BY AARON BENEDEK
SYDNEY — Two solid rows of police, including some on horseback, confronted 300 people who gathered outside Newtown railway station here on December 16 for a Reclaim the Streets street party, encircling them and forcing them almost a kilometre down the street.
Protesters were punched, elbowed and had their hair pulled. Many were harassed and told to move on, simply for standing on the footpath. At least three people were arrested.
Despite the police harassment, people maintained their street party and protest in Newtown and were later "escorted" by police to the Broadway squats, three kilometres away, where the party continued throughout the night.
The protest organiser, the Sydney RTS Collective, is one of many around the world which agitates for car-free streets, better public transport and minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions by taking over public streets, blocking traffic and organising lively street parties.
If you have been charged in relation to the RTS demonstration, if you wish to pursue charges against the police, or if you wish to complain against the policing, contact UTS Community Law and Legal Research Centre. Phone 9514 2914 or email<utsclc@law.uts.edu.au>.