Party election campaign
European elections: Why No2EU?
Socialist Party workplace news
Visteon workers angry and determined
National Union of Teachers conference: Battle on workload begins
London Underground: Set a new strike date
Preparing to fight probation meltdown
Youth fight for jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs: What next to build the campaign?
Marxist analysis: history
The Spanish Civil War: Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory
Socialist Party editorial
Deceptive denigration of Lindsey strike
Socialist Party campaigns
G20 Summit death: Bring the cops to account
Council manoeuvres in Lewisham hit school children
Parents occupy schools in Glasgow to stop closures
International socialist news and analysis
Thailand: Battles erupt on the streets of Bangkok
Moldova: Thousands storm parliament buildings as economic crisis worsens
Sport
Rugby league: In League with big business?
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