In response to the threats to rape and deport protestors by police officers in Erris, discussed here, there will be two protests at opposite ends of the country. In Dublin, there will be a silent protest outside the Dail at 1 pm on Friday 8th April, organised as a solidarity demonstration with Rossport and in support of the rights of women and migrants to protest without fear; more details here.
In Mayo, there will be a protest outside Belmullet garda station, the offenders' base, at 2 pm on Saturday. The organisers write:
"We invite people to join this demonstration called in support of all women and men who have been harassed, threatened and intimidated by Gardaí, especially in light of the recently documented comments about the deportation and rape of two female Shell to Sea campaigners. This is not the first example of Garda intimidation and threats against campaigners in Erris. The recording is a glimpse of the reality of intimidation and violence that has dominated community life since Shell's arrival in Co. Mayo.
The past 11 years have seen repeated instances of physical and verbal assaults against campaigners. A number of these incidences were documented in the Frontline Report of 2010, which was a damning indictment of the collaboration between Gardaí and Shell's private security IRMS. However, despite this report and the 120 citizen complaints to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, there has been no change in the policing of the project."
More details here.
Later: A report with pictures of the Dublin protest, which attracted about 150 people at very short notice, can be found here. The Irish Times carried this picture here.
