Friday 9 June 2006

 

Yorkshire Internation Business Convention in Harrogate North Yorkshire

 

Yorkshire CND were protesting outside the grounds of the Convention.  It was a good demonstration.  There were a lot of police about including police horses patrolling the outside.  George Bush Senior was the main speaker at this event this year.  He arrived at the Convention just before 3.30 pm, having stayed at Rudding Park hotel the night before.

 

Lindis Percy of CAAB was waiting inside the grounds with the press to 'greet' him.  While she was waiting inside the hall he was due to speak in, she was given a free glass of Pims no I courteosy of the Royal Bank of Scotland which she gratefully received.  As the cavalcade bringing George Bush arrived,  (consisting of four blackened -out window cars with a bevvy of CIA men accompanying)  he stepped out of his vehicle and came down some steps to the main entrance hall. 

 

Lindis quietly stepped out from the press ranks and barrier and stood peacefully holding an upside down US flag with the words 'BUSH OFF PLEASE' written on the flag.  A CIA person came up to her but was not rough.  As George Bush was coming down the steps Lindis was escorted off by several North Yorkshire police, including two officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU)   These officers had been present all the time Lindis was waiting for the arrival of George Bush Senior.

 

Lindis was about 10-15 metres from George Bush as she was escorted away.  As she passed him, she said. "Good afternnoon Mr Bush' - he turned to her and she said "Your son is doing terrible things to the world'.  He replied, "I'm proud of what my son has done'.  Then Lindis and George Bush parted company.

 

Lindis was 'frog marched' off  by a lot of police.  She was not immediately arrested but put in a police van and taken to a prisoner van parked within the grounds.  She kept saying that she was not under arrest.  The press were interested at this point.  She was searched (despite not being under arrest) and eventually, after being told that she was not going to be arrested by PC Findlayson (CTU) the officer said that she was under arrest 'to prevent a breach of the peace'.  She was not cautioned.

 

Lindis was kept in Harrogate Police Station under the instructions of 'higher authority' until George Bush had left.  She was released without charge. The demonstration was entirely peaceful.