Letter to the Herald"How police in Glasgow caused more disruption
I'M sure that many of the demonstrators involved in Saturday's Glasgow protest against UK involvement in the destruction of Iraq would be happy to join me in praise of the Strathclyde Police force. Faced with a reckless and dangerous crowd of unarmed toddlers, school children, pensioners, and concerned adults who were walking up and down in a manner which can only be described as democratic the police immediately sent in their crack team of formation conga lines to assist demonstrators in forming a complete and protracted blockade of Sauchiehall Street. Rather than allow citizens to proceed in the free, but slightly dull, expression of dissent, the guardians of our law and order insisted that we all stand together - sometimes very close together - in a mutual demonstration which caused immeasurably more disruption than a few circles of college students sitting down in the road ever could have. Not only that, but few of us who were corralled together at Holland Street could have failed to be moved, if not actually aroused, by the colour-co-ordinated ranks of police, the leading foot of each one teasingly advanced, hips cocked, and one hand thrust into the belt of a brother (or sister) officer in a display of frank affection that brought tears to many eyes. (Although obviously some of the smaller children may have been crying because they were scared and weren't permitted to leave and go to the toilet for over an hour.) How cheering it is to think that in one afternoon, the Strathclyde Police have given so many youngsters a thorough grounding in British civil liberties and have overturned their boring peaceful and non-confrontational practices, as employed for years at Faslane and during other non-violent protests against violations of international law. Hats off to the boys and girls in blue - and keep practising that footwork. "A L Kennedy, c/o Antony Harwood, 1 Putney Bridge Approach, London.
