Imperialist lackey chokes protestor

[Blackberry]

Women for Peace protest glorification of war on Remembrance Day

At the 11am Remembrance Day Service Women for Peace challenged the glorification of war in Melbourne.

Women for Peace took a brave stand for peace today at the 11am Remembrance Day Service at the War Memorial. They came with flowers and their banner ‘War is murder, rape and grief – ban wars - peace in the 21st century’. They wished to stand in silent protest against the glorification of war.

Christine said ‘what is the point wearing poppies and commemorating Remembrance Day if we support the terrorism of war and the slaughter of human beings for the rest of the year? Look at the triumphalism of the official remembrance ceremony and the sculptures around the shrine. The promise in ‘Lest we forget’ demands that we work for peace, not justify war.’

They gathered at the forecourt but a contingent of police came immediately and stood in front of their banner. Faced with the threat of arrest and a bit of shoving Women for Peace reluctantly put away their banner and moved back onto the grass. Police expressed concern that the women would chant, but in fact there was no chanting.

The women were not happy however when told to move even further back, right away from the ceremony. They protested their right to have a say and a place, but police used physical force to move them away. The scene became ugly. Reta was heard to scream “no, no, no” as police dragged her a fair distance along the grass on her knees. A couple of women tried to intervene when grass was about to meet concrete.

A man from the crowd wearing medals on his lapel and known as “John the Digger” gleefully raced up to demonstrate skills and valour he had learned in war. He grabbed Mary, a small woman in her forties, tightly around the neck from behind, choking her and forcing her to the ground. The police ignored him but decided to escort Mary to a police car. She was not ready to go immediately but sat shaking on the grass for some time.
(Note: The photo appeared in today's corporate newspaper, using the caption "A little respect, please". http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/im...8,300921,00.jpg (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,300921,00.jpg) )

The police drove her and Reta to the police station. The rest of the women followed defiantly on foot and chanted and sang in the police station till their two companions were released. It appears that Mary was charged.

[Blackberry]

Unions rally for a Fair Go on Remembrance Day in Melbourne

Unionists rallied for 'A Fair Go' in the city in Melbourne on 11th November, Remembrance Day. The Day the Whitlam Labor Government was sacked in 1975. About 10,000 trade unionists rallied outside Trades Hall before marching down to Flinders Street Station.

Outside Flinders Street Station the rally observed a minute silence for Remembrance Day. The protest was very much about defending the rights and conditions which many soldiers fought for. Michelle O'Neil, from the Textiles union, warned the crowd to keep fighting for the rights World War One diggers helped achieve.

"They're trying to attack the fundamental rights of workers and the fundamental rights of working class people," she said.

Leigh Hubbard, Secretary of Melbourne Trades and Labour Council, said the day was dealt with sensitively and unions were within their rights.

"What happened assisted the day because you had 10,000 workers paying their respects on the streets," he said. "We have to remember what a decent society looks like, what we stand for, and what those that have gone before us - workers, soldiers, the people who have fought for this community - what they think we ought to stand for," Mr Hubbard told the rally. "That's not to belittle the day. That's to be proud, to stand up and say, 'We fight for a decent society'."

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Martin Kingham said working class people always suffered most in armed conflict, and compared their sacrifice to that of workers who died on the job.

"Our own fallen, those that have been killed in industrial accidents in the workplace, need to be acknowledged as well," he told the rally.

There was a wide variety of unions represented as could be seen in the various banners and flags. There were also placards about the changes to higher education and several community groups protesting the Government attack and dismantling of Medicare.

The rally finished by midday.

Photo: Features George Orwell quote. (http://melbourne.indymedia.org/uploads/fair_go_rally_11nov03_08.jpg)

[Loknar]

These women are very stupid to protest on this day. they took a risk, what did they expect? In case they weren’t aware, and were living in a cave all of their lives, American society is very pro-military.

[Sabocat]

So much for freedom of speech and assembly eh?