SPEAK had a demo at Oxford on Saturday (14th Jan) at which they claimed there was an ‘unprovoked police attack’. According to SPEAK, their protesters showed ‘discipline and self-restraint’ –
despite provocation on many occasions by Thames Valley Police officers, who were clearly looking for a confrontation.
SPEAK
Strangely, independent articles in The Guardian, The Oxford Mail and The Oxford Student (the latter two being well placed to comment knowledgeably on local happenings) didn’t have quite the same slant on SPEAK’s behaviour:
... the builders roll an empty wheelbarrow directly in front of the protesters, who hurl abuse at them with the aid of a megaphone.
The Guardian, 14th January 2006Violent clashes at an animal rights demonstration in Oxford saw protesters break through metal barricades and hurl missiles at riot police…
The Oxford Mail, 16th January 2006The demonstration did not pass without incident. Individuals hurled abuse at police, accusing them of traumatizing police horses.
The Oxford Student, 17th January 2006
The police officer who oversaw the demonstration also noted that a lawful protest (as had been discussed with the organisers) should not involve participants wearing masks to conceal their identity and the removal of barriers put there to ensure public safety.
Nor should they include unsettling words such as those heard from SPEAK’s main man:
