Police Arrest Protester at Gaza Flotilla Protest in Manchester

31st May 2010 - A protester who raised the Palestinian flag alongside the BBC's own on a flagpole outside the Manchester BBC headquarters, is quickly pounced on by police and can be seen being very heavy-handedly apprehended, as onlookers shout 'let him go'. It is believed he managed to get away at least at one point (perhaps halfway through the video), but nonetheless clearly suffered quite an ordeal for simply raising a flag to the acclaim of the crowd. I don't know if he was finally arrested or subsequently released.

This was at a protest held outside the BBC building in Manchester, England, on 31st May 2010, in response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Flotilla earlier that day.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Manchester
• protest
• Gaza
• Flotilla
• BBC
• headquarters
• Palestine
• Israel
• police
• arrest
• apprehend
• palestinian
• flag
• raiser
• protester
• demo
• demonstration
• heavy-handed

[Trojanx27]

i was there on the day, in fact im in one of the videos. Im one of the Cops who was faced with this "Peaceful" unplanned protest. Typical complaints about the Police, what about my colleagues who were injured? that idiotic group caused damage and forced their way into private property, if you dont like a robust Police response dont do it. We protect everyone, including the staff who didnt want to be there. You lot are as bad as the EDL, bet if it was a BNP flag u would want him arresting!

[illumin1138]

@Trojanx27 This protest was about love and respect for fellow humankind. EDL/BNP protests tend to be about something altogether very different. I don't think anybody should be arrested for raising a flag, be it a Palestinian flag, Israeli flag, etc. The act of raising a flag is a non-violent, non-destructive act of symbolic protest. Can you honestly tell me you believe the level of police 'handling' used in this video was warranted? What would the charge have been? Would Manchester be safer?

[illumin1138]

@Trojanx27 I would also add my sympathies for any police injured, but from what I can only imagine; as previously stated I saw no protester violence, so even if there was some it could only have been from a very tiny minority (were they even really on the protest?) Meanwhile, I doubt the person being grabbed and dragged around in this video came off entirely unscathed...

[Trojanx27]

@illumin1138 I appreciate what you are saying, a load of people there simply wanted to exercise their right to protest, dont have a problem with that. Trespassing on private property (to put the flag up) is an offence, and the act itself stirred the crowd to cause trouble...

The lad who was arrested is fine, it looks rough because the crowd were pulling him away from us. Several of my mates had bloody noses among other injuries at the end of it. We keep the peace, if force is required so be it.

[illumin1138]

@Trojanx27 As much as I very strongly disagree with the way this protester was handled, no public servant wants to come home from work with injuries, I hope they weren't too bad. I'm glad to hear he's OK. However, I don't see how he could have been arrested for trespass - it's not illegal, it's a civil matter. Aggravated trespass is illegal, but doesn't fit this case, plus police would have to be able to prove they warned him to get down and that he heard (which I'm almost sure didn't happen).

[illumin1138]

@Trojanx27 I would also add my sympathies for any police injured, but from what I can only imagine; as previously stated I saw no protester violence, so even if there was some it could only have been from a very tiny minority (were they even really on the protest?) Meanwhile, I doubt the person being grabbed and dragged around in this video came off entirely unscathed...

[ghulamhaydar1]

i was there too.. i spotted myself with grey beani hat

check my vid out which is what happened directly preceding this

[Spartacus21C]

@Trojanx27 "Peace through superior firepower"? Without your presence there would have been no disruption to peace.

[Spartacus21C]

@Trojanx27 What damage? I was there, you probably tried to grab me at least once in fact, most of your colleagues had a go anyway, and I didn't see any damage, and I haven't seen damage in any of the videos or pictures either.

Nobody wanted to hurt the staff.

If someone posed a threat to innocent people (highly likely in the case of someone who'd be flying a BNP flag) then I might want them arrested, but a BNP flag on its own wouldn't have that effect. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech.

[jamesrodgers844]

that well hurt

[abrotzi12]

Israel will fight Terror ! arab fanatic muslim are pure terrorist causing evil war ! viva la Israel !