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POLICE OVER THE MOON AT EDO

As SchNEWS goes to print, stalwart anti-militarists still brave the brisk March night at the first (of many) all night demos outside EDO-ITT – the Brighton bomb parts factory. Marking the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, a terrifying mob of protesters - at times nearly numbering in double figures - still managed to provoke Sussex police into complete overkill. Five police vans, dog teams, regular searches of the woods by the factory and constant sweeps with spotlights. Nice overtime for the lads in these crunching times eh?

Earlier in the evening, EDO employees cowered under a police escort against a vicious assault by the angelic anti-war voices of the Sussex Peace Choir.

Weirder still, EDO’s masochistic MD Paul Hills, fresh from a stint having a grilling in court about the legality of his business, turned up for all the fun and stayed til past 11pm – he just can’t get enough of being called a murderer (hasn’t he got any life to go to?!).

The whole operation must be costing a bomb – it just goes to show how scared the old bill and EDO/ITT are of the Smash EDO campaign. They’ve had a terrible year - mass demos, carpark invasions (or ‘riot’ if you prefer SchNEWS’ incendiary rival Brighton rag, The Argus), and of course, a thorough smashing up back in January (See SchNEWS 663).

Last we heard, a hardcore of three still remain, huddled under a blanket, eating cake. Some of the most expensive cake in history if we factor in the cops costs...how long can they justify such exorbitance?

* See www.smashedo.org.uk