The lead up to the G8 Summit in Edinburgh 2005

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Events in Edinburgh on the lead  up to the G8 Summit

Make Poverty History on Saturday 2 July 2005

On Saturday 225,000 gathered at the Meadows in Edinburgh for the 'Make Poverty History' campaign.  The day was full of surprises and the atmosphere was that of a carnival as thousands of people gathered to make their voices heard.  A small group of anarchist's tried to penetrate the event, but they were thwarted by the police before the protests went ahead.  The day was a day to remember and was enjoyed by all types of people as they lined up to go on the route.  When they returned back to Meadows they listened to the music and the speeches before making their way home.  It was reported that only two people had been arrested for minor offences, and that the police were highly delighted that the event had gone without trouble which was not expected by anyone at this event, even though anarchist's had tried to penetrate the event.  They were kept out on what must be classed as great family day out for all the people who were there.

The message is clear

Spelling it out to Make Poverty History

Getting musically in tune in before the protest

All are united for the same cause

Cardinal Keith O'Brien waiting to move off on protest

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Conner waiting to move off on protest

Babba Maal in full support of the cause

Getting in place for the start

Cardinals in unity against poverty

The Lord Provost Lesley Hinds and Bianca Jagger

Pete Postlewaite giving his support

Knowing what the march was about

Billy Bragg united at Making Poverty History

David Lacy, Moderator of the Church of Scotland with others at the banner

Bianca Jagger in full support

Gathering at the banner for the start of the protest

Making it a carnival atmosphere

In unity over poverty

Posters advertising other events

Singing a song as we're going along

A real carnival atmosphere

Marching for a cause

Security in place for public safety

Waiting to go on the route

We are here for peaceful protest against poverty

Edinburgh Castle with banner Make Poverty History

Towards the end of the march

Placard disposal at the end of march

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Stop the War Coalition on Sunday 3 July 2005

On Sunday the Anti War Coalition started to gather at the bottom of the Mound in Edinburgh for the naming of the dead ceremony on the Calton Hill.  They have had many marches in Edinburgh in the past and have caused very few problems on their protests.  Their protests have always been peaceful, and there have been very few arrests in the past with this group of people who have very strong views against the war in Iraq.  Rose Gentle who lost her son in this war was in attendance along with many other campaigners.  The protesters went along Princes street and up to the Calton Hill where they were able carry on with the naming of the dead ceremony in a peaceful way.  This was a well run event with no problems expected, and none were encountered.  The people on this protest were highly delight as guest speakers joined in and finished the day off with dignity with no problems whatsoever.

Organisers preparing for the protest

Getting in the mood for the protest

Getting the placards ready

Preparing for the protest

Lining up for protest

Using the loud hailer

Rose Gentle preparing to march with the Stop the War Coalition

Rose Gentle with lookalike Prime Minister

Listening to the speeches on the Calton Hill

Rose Gentle reading the names of those killed in war on the Calton Hill

Spelling it out loud and clear on stage

Walden Bellow speaking on Calton Hill

Billy Bragg on Calton Hill

Hugh Darcy speaking on Calton Hill

Actress Julie Christie speaking out on the stage

Ambulance crews on hand to make sure everyone is safe

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Day of Illegal Protests in Edinburgh Monday 4 July 2005

On Monday it was billed as the Carnival of Fun run by the anarchist's.  They refused to cooperate with the police from the very start by not telling them what their intentions were, so the police were put on high alert to prevent any trouble which has been normal for these groups in the past.  This was no Carnival of Fun as the anarchist's gathered at the West End of Edinburgh hoping that they would be allowed cause mayhem in Edinburgh.  As they moved into Canning Street a police cordon was set up to prevent them moving forward.  Another group of police moved in at the back of them to lock them in the street.  Police in everyday uniforms were used for this procedure, but when shoving and pushing started, police in protective clothing were moved in to prevent any injury and the police in everyday uniforms were moved back.  The police were not heavy handed as they contained the group in this street.  No one was going anywhere until they had decided it was safe to let this group out.  Under the anti terrorism laws they have every right to contain the situation.  Everyone was released after two to three hours with their names and addresses being taken along with a photograph so that they could be identified at a later date if any more trouble broke out in the city.  Photographers and media were included in this cordon and everyone was treated equally.  Because there were so many people there it was hard to know who was local or who was involved in the protest, so I do not think police acted in and unjustified fashion.  The police contained a situation that was likely to get out of hand.  This is a system that  is called containment, and that's what the police did effectively.  10,000 police had been drafted up to Scotland to bolster up the local police forces to prevent trouble during the G8 Summit, and that's exactly what they were doing.  I was caught up in the first cordon, but had no problems with it whatsoever because I understood exactly what was happening by applying a little bit of common sense.

