Dublin's Biggest Ever Critical Mass Ride

Friday April 30, 2004 22:35

by Chekov

'no signs state campaign of intimidation has dampened spirits : resistance remains fertile'

From the Newswire: "After 2 months of media hysteria and hard work on the part of the organisers, the Mayday weekend kicked off with a Critical Mass which was large, vibrant, good humoured and, of course, completely peaceful. Although it's difficult to estimate the numbers of people on cycle-protests, educated guesses from experienced massers ranged from 400 to 700. What's for sure is that it was the biggest critical mass ever to take place in Dublin. It is also certain that it was carried out entirely in a light-hearted atmosphere. Policing was low-key and there were no tensions.

The route took the crowd down O'Connell St, down Dame St, past Christ Church, down the hill to the river, back down the north quays, up O'Connell St and finally around Parnell Square to Mountjoy prison, where a rally was held to demand the release of Polly Murphy - in prison since last Tuesday for the crime of trespass. Cries of 'Our passion for freedom is stronger than your prisons' and 'homes not jails' ran around the crowd."

Indymedia Ireland Mayday Critical Mass Video
Dublin Hosting Biggest Ever Cycle Campaigners Conference on Mayday
Video Clip from 'IMC Travelling Circus' (500K, mpg)
Clip Two from our 'Circus' Friends (800K, mpg)
Some previous Critical Mass reports: September 2003 * Reclaim The Streets '03 * Dublin Cycling Campaign * Dominick St. protest * Belfast "Bikes Not Bombs"
From the archives: Critical Mass and RTS for MayDay 2002