Gaza march: 4000 protest outside US consulate, Edinburgh

by mudricky | January 10, 2009 at 09:34 am

1435 views | 58 Recommendations | 11 comments

There was a protest involving thousands in Edinburgh, Scotland that saw around 4000 march to US Consulate.

The protesters marched along Princess Street to meet a line of police who kept marchers back from the consulate building.

When stopped by police the protesters lobbed shoes at the Lothian & Borders officers. It was believed there was about 300 shoes thrown, if not more.

The Press Association has reported that three officers were injured after being attacked by a group of 60 protesters outside the US Consulate.

Police were hit with ski-boots, clogs and red paint.

Ch Insp Kevin Greig, of Lothian and Borders Police, who have launched a criminal investigation said:

"This happened outside the American consulate where the traditional way of displaying discord with what is happening in the Middle East is to take their shoes off and throw them on to the ground.

"Unfortunately a number of these persons, about 60, threw heavy clogs, ski-boots and wooden poles at the police officers."

Asif Dean, from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said he did not see any unrest.

He said: "I was not aware of any trouble at all. The only trouble that I saw was that the police didn't like people voicing their support for Hamas, but I don't think there was any violence or anything. So I'm not aware of any incidents, as far as I'm aware it was a completely peaceful march."

The officers did not require hospital treatment.

Organisers have said 10,000 people attended the protest but police said it was 4,000. Looking at the crowds I would have to agree with the police.

There were smaller protests today in London, police said a small majority damaged some street lamp posts.

More Information: Report and video from Scottish TV

(Mudricky was in Edinburgh while the protest was in progress)

Protesters hurled shoes towards the US consulate in Edinburgh as a part of a protest against Israeli action in Gaza.
Thousands took part in a rally through central Edinburgh calling for an end to the military action.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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jordan

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 10:54 on January 10th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member mudricky who was on the scene.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amy Judd

at 13:44 on January 10th, 2009

I think there will be protests every sat until some conclusion is reached. Good job on this

158

at 15:36 on January 10th, 2009

Good story.

Protests can pressure the governments but the war will be decided on the ground in Gaza.

MCarmenG

at 16:30 on January 10th, 2009

hm.. this is something that should have ended years ago. Politics and Religion do not mix. The USA is political and doesn't mix religion with it. Why should this all of a sudden be an issue with the USA??

It is not USA's war. Why should we interfere in a religious war when our country is purely political and is going in a hardcore economic depression? Why should the States go into another war and waste much more money and keep the USA's economic down in hell?

Seriously... People should have a right to choose their religion and NOT mix it with Politics. Its all Logic. Think about it, really! its not our war, not our fault those two countries can't keep two things separate: Religion and Government.

Edinburgh Lass (not verified)

at 07:18 on January 25th, 2009

Umm, are you american? If so, I'm guessing you have absolutely NO idea that

"On average, the U.S gave more than $6.8 million* to Israel each day and
gave $0.3 million** to the Palestinians each day during Fiscal Year 2007"

see http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/usaid.html

So now you know where your tax dollars go, surely you can see that the US is entirely complicit in the mass genocide taking place

If I were you, knowing that the country is in a hardcore economic depression, I could think of some more important places to spend US tax dollars than F-16 fighter jets and missiles for landing on defenceless palestinians. The US has blood all over its hands in this matter of Israel and Palestine. Thats why people take issue with the US.

Maybe its time to ask your senators...I would be outraged if my money was being spent like this rather than helping the many many needy citizens of the US. Imagine how $6.8 million A DAY could be spent on services for the average US citizen. Our governments are not serving the interests of us the common people...but the corporations. Ah, yes, money still talks....

fastback

at 17:13 on January 10th, 2009

If hamas really wants peace let them keep their rockets, motars, and suicide bombers on their side of the border. Here`s another thing I have noticed, why can`t the protesters protest without getting violent? Do you really think they want peace?

kenCr (not verified)

at 07:45 on January 13th, 2009

disgracefull behaviour - no scots there

Born_Pict (not verified)

at 07:55 on January 13th, 2009

What a bunch of cowards hiding in a crowd and throwing ski boots at the police.

Your not even SCOTS

Well it shows your true Islamist violent nature.

You have converted me to being a whole hearted supporter of Israel

Remember Glasgow airport we dont stand for that sh**

Moynagh Silverwoods (not verified)

at 07:21 on January 17th, 2009

Well i am 18 years old. I am a blonde haired white scottish woman and i was right at the front of the protest and can i just say, yes a policeman got hit with a shoe, but then laughed and we actually had quite a banter with the police who helped us pick up some of the shoes that hadnt been thrown far enough. One boy aimed one at a policeman and i did in fact (as did his family) have a go at him and reminded him that they were to be aimed towards the building and not the officers who were just doing their jobs. There were also plenty of scottish white people there, about half actually so dont start your pish. If you werent there then dont start.

I can bet you arent even aware of the politics...and lets just make this clear...locking people inside their country and killing them one by one is absoloutely DISCUSTING behaviour and it breaks national law...if you can honestly sit there and say that this is humane then you are the coward.

The protest was extremely peaceful and there was a great turn out too.

mudricky

at 07:44 on January 17th, 2009

Good reply Moynagh, and good photos.

Moynagh Silverwoods (not verified)

at 07:32 on January 17th, 2009

In fact, to prove my point...take a look at some photos

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?p=723761

the police look calm, we looked calm, and there are more than one nationality there. =]

moynagh (not verified)

at 08:06 on January 17th, 2009

Thanks!

I just dont understand how people can use this genocide as an excuse to be racist!?

I mean, as far as i'm concerned, it shouldnt matter what color, religion, nationality etc you are...the mass murdering of innocent people shouldnt be tolerated in this day and age. And when i see people...things...who have that sort of attitude towards what's going on it makes me feel physically sick. Yes, there were maybe a handful of people in London who took it out on the police, and i dont condone that at all BUT there were also very peaceful protests all around the world that day...yet the media chose to focus on this whole London/riots business and make us all look bad. Anyways, i'm sure if these racists above watched their families on TV being shot dead like some sort of vermin then they would feel just as upset and angry to be honest.

Lets put all of the politics and history aside for a moment and look at it like this...

If you saw a small child being battered and murdered off of more big children...would you run over to help? or do everything in your power to help? (I think any human would)

Anyways, i wanted people to see that the media isnt always correct, and neither are the police. I got hit by a shoe too and laughed along with the officers,...what do you expect when thousands of people are throwing them in a general direction HOPING that it doesnt land on someone?

Thanks for your support.