Nike blockaders defy police

BY SEAN WALSH

MELBOURNE — Two hundred protesters successfully blockaded the Nike superstore on Friday June 22, despite police attempts to disperse them. The weekly blockades, protesting Nike's extreme exploitation of workers in the Third World, have now been running for 13 weeks.

The police maintained an intimidating presence from the beginning of the picket. When a Nike supporter attempted to break the blockade, they attacked the blockaders. Although this attack did not break the blockade line, police threatened arrests if the blockaders did not move further away from the entrance.

The protesters decided to maintain the blockade, but gradually move the line further from the store entrance. In response to this decision, the police demanded that the protesters remove themselves entirely from the area surrounding the superstore.

Despite being greatly outnumbered by police, the blockaders decided to remain. A lively and creative demonstration involving street performance maintained protesters morale. Police unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the announcement of a half-day blockade of the Nike store on August 3, and a full-day blockade on September 11 by telling speakers that this would constitute inciting people to attend an illegal civil demonstration.

Following the blockade, the protesters marched to RMIT for a mass meeting to discuss future action. They decide to organise the August and September blockades, and support the blockade of the Commonwealth Business Forum on October 3. Discussion emphasised the importance of involving the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia and Fairwear in the campaign.

From GLW issue 453