The people of Newport were understandably puzzled by today’s Anti-NATO summit demonstration. They were assailed with a dozen messages – some incomprehensible. They will also be relieved that the march was non-violent and brief. Most of the planned road closures were not implemented. Much of the pre-publicity was aroused by the promise of the most massive march that Wales has ever seen – with 20,000 demonstrators. It was not that. The BBC estimated that 600 took part. That’s probably about right.
There were a bewildering variety of causes. Many of them I have been supporting virtually all of my life,
Many old friends were marching including John Cox, Bruce Kent and about twenty members of Newport Labour Parties. The big headache is presenting these deeply anarchic events is to avoid the core message being hi-jacked by minor far-left sects with their off-the-wall views.
The Socialist Workers Party is skilled in elbowing their way to the front. CND had the clear message ’No New Wars. No to Nato’ that led the march. Visually Palestine flags dominated with Gaza placards. Whatever Israel can be blamed for, they are not guilty of being a member of NATO. A strong cause but the Gaza demo had already had at least three local outings. One placard had a picture of Obama described as a war criminal – but none of Putin.
‘Global Law not global war’ was the persuasive message possibly from a Quaker. There were a handful of black masked anarchists and a man who was almost totally naked. There were a few anti-nuclear power banners and CND Newport’s message was ‘Nuclear NATO – No Thanks’. The Stalinist view that led to my being ‘dis-invited’ as a conference was on placards that read called for military aid to protect Eastern Ukraine from Kiev. Utterly baffling to most people were the calls to ‘Defend China, North Korea and Laos’.
The police behaved with restraint and intelligence. There are 9,500 of them drafted into Newport - that’s enough for 16 police for every demonstrator. They promised to match their presence to the numbers demonstrating. They had enough to deal with the 20,000 if they had arrived. But only a hundred or so were deployed and they were scarely visible and non-confrontational. They were a lesson to the Met in to police demonstrations. The organisers can be criticised for over-hyping their expectations, which resulted in great deal of expense. However democracy is never cheap and it’s healthy that the challenge to increased military spending and against avoidable wars was expressed. It’s too much to expect a clear coherent message.
Thanks K.
I believe the speaker who wanted the demo to side with Putin is Boris Kagarlitsky. When I was dis-invited to todays's 'alternative conference' he was invited. There has been an alternative debate to the alternative conference going on twitter this morning where I asked is Boris is a Putin Stooge.
I'm afraid the organisers of the demo are taking a stalinist line of conformity with their extreme views. If you disgree with them a platform is denied as it was to me. I am sure there are more people following the alternative to the alternative on tweeter than are in the conference this morning.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | August 31, 2014 at 12:54 PM
Totally agree with your point about the dangers of extremists hijacking often very worthy causes for their own ends, Paul.
I was worried that the far-right would turn up too - either to cause trouble or infiltrate and hide behind perfectly reasonable causes as an attempt to lend 'respectability' towards what would otherwise be viewed by any rational person as insane, conspiracy theories. Thank goodness, I saw no evidence of the far-right jumping on the bandwagon yesterday.
However, although several important issues were highlighted this would have also been a golden opportunity for people to protest about ever-decreasing wages, ever-increasing inflation the ever-widening gap between the majority of very poor workers and the minority of very wealthy people - which some analysts claim is actually wider now than during the Victorian era! I'm pretty sure the Chartists would have had something to say about the rights that they had campaigned and died for now being eroded.
Instead, a platform was given to a pro-Putin speaker who called on the protestors to take sides with pro-Putin separatists in Ukraine and on British leaders to refuse to give financial aid to the new Kiev government when its president, Peter Poroschenko, visits next week.
I'm sure there were many worthy, intelligent protestors and speakers at yesterday's event and I'm so pleased that it passed off peacefully. However, calls to pick a side in a heartbreakingly cruel Civil War somehow doesn't sound like a promotion of authentic pacifism to me(!)
Posted by: K | August 31, 2014 at 09:30 AM
Thank you, K. The reason I was disinvited from the alternative conference was that I did not share pro-Putin view against Kiev.there is one truth among some of the organisers who preach a new intolerance. i have been a member of CND for a long time without sharing the pacifist views of some of its members
Posted by: Paul Flynn | August 31, 2014 at 07:06 AM
The publicity from No to NATO constantly bigged up the numbers and anticipated biggest demo ever. Problem is that demo of this size give prominence to extreme groups seeking platforms and obscure message.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | August 31, 2014 at 06:58 AM
Personally, I would find it very disconcerting marching alongside apologists for Putin bearing the rainbow pride flag, whilst knowing full well that if I did so in Russia under the Putin regime's homophobic laws I would instantly be arrested, handcuffed and bundled into a police van charged with the 'crime' of 'promoting homosexuality'.
Posted by: K | August 31, 2014 at 12:03 AM
The 20,000 number came from Jeff Farrar, not from protestors.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11096920.20_000_protesters_expected_ahead_of_Newport_NATO_summit/
Posted by: Tombfowler | August 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM