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GLA candidate injured in Olympic horseplay
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| Ducking out: Mr Russell - wearing the wooly hat - is caught by the horse |
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Barnet and Camden in the London Assembly elections will fight the rest of his campaign on crutches after he was trampled by a police horse during a pro-Tibet protest in Whitehall.
Nicholas Russell joined hundreds of other protesters as the Olympic torch passed through London on Sunday to speak out against the Chinese Government's reportedly repressive policies in Tibet and earned a fractured foot for his efforts.
Mr Russell said: "I guess it's my fault for not moving fast enough and one of the horses trod on my foot. A hairline fracture is trivial compared to what Tibetans have suffered over recent weeks."
Popular demonstrations by Tibetan nationals in the territory, which falls within China's borders, have been violently put down by police in recent weeks as China gears up to host the Olympic games.
Thirty-seven people were arrested during the course of the torch relay as the pro-Tibet protesters attempted to disrupt the ceremony and clashed with Chinese students.
"Generally the police were very civil," Mr Russell added. "Though they were clearly briefed to protect the Chinese and push back the British protesters, which seems odd."
"The most depressing aspect of the day for me was the Labour Government's continuing preference for the authoritarian argument, not the liberal one."
Mr Russell's actions were applauded by his Conservative rival Brian Coleman.
Mr Coleman also said that Nicky Gavron, Labour's candidate for Barnet and Camden and current deputy mayor, "has blood on her hands" after she began the relay by handing the torch to Stephen Redgrave in Wembley stadium.
"I was disgusted beyond belief to see Nicky Gavron's hands on the Olympic torch. Has this woman got no shame? She's a Jew who must remember the treatment of Jews in Soviet Russia and what the Chinese are doing in Tibet is exactly the same.
"This is an evil, evil regime and we forget about all that as we suck up to them for business. Tens of thousands of Buddhists, Falung Gong practitioners and Roman Catholics remain in labour camps and Nicky Gavron owes them an explanation.
"I won't be shaking her hand again."
Mr Coleman has campaigned against the Chinese government consistently over the last eight years and spoken at numerous public events and protests.
He also advocates a full boycott of the Beijing Olympics but said that he did not attend the protest on Sunday in the fear that he would get arrested and damage his election campaign.
Ms Gavron said: "My participation was as the deputy mayor of the city which is hosting the next Olympics. I absolutely respect the right of people to protest."
11:30am Wednesday 9th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Daniel' not bitter, qwerty@qwertyland.co
.uk on 2:18pm Mon 7 Apr 08
I though charging down peaceful protestors with the cavalry had gone out of fashion, but obviously not in Gordon Brown's Britain
I though charging down peaceful protestors with the cavalry had gone out of fashion, but obviously not in Gordon Brown's Britain
Posted by: Donald Lyven, Finchley on 9:56am Tue 8 Apr 08
How ironic, that just a few hours earlier his political rival, New Labour’s Nicky Gavron, took the ‘Flame of Shame’ from a Chinese blue-clad bully-boy official and handed it to Steve Redgrave in a spookily empty Wembley Stadium.
And how far-sighted of Gordon Brown not to touch the ‘Torch of Torcher’ when it arrived in Downing Street!
So, this fiery ‘Flare of Tyranny’ with the blood of Tibet on its shaft was taken from Wembley Stadium – a structure over-budget, years late and doesn’t have a working roof, to the Dome – another costly structure way over-budget and also late in delivery. It doesn’t bode well for the Olympic Stadium and village to be finished on time, does it....?
How ironic, that just a few hours earlier his political rival, New Labour’s Nicky Gavron, took the ‘Flame of Shame’ from a Chinese blue-clad bully-boy official and handed it to Steve Redgrave in a spookily empty Wembley Stadium.
And how far-sighted of Gordon Brown not to touch the ‘Torch of Torcher’ when it arrived in Downing Street!
So, this fiery ‘Flare of Tyranny’ with the blood of Tibet on its shaft was taken from Wembley Stadium – a structure over-budget, years late and doesn’t have a working roof, to the Dome – another costly structure way over-budget and also late in delivery. It doesn’t bode well for the Olympic Stadium and village to be finished on time, does it....?
Posted by: Bilbo, Barnet on 1:22pm Tue 8 Apr 08
Will the torch be passing through Tibet on its way to Beijing?
Will the torch be passing through Tibet on its way to Beijing?
Posted by: Hamilton, London on 7:14pm Tue 8 Apr 08
I didn't see Borris or Ken getting their feet trample, perhaps that's because they probably have already laid down and surrendered their morals over to the Chinese for a quick buck.
The politicians and the Celebrities who took part in the flame of shame should be the ones who were trampled at the ballot box
I didn't see Borris or Ken getting their feet trample, perhaps that's because they probably have already laid down and surrendered their morals over to the Chinese for a quick buck.
The politicians and the Celebrities who took part in the flame of shame should be the ones who were trampled at the ballot box
Posted by: Andrew Freeman, North London on 8:08pm Tue 8 Apr 08
Well done Nicholas Russell. A man who is prepared to suffer with good grace for a noble cause.
Well done Nicholas Russell. A man who is prepared to suffer with good grace for a noble cause.
Posted by: Rog T, Mill Hill on 8:38pm Tue 8 Apr 08
The hypocracy of all this makes me sick. Go and shout at a few people then go home to your nice comfy homes surrounded by all of year cheap Chinese gear. Tibet has been occupied & suppressed since the 1950's.
I hear no calls for a boycott of these goods. Why? Because that would actually cost us. The Olympics is a nice soft target that we can all make a fuss about then go home and see ourselvers on our nice cheap chinese telly at home.
[bold]Until people start voting with their wallet, this regime will flourish.[/bold]
The hypocracy of all this makes me sick. Go and shout at a few people then go home to your nice comfy homes surrounded by all of year cheap Chinese gear. Tibet has been occupied & suppressed since the 1950's.
I hear no calls for a boycott of these goods. Why? Because that would actually cost us. The Olympics is a nice soft target that we can all make a fuss about then go home and see ourselvers on our nice cheap chinese telly at home.
Until people start voting with their wallet, this regime will flourish. Posted by: Paul Voss, 830-320 on 7:50pm Thu 10 Apr 08
Nick Russell's my hero - what a guy
Nick Russell's my hero - what a guy
Posted by: Ian Morrison on 3:48pm Sun 13 Apr 08
When did these "popular demonstrations" you mention actually take place? What actually happened was a bloody pogrom instigated by supporters of the Dalai Lama to terrorise innocent non-Tibetan (Han and Muslim) people. The dead included four young shop assistants burnt to death as they cowered in their clothing store and a little baby boy.
When did these "popular demonstrations" you mention actually take place? What actually happened was a bloody pogrom instigated by supporters of the Dalai Lama to terrorise innocent non-Tibetan (Han and Muslim) people. The dead included four young shop assistants burnt to death as they cowered in their clothing store and a little baby boy.
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