Protestors burn national flags (From Stroud News and Journal)

Protestors burn national flags

FLAG-BURNING protesters brought traffic to a halt in Merrywalks on Friday, March 21 before police broke up the demonstration.

Waving banners reading 'burn flags not people' as more than a dozen people, from students to pensioners, took part in the demonstration.

They blocked the road at the pedestrian crossing before attempting to burn both American flags and the Union Jack, saying they were not anti-American or anti-British, but against the idea of nationhood itself.

Angry motorists mounted the pavement to pass the protesters and hurled abuse at them.

Wind and man-made fibres conspired against the internationalists and the flags refused to light properly.

Paper replacements were brought in, however, and the demonstrators had a chance to make their point before the police showed up.

"All it seems to do is set people against each other," said protester John Mayford.

"Ordinary working-class people will die on either side of every conflict and we're in a system that pits nation states against each other for economic profit."

Poet Dennis Gould added: "I'm in favour of internationalism and people have to reject their own flags, especially in times of war."

He said people should do what they could to make their voices heard, and everyone should find their own level from writing letters to their MP to non-violent direct action.

Police asked the demonstrators not to block the road but they argued they had a democratic right to protest.

A scuffle broke out and subsequently two arrests were made. Stroud College student James Beecher, 18, was charged with using threatening words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress under Section 5 of the public order act. He was bailed until March 31.

Lawyer Alex Raeburn was arrested but later released without charge. "We have no problem whatsoever with people engaging in a peaceful protest," said acting inspector Andy Stone.

"But this was a main arterial route and they were a danger to themselves and they were obstructing the highway. "We respect their right to protest but everybody else must be allowed to go about their daily business."