Red Rag

Some balance in the protest reporting at last (though I can’t find this article at The West Australian’s website):

Lawyers representing dozens of anti-war protestors are preparing a report on Wednesday’s violent protest outside the US Consulate to give to police, the Ombudsman and State Government.

… Lawyer Mark Cox, a member of the No War Alliance, said he hoped the report could force a review of WA police practices at protests. In the long term, the report would influence whether protestors took civil action.

Among claims being investigated by Mr Cox are that a 15-year-old girl’s pants were pulled down and remained below her knees while she was marched inside the consulate building with her hands cuffed behind her back, a 14-year-old boy’s ankle was broken after being trampled by a horse and a girl, also 15, was punched in the face by police.

Mr Cox said photographs, video footage and witness statements would be used to compile the report, which will also document allegations of racist and sexist remarks, sexual harrassment, intimidation, name gathering and search and seizure by the police.

I saw several incidences of unprovoked violence by the police myself. Unfortunately, probably nothing will come of it.