After four months of protests, the IGas drill finally left Barton Moss last week under heavy police guard. Symbolically, the last two major acts of defiance – lock ons in the middle of Barton Moss Road – featured people from Salford, flying in the face of any remaining propaganda that the anti-fracking activities are somehow being done by `professional protesters' from `outside the area'.
First up, last Monday, was local woman, Debbie, who locked on to a giant green tube with a bloke from Hulme, delaying a huge convoy of lorries trying to leave the IGas exploratory drilling site. And then, last Friday, well known Salford community activist, Graham Cooper, was also locked on in the middle of Barton Moss Road.
Graham's motivation wasn't so much to stop the lorries, which were not about to travel down the road at the time, but to raise awareness of the lack of anything coming from Salford councillors or Salford Mayor Ian Stewart on any of the issues surrounding Barton Moss.
"I've been active in Salford now for nine or ten years, I'm Salford born and bred, but none of the councillors or politicians are getting involved, they're burying their heads in the sand" he told the Salford Star while he was locked on "Normally there would be some form of communication about issues like this but there's been nothing. Just brick walls all the time. No-one's talking about it; there's been no consultation, no discussions, nothing…
"For someone like myself to be pushed this far says a lot at the end of the day" he added "Obviously, I'm also doing this to raise awareness of the dangers of fracking, and I'm also sick of being pushed up and down the path by the police. It's just frustration that's forced me to do something like this."
Residents are trying to do everything to raise awareness that local politicians have shown themselves to be pathetic throughout the last four months. There's been demonstrations outside and inside Salford Civic Centre (see here and see here), outside GMP HQ (see here) and Swinton Police Station (see here), and even a protest picnic held opposite the Mayor's house (see here).
There's two issues. The issue of fracking itself and the subjects surrounding the exploratory drilling and planning permissions. And the issue of Salford residents getting brutalised by Greater Manchester Police. Neither has drawn so much as a public comment from any ruling Labour politician.
Last week, Debbie Kay from Irlam who isn't even five feet tall, was standing around at the end of one of the lorry walk-outs when she was pounced upon by Greater Manchester Tactical Aid Unit (TAU), leaving her with huge bruises and in fear for days. Her `crime'? Holding a phone.
"It frightened me to death, it scared me, they didn't ask me, just attacked me, I'm still thinking about it" she told the Salford Star a few days after the attack happened.
"We'd finished the walk out and noticed that the officers were still there, a lot of them" she recalled "Frank was still live streaming. The TAU van pulled up, four officers jumped out, went over to the other side of the road said what they had to say - and the next thing they kind of storm marched over. Frank said `Here Debbie, mind my phone I think I'm going to get arrested'…
"Not knowing, I took the phone off him and said `I'm going to get off' but as I went round, officers pounced on me" she said "One of them had his arm around my neck and he kind of threw me. They didn't ask me any questions, like `Hand over the phone'…nothing, and they just dragged me. When they did get hold of me the phone dropped on the floor, I couldn't see it but apparently someone else picked it up and they attacked her harder.
"I've never been in trouble before" Debbie explained "I live around here and I just found it totally shocking. It really hurt my shoulder. I'm going to carry on coming down here – but I don't like these policemen any more. I don't trust them any more. I will put a complaint in because I don't deserve to be treated like an animal." (see Frack Free Walkden's YouTube footage here)
Last month, Gaynor a grandma from Irlam, echoed those sentiments "I feel violated, abused" she said "I just feel like anyone can just come up to me and do whatever they want to me because nobody's protecting people here, they are just violating all your human rights.
"I don't break the law, I've never broken the law in my life" she explained "They are making out that I am doing something wrong, and I'm not doing anything wrong." (see full article here)
Local residents being `treated like animals' for standing in a street holding a phone? Grandmas feeling `violated and abused' for peacefully campaigning? Community workers taking non-violent direct action in protest against the silence of local politicians?
Salford residents have a right to ask what is going on in the city that Salford Mayor Ian Stewart promised would be more `transparent' after he was elected. Instead, there will be more protests tomorrow morning outside the Civic Centre, once again led by Salford people.
And Salford Council had better get used to it. Because, through local politicians' ineptitude, a whole new section of the community has been radicalised and politicised. And the creative community are joining in…
Happy Mondays star, Bez, criticised the silence of the Mayor after witnessing the Tactical Aid Unit's brutal arrest of Vanda Gillett (see here). The next day, while politicians remained dumb, he formed the Reality Party which will stand candidates in the local elections this year and the General Election next year.
Meanwhile, the Costa Del Salford DJs are currently promoting a track, The Unstoppable Force, by the Barton Moss Protectors including a video featuring some of the horrendous footage shot by live streamers during the protests in Salford and elsewhere (click here to view).
And, in the absence of John Cooper Clarke, Salford's top poet, JB Barrington, has been moved to write The Battle of Barton Moss which we exclusively preview here…
The Battle Of Barton Moss
As peaceful protest meets the madness
of awful mindful violence
The mainstream media stays at home
stays safe and sits in silence
The corporations employ the agents
but it’s we that pay their wage
To serve and protect but it seems they forget
as shields and batons engage
That when the drills are drilling
when the earthquakes make earth shake
They’ll shake for you and your children too
and the folk that you forsake
When the evening slowly turns to night
when your working day is done
You’ll look into the innocent eyes
of your daughter or your son
And when they ask for a bedtime story
you won’t be at a loss
You can tell ‘em the tale of the time you bullied
at the battle of Barton Moss
https://www.facebook.com/TheWordsEscapeMe
© JB Barrington 2014 © words escape me 2014
The trucks are still rolling in and out of the Barton Moss IGas exploratory drilling site, and the daily slow walks in front of the lorries are continuing until the last one has left Salford.
While the site may be nearly cleared, the social mess that has been left behind is not being forgotten. And when IGas returns later in the year to Barton Moss, the company and Council and the Mayor will find Salford people on the front line, more determined than ever...
See also previous Salford Star articles...
* Salford Residents Shock at Barton Moss GMP Policing - click here
* Salford Schoolgirl Arrested at Barton Moss - click here
* Solicitor Compares Barton Moss Policing to Miners Strike as Mayor Remains Silent - click here
* See Salford Star interview with JB Barrington - click here
UPDATE 8th APRIL...
Fury As Salford Mayor Refuses Fracking Discussion - click here
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(2).jpg)
(1).jpg)
(1).JPG)
(1).JPG)
(1).JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