Anarchist's gathering in Edinburgh

Police gathering for anarchist's protest

Moving into a wall of police

Protestors gathering for illegal protest

Protestors blocked in on street on first protest

Anarchist's covering their faces from the police

Blocked off in a trap by the police

Some caught up in police cordon

Police stopping illegal protest

Police from other forces supporting the local police

Caught up in first stand off with the police

Police on full alert for trouble

Illegal protestors waiting to be let out of first police cordon

On Lothian Road, which is the financial and business area of Edinburgh a group of Anti Capitalists tried to penetrate the area but were prevented from doing so with the large police presence that had been set up to prevent the disruption of ordinary people going about their lawful business and being allowed to go the their work unhindered.

Preventing anti capitalists disrupting Edinburgh's business area

Mounted police on standby for trouble

In late afternoon trouble broke out in Princes Street Gardens where a group started to damage property and started attacking the police in this area.  The police that were in the area were in everyday uniform, and they had to draw their batons to contain the situation when they were attacked.  Their main aim was to cordon in the group who were causing the problems.  Because this was a city centre location, ordinary people were caught up in the mayhem that arose.  The anarchist's were not in the least concerned about causing trouble in an area where the public were out enjoying themselves for the day.  The anarchist's behaved and acted stupidly as the cordon tightened around them.  All streets in the area were closed off by other police to prevent other groups joining in on the mayhem that was being created.  Horses were brought in and police in protective clothing were brought in to seal off the area.  The public caught up in this mayhem were concerned and wanted to leave but that was impossible during an ongoing operation.  No one would be hurt if they stayed where they were until it was all sorted out, and it must have been a frightening situation for most ordinary people just out enjoying the city.  But there were groups of local people who had gathered outside the cordon shouting abuse at the police which did not help the tension in the area.  Eventually the police decided it was time to move everyone who was outside the cordon further away from the trouble that they were containing. People were asked politely to move back, and it was up to them to comply.  Most people did move back and moved away from the area while others decided to get involved by verbally abusing the police and getting involved in the trouble that had started.  Eventually everything was brought under control after a number of running battles with the police.  A number of people were charged by the police and locked up for the night to appear in court the next day.  They were charge with holding charges, such as breach of the peace and other offences.  But, the CCTV camera's and police hand held camera's were filming everything that went on in the area, and I'm quite sure that when the police get a chance to go through all their film footage some of these charges might be changed to more serious charges.  So the anarchist' and the locals who got involved might have a shock coming their way when the charge is changed to rioting and other more serious offences at a later date.  This is a type of policing that is unusual in Edinburgh, but then the G8 Summit is not something that is held in Scotland every year.

Mounted police mobilized to troubled area

Mounted police on the move

Mounted police going to stop trouble

Police cordon on Princes Street

Police in close formation on Princes Street to stop other anarchists from joining in

Police cordon to prevent other protestors joining the protest

Moving the anarchists into a tighter group on Princes Street

Mounted police containing the anarchist's

Shields in hand to prevent others from joining in

Police clearing the public out of the street for public safety

The police containing some of the anarchist's

Backup police sealing off the troubled area

Police securing Rose Street

A birds eye view of the events in hand

Memorial seats used as weapons against police

I decided not to go to Gleneagles when it was reported on the television first thing in the morning that rioting had broken out in Stirling and other areas early in the morning. Trains were cancelled and the anarchist's managed to prevent many genuine people going to Gleaneagles.  But in the end, they achieved nothing and no one seems to know what they are about or what their aims were, apart from causing mayhem.

Bono leaving a hotel for the Live8 Concert at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh

Copyright photographs taken by Andrew Murphy

Written by Andrew Murphy 7 July 2005

All copying strictly forbidden in part or whole

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