Gaddafi out! Protest on streets of Bradford

A large group of protestors gathered outside the Alhambra theatre in Bradford to protest against the murder of hundreds of anti-government activists in Libya and to call for the removal from power of the countrys dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. At the time of writing, around 50 Bradford residents had already gathered and their numbers were continuing to grow.

The protest in Bradford has assembled as Gaddafi's security forces continue their brutal crackdown on the people of Libya, who are calling for freedom from a dictatorship that has perservered in the country since 1969. The uprising began on the 13th January 2011 and is continuing.

Click on a thumbnail for a slideshow view

The latest reports put the death toll at a minimum of 300 people, with the latest confirmed death being that of an 18 month old boy. Gaddafi's son has vowed to "fight to the last bullet", but this has not deterred the mounting numbers of people taking to the streets daily or their determination for the people to take the country back.

The crowd demonstrating in Bradford could be heard chanting "Gaddafi out" as far away as the town hall as many finished work and converged outside the Alhambra theatre, opposite the council offices, in cold and wet weather. Several people were waving large Libyan flags, and many others held up hand made signs calling for justice for those killed.

One held up a sign with pictures of various western heads of state including David Cameron, Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama, red tape placed over their mouths. One of the protestors pointed to the sign and explained:

"They are also to blame for this massacre. For 4 days they have said nothing and allowed it to go on. And for what? For oil?"

When asked what the Libyan people wanted, if it was just for Gaddafi to step down, a protestor replied:

"We want him removed from power, but we do not want him to leave Libya. We want justice for all that he has done. The Libyan people should decide that justice."

"He is killing our people. They, we are not his people. He has brought in outsiders with helicopters"

Some of those on the protest were as young as 8 years old and held banners with the words "Gaddafi out" written on them. The majority of those present were local Bradford residents of Libyan descent, though other people from a variety of Bradfords communities had already joined the protest in solidarity.

When asked if the protests happening now in Libya and elsewhere had been inspired by what had happened in Egypt and elsewhere recently, the reply was terse:

"42 years we have suffered. For 42 years we have wanted freedom from this dictator. We have seen now that this is possible after what has happened elsewhere, now it is our turn. We finally have a real chance to free ourselves after all this time."

Similar protests have been happening across the North of England and around the world in response to the growing numbers of innocent people killed by the Libyan government as the uprising continues.

The demonstration in Bradford is particularly appropriate since there is a local link to the massacre there: WS Atkins Global (LS15 8ZB). Atkins has an department called Design and Engineering Solutions that is divided into various business sectors, namely Defence, Aerospace.... Atkins is the largest UK engineering consultancy in the Middle East.

"WS Atkins also expects to play a role in redeveloping Tripoli's two airports as part of a larger BAE Systems contract. A senior source at BAE said negotiations with the Libyan government centred on a complete and detailed revamp of its aviation sector, including the creation of regulatory bodies, refurbishment of airports, installation of air-traffic control systems and the sale of aircraft."

source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article1052596.ece

"When I first started coming to Libya two years ago I was the only Brit on the plane," says Atkins director John Cherrington. "Now look at it."

Flights to Tripoli are currently jammed with British businessmen, but Atkins got in early. It was approached by the Libyan Football Federation in 2002, and shortly after began work on a hotel resort for it. Later it developed the LFF's bid to co-host the 2010 World Cup with Tunisia.

Other Links:

"Day of Rage": Libyan solidarity in London http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/02/474359.html

Vigil Friday 18th for those killed in Bahrain & Libya http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/703398

Sheffield protest against repression in Libya http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/02/474559.html

Contact email: imc-northern-contact@lists.indymedia.org