Police arrests mar anti-war protest

BRISBANE — Police arrested five people during a speak-out against the war in Iraq on the steps of King George Square on March 11. The weekly speak-out to oppose the decision by the Coalition government to send an additional 450 troops to Iraq had proceeded peacefully until police moved against one of the movement organisers, Meredith Rose, for using a megaphone to address the passing crowd.

As other participants protested her arrest, police detained four more demonstrators. The crackdown on civil liberties raises the stakes in the campaign against Australia's involvement in the occupation of Iraq. A peace rally will take place as part of the March 20 international day of action against the occupation, starting at 1pm in the Roma Street Forum, to demand 'Bring the troops home!' Phone (07) 3831 2644, (07) 3855 9497 or 0424 265 730.

Click here to download footage of police arresting an anti-war protester (7.5 megabytes). (Quicktime Player required — free download here.)

From Green Left Weekly, March 16, 2005.

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From GLW issue 619