From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 04:24:50 +0100 To: "Peoples War" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] IPSC Press Release - "Pepper spray attack on Hunger - Strike Commemorators" Pepper spray attack on Hunger-Strike commemorators - A POLICE WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF WHOM? On the 21st of July 2001 a contingent of the Irish Political Status Committee (IPSC) took part in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike Commemoration march in Liverpool organized by the James Larkin Republican Flute Band, and supported by other Republican flute bands from Scotland. To the powerful beat of drums and flutes playing familiar rebel tunes the contingent marched behind their banner REINSTATE POLITICAL STATUS. Supported by several thousand people, the march prodeeded through the city to a rally addressed by the band organisers and John Pickering, ex-Republican prisoner. A message of solidarity was also sent by DHKC, the Turkish group supporting the Turkish prisoners and their supporters currently on hunger-strike in Turkey. After the rally, while the Irish Political Status Committee contingent awaited transport to take them to the venue for the event's social, they were attacked by a man who jumped in front of them spraying a blinding spray directly into their faces. A number of the contingent experienced an intense burning sensation in the eyes and temporary blindness, but were nevertheless able to attend that evening's social event in Liverpool. It was believed that the substance was pepper spray. One of the IPSC contingent, a young man who refused to be named, pointed out that while police officers in Britain are often supplied with pepper spray, it is not an easy matter for a member of the public to gain access to the substance. Several members of the contingent stated that police in a marked car had been watching the group from about 60 metres away. The police had not intervened, although they must have seen the attack, they claimed. "This won't stop us from fighting for Political Status and fighting to kick the Brits out of Ireland", said a woman beside him. "Who ever was behind it should know that no amount or level of intimidation and repression has ever stopped people pursuing their righteous goals. On the contrary - repression breeds resistance. As the song goes 'The higher you build your barriers the taller I become...'" - Irish Political Status Committee (IPSC) BM BOX 1981, LONDON, WCIN - 3XX E Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
