I was part of the Block NATO action early in the morning, and while we were unsuccessful in establishing our primary blockade, we managed to keep the road clear for several hours to enable those coming from the camp to attend the main demonstration. It was my first involvement in direct action outside of the UK, and the immediate resort to tear gas, shock grenades and rubber bullets (often directly into the crowd, and even at head hieght) by the French riot police was shocking.
The successful Nato-Zu blockade was due in part to the high quality of training and discipline on behalf of those present. They had effective strategies to deal with police action (including a drummer to guide those blinded by tear gas through). In comparison the Block NATO group was perhaps less well prepared, and tear gas attacks broke our lines quite quickly. For many though, myself included, this was our first contact with tear gas and we had to make real efforts not to panic and stay focused.
I was lucky enough to avoid the carnage wrecked by the police on the main demonstration, and many people i spoke with felt genuinely horrified and saddened by the evens of the day. Still, the fluidity and tenacity of groups like Block NATO prove that effective direct action is possible, perhaps unique effective and necessary, in the face of rising police repression against protest throughout Europe.
I was part of the Block NATO action early in the morning, and while we were unsuccessful in establishing our primary blockade, we managed to keep the road clear for several hours to enable those coming from the camp to attend the main demonstration. It was my first involvement in direct action outside of the UK, and the immediate resort to tear gas, shock grenades and rubber bullets (often directly into the crowd, and even at head hieght) by the French riot police was shocking.
The successful Nato-Zu blockade was due in part to the high quality of training and discipline on behalf of those present. They had effective strategies to deal with police action (including a drummer to guide those blinded by tear gas through). In comparison the Block NATO group was perhaps less well prepared, and tear gas attacks broke our lines quite quickly. For many though, myself included, this was our first contact with tear gas and we had to make real efforts not to panic and stay focused.
I was lucky enough to avoid the carnage wrecked by the police on the main demonstration, and many people i spoke with felt genuinely horrified and saddened by the evens of the day. Still, the fluidity and tenacity of groups like Block NATO prove that effective direct action is possible, perhaps unique effective and necessary, in the face of rising police repression against protest throughout Europe.
Many thanks for your evaluation.