By Euronews Green with Reuters
Published on August 10, 2023
"#SimonLachner had plans to glue himself to a German city thoroughfare in June to call public attention to #ClimateChange. Instead, he ended up in police custody before he'd even left his home.
"Lachner, 28, is one of thousands of #activists caught up in a European crackdown on direct action protests which gathered pace last year. #Protesters are demanding urgent government action against climate change.
"#Roadblocks on major motorways in #Britain have caused traffic chaos, protests at #oil installations in #Germany have disrupted supplies, and in #France, thousands of activists and police clashed over #water usage, leaving dozens injured.
"Determined to prevent such protests from strengthening further, states in Germany and national authorities in France are invoking legal powers often used against organised crime and extremist groups to wiretap and track activists, Reuters found, based on conversations with four prosecutors, #police in both countries and more than a dozen protesters.
"In #Berlin alone, police have spent hundreds of thousands of hours working on more than 4,500 incidents registered against the 'The #LastGeneration' and '#ExtinctionRebellion' groups, according to previously unreported data from police.
"State authorities in Germany are widely using preventative #detention to stop people from protesting, including holding at least one person for as long as 30 days without charge.
"This is permissible under Bavarian law, the prosecutors consulted by Reuters said.
"Lawmakers passed new surveillance and detention laws in France in July and in Britain in May. Britain is making it illegal to lock, or glue, yourself to property.
"France has used an anti-terrorism unit to question some #ClimateActivists, the police confirmed to Reuters.
"The governments in Germany and Britain said the response to the protests was aimed at preventing damaging criminal actions. The French government declined to comment but has previously said the state must be able to combat what it calls 'radicalisation'.
"Activists say they turned to direct action after the failure of other protest strategies. #CivilDisobedience has a long history in #SocialMovements, including in the fight for the vote for women and the US #CivilRghts movement."
The #UK is following in other #European countries footsteps with new powers to break up the #climate group's slow marches.
By Euronews Green
Published on 31/10/2023
"More than 60 #CimateActivists have been arrested in #London under the UK’s 'repressive' new anti-protest laws.
"Just Stop Oil protesters were taking part in a ‘slow march’ around Parliament Square yesterday morning (30 October), demanding an end to new #oil and #gas licenses.
"Within 10 minutes, Metropolitan police arrived - blocking their path and forcing activists off the road. When this proved unsuccessful, videos and photos show police kneeling on and handcuffing protesters, before carrying them into vans.
"This is the first time that the Met have made arrests under section 7 of the #PublicOrderAct 2023, which bans any activity that 'interferes with the use or operation of any key national infrastructure in #England and #Wales.'
It does not accurately describe either the foundation of #Israel or the tragedy of the #Palestinians.
By Simon Sebag Montefiore
“…Whatever the enormous complexities…, one truth should be obvious among decent people: killing 1,400 people & kidnapping >200, including scores of #civilians, was deeply wrong.
“…Of course, some #protesters chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ may have no idea what they’re calling for; they are ignorant & believe that they are simply endorsing ‘freedom.’ Others deny that they are pro-Hamas, insisting that they are simply pro-#Palestinian — but feel the need to cast #Hamas’s massacre as an understandable response to #Israeli-#Jewish ‘colonial’ oppression. Yet others are malign deniers who seek the death of Israeli civilians.
@BPStuart
Said it well, "War crimes. Senseless, and inhumane. This is a choice, a hateful, fatal choice against defenseless people who’ve done nothing to warrant such attacks against them." #Hamas#Israel#Palestine
And because of this, Hamas terrorists r**ed her, beat her, murdered her, and desecrated her by parading her body around to be displayed to chats of "allahhu akbar"
Sheriff's official IDs suspected shooter in violence at planned site of #Oñate statue
By Nicholas Gilmore
Sep 28, 2023 Updated Sep 29, 2023
"ESPAÑOLA — #NewMexico State Police is leading the investigation into a shooting around noon Thursday that left a man wounded as groups of opposing protesters clashed at the site of the planned installation of a statue of Juan de Oñate on horseback.
"Panicked #protesters at the Rio Arriba County government building on Industrial Park Road in Española rushed to provide aid to the man as the suspected shooter, identified by sheriff’s office officials as Ryan Martinez, 23, fled in a white Tesla.
"Sheriff’s Maj. Lorenzo Aguilar said Pojoaque Pueblo police arrested Martinez shortly after the incident, around 12:15 p.m.
"A witness at the scene said the man wounded by a single gunshot was #JacobJohns, a resident of Spokane, Wash. She and Johns had come to the area together for a climate conference and joined a crowd of dozens of #NativeAmerican activists protesting the county’s plans to install the nearly 30-year-old bronze statue of the Spanish #conquistador, the woman said. She declined to give her name.
"County officials announced earlier this month they planned to put the bronze statue back on public display, drawing activists to the site.
"[Accused gun-man] Martinez was at the protest for several hours Thursday, wearing a turquoise hoodie and a red hat with the words 'Make America Great Again.' Deputies had asked him to leave the gathering in the morning, but a sheriff’s office official then stepped in and allowed him to stay to protect his civil liberties.
