| |
Police action at G20 protest was authoritarian
• I WAS appalled by the police’s authoritarian behaviour in the City during the G20 protests.
I have in the past participated in many protest demonstrations but my reaction to the coverage of the abominable tactic of so-called “kettling” was that I would certainly not want to be bottled up without being able to leave for hours, then be required to give my name and address as well as being compulsorily photographed by the police.
What have we come to when upright citizens think twice and three times at protesting for fear of intimidation and incarceration?
For that’s what it was.
Most of us are aware that Camden and Barnet’s Conservative Greater London Assembly representative Brian Coleman is idiosyncratic.
But his premeditated comments about the police’s behaviour was beyond the pale.
I think all decent Conservatives will surely disassociate themselves from his offensive remarks?
The Guardian reported on April 16: “In a statement issued through the Conservative party assembly office at City Hall today, Coleman defended the conduct of the police. ‘Nicky Fisher turned up to this protest, which everyone said could be violent. She put herself in this situation – and lo, she was hit. It’s like going gambling and then complaining that you’ve lost money. All right-thinking people will have little sympathy for her.”
Mr Coleman clearly thinks that the lady who was struck in the face by a territorial support group sergeant was “asking for it”.
It’s truly depressing to think that this man represents us in the assembly.
Mr Coleman should “consider his position”.
Cllr Paul Braithwaite
Liberal Democrat,
Cantelowes ward
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
