Chaos fears over rally

From the archive, first published Saturday 3rd Dec 2005.

A peace rally is threatening to disrupt shoppers just two weeks before Christmas.

Organisers predict between 100 and 200 marchers will gather at Churchill Square, Brighton, next Saturday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Police have accused organisers of not co-operating with them to ensure the safety of marchers and shoppers. And stores are angry the rally could hurt trade at a time many businesses are suffering downturns.

The anti-war group Smash EDO said yesterday they would not budge and they insisted they did not need police permission.

Their rally, starting at Churchill Square at noon, will be followed by a march through the city centre to The Level.

The activists are protesting against Moulsecoomb factory EDO MBM Technology, which makes bomb-release components for fighter jets.

A similar Smash EDO protest in August in Brighton caused traffic chaos and more than 50 police closed off North Street.

Sussex Police said yesterday they wanted to facilitate lawful protest to ensure safety and urged organisers to contact events officer PC Sean McDonald.

Superintendent Kevin Moore said: "We are happy to assist those who wish to make peaceful protests but it is crystal clear this is not on this particular group's agenda. They are being deliberately evasive.

"This is not about their beliefs, it is about causing havoc and chaos to thousands of people in the city. Their actions, I'm sure, do not gain them much sympathy.

"We need to ensure that people are able to protest peacefully and safely."

Peter Beard, marketing manager for Churchill Square Shopping Centre, said: "At a time of tough retail performance, this is the last thing we need.

"This year, we have strong community focus with The Argus Appeal Grotto which will be in full flow. I hope these people know they will be disrupting families."

Michelle Tester, spokeswoman for Smash EDO, said requests from police to co-operate had been threatening.

She said police deployed more than 100 officers in August and made four arrests for minor public order offences.

She said: "Police were clearly in the wrong on that day. It is therefore wrong to threaten us with similar behaviour as we exercise our democratic rights."

Ms Tester said the arrest of pensioner Walter Wolfgang under the Terrorism Act during the Labour conference in September did not fill them with confidence over police regard for civil liberties.

She said: "We say demonstrations and marches are a vital part of the life of the community."

Andrew Beckett, press spokesman for Smash EDO, said "draconian" police measures during the last rally were a misuse of public order powers. He said if anyone was causing disruption, it was the police.

Ms Tester added: "We intend nothing more than to peacefully gather in Churchill Square and march to The Level to spread our message about Brighton's involvement in the arms trade."

Archive Home