Tonight (9/12/03) hundreds of Melbournians marched against the WTO, in solidarity with protests in Cancun. Russell St was then "reclaimed" for a fiesta. Protesters were resisting attempts by heaps of cops to shut the party down by 8.30PM
Hundreds of Melbournians met at the State Libray tonight to protest against the WTO, to demand fair trade, to oppose the Australia- U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the continuing occupation of Iraq.
It was only three years ago, almost to the day when 20,000 Melbournians successfully shut down the World Economic Forum, and that spirit continued at tonights demo.
Speakers included a Venuzealean student leader engaged in the struggle for social justice and neo-liberal policies in his country. After the rally a Mexican fiesta style reclaim the streets was held in Russel st. The Vic police in their usual style decided that this threat to order and control must be tackled moved in with about 10 horses and 50 cops to shut down the a band playing on the street. The party then became focussed around a van playing music. When I left at avbout 8.30PM a standoff was occurring between the protesters and police. Food Not Bombs brought along a good supply of Mexican food to share as well.
Anyway somehow should put up a strouy letting us k now how it finished.
P.S. Has anyone else noticed the media balckout in the Oz corporate press on the WTO. The Age today did not have a single story on the WTO. Anyway, below is two link to internet stories about tonights demo
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7245526%255E1702,00.html
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/story_51689.asp