"Martinez stood with other counterprotesters — some of whom also were wearing #MAGA hats — and heckled Native speakers. He made his way around to the east side of the pedestal county crews had prepared for the Oñate statue but was blocked by several protesters from reaching an altar demonstrators had created with squash, pottery and blankets. Signs around the pedestal said, 'Oñate? No thanks!' and '#LandBack.'
"A witness’s video of the incident shows the suspect pull a handgun from his waistband and fire once toward the protesters before running off.
"Protesters scrambled, some hiding behind walls, as Martinez ran to the parking lot and sped off in a Tesla."
Dozens of #protesters showed up at the Seattle International District Union Station on Saturday, for a planned march to the Seattle Police Officers Guild #SPOG, demanding JUSTICE for #JaahnaviKandula#JusticeforJaahnavi
Relatives of victims of the Seattle #Police Department spoke before the beginning of the march, while car and bike brigades began organizing in the background. Pictured directly above and behind the parking lot where the car brigade was organizing, (3) Seattle Police officers are seen looking down at protesters. Not-journalist Jonathan Choe was also buzzing around in skin-colored flip flops with plaid shorts, expertly recording footage using a cell phone.
After marching down 5th Ave S, the group changed over to 4th Ave S. While largely uneventful of serious problems, a continuous stream of vehicles traveling south on 4th Ave S drove into oncoming traffic to go around the #protest at one point including a full size #Darigold semi-truck #281100, with trailer, middle-aged white female driver, putting many at risk.
While most drivers behind the protest were not a problem, another middle-aged white woman with braided hair and a wooden cross swinging from their rearview mirror, in a silver Subaru Crosstrek or Outback, repeatedly and aggressively accelerated toward the rear of the car brigade, while honking and stomping their brakes over and over. This went on for some time.
Also at an eastbound facing intersection a Seattle Department of Transportation #SDOT truck #34202 XMT61730D with trailer purposely laid on a very loud airhorn for what seemed like at least a full minute, in an attempt to disrupt the march to SPOG.
After arriving at SPOG #activists and victims spoke of the Seattle Police Department #SPD and other local city departments, taking turns using megaphones speaking about tragedies involving loved ones. Victims and activists voiced calls for police accountability and plans to functionally transform police interactions. Candles were assembled in the shape of a heart on the ground in front of SPOG but had difficulty staying lit, partially due to the on-off rain that was occurring.
Meanwhile a #drone appeared above the gathering, possibly a DJI Mavic. It was speculated to be either from SPOG or Not-journalist Jonathan Choe. Then an unknown police or media #helicopter circled from above a countless amount of times, creating a distraction for some. We believe this to be the same helicopter that kept making passes above Union Station earlier. Also an unknown-to-us media company continued to hover around with large cameras, which eventually created a disturbance.
At the beginnings of getting dark with increasing rain, the march began heading back northbound on 4th Ave S, and was largely similar to what occurred when previously traveling southbound. Albeit what seemed like less traffic due to diminishing sunlight. While expected honks occurred from some #motorists at one point a female driver in what we believe was a newer dark colored KIA sedan asked what the protest was about. About 4-5 minutes later the driver became irate and started creating a scene, although nothing serious occurred. With the sun fully down and increasing rain, the march ended not far from the Union Station on 4th Ave S. The car and bike brigades went their separate ways, and protesters dispersed into the dark Seattle streets.
09/25 edit: Added additional protesters photo and additional photo of King County Transit Service Supervisor SUV. This SUV was generally ahead of marchers by about a city block. Unclear purpose as they didn't seem to manage anything.
#landlords are the scum of the fucking #earth and i hope one of them got their shit absolutely destroyed. what a sick and disgusting group of individuals.
"About an hour passed before #protesters entered the bar, at which point multiple fights broke out, Berkeleyside reported. According to one witness, a male #BPOA member who attended the event slapped a female protester in the face and pushed her. Videos of the event show other violent altercations, including a protester knocking a party attendee’s eyeglasses off and a party attendee swinging their fist toward a protester."
this man should never sleep soundly again for the rest of his life.
It speaks of problematic developments under #ElonMusk and says, that for example #Nazi content is now barely moderated over there. And also that the significance of Twitter shrinks.
So, it's okay to destroy #Indigenous heritage sites, pollute the planet, and appoint corporate lackeys to advisory boards -- but if you protest and cause disruption, you could face arrest?
"In May, after several #ExtinctionRebellion protests, the South Australia government introduced a A$50,000 maximum fine and three months jail for anyone 'recklessly' obstructing public spaces, while laws passed in New South Wales last year created a two-year maximum prison sentence for acts disrupting major roads or facilities.
"#England, #Wales and parts of #Canada and the #USA have also adopted similar laws aimed at blocking disruptive climate activism.
"In Western Australia, climate protesters say they have been 'disabled' by intimidating raids, strict bail conditions and orders which give authorities access to their devices and ban them from communicating with peers.
"According to Ms Grix, these tools were originally intended to deal with gangs and drug dealers.
"'To apply [that]... to climate defenders, who are protesting about environmental concerns, seems to be a massive overreach,' she says."
A smattering of #protesters hollered insults, like “bigot” and “fascist,” over a loud speaker, blasted music, waved rainbow flags and danced in the street in a transgender “dance protest” at the @Moms4Liberty
“Joyful Warriors” National Summit.