Police Fracture Wheelchair User's Shoulder During Peaceful Protest Outside DWP

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Police fracture wheelchair user's shoulder in peaceful protest - Disabled people peacefully protesting against government cuts that are killing disabled people were physically attacked by police in a demonstration outside the Department for Work and Pensions.

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Without any provocation from the peaceful protesters who had gathered to show their support to disabled activists from DPAC, police used heavy handed tactics and pushed the crowd without any concern for the disabled wheelchair users lined up in front of the door despite repeated warning that disabled people were being placed at risk. Their actions resulted in one of the protesters having his shoulder fractured. Another wheelchair user's chair was broken in this unprovoked and disproportionate use of force by the police. The police made several attempts to unbalance protesters at the front of the crowd and broke one man's glasses.

The wheelchair user, Patrick Lynch, hurt in the incident said;

"The police officer involved was a thug and a bully, not fit to wear the uniform. If he hadn't been in the police he would be facing charges for assault"

One of the peaceful protesters inside who was there to support the disabled activists occupying the foyer of the DWP building heard what was happening and attempted to alert police to the fact there were wheelchair users being crushed in the line and in danger of being hurt.

Legal observers who attended the event will have witnessed this incident. As a result he was arrested and went peacefully. At the time of this statement he is still in Charing Cross police station and we have no further information as yet.

DPAC spokesperson Maud Wilkinson said;

"What happened is regrettable. Taken in the context of the week of action this was an isolated incident. But disabled people will not stop organizing and mobilizing the resistance to the brutal attack on disabled people being perpetrated by the ConDem Government."

At the end of the protest those occupying the DWP foyer left voluntarily and the demonstration ended peacefully and without further incident.

All the demonstrations organized by DPAC in this week of activity and previously have passed off without incident or arrest.

We believe that the use of force by police was excessive, unnecessary, reckless and contravened our right to peaceful protest. It's also difficult to see the police response as anything other than an attempt to provoke a violent reaction from the protesters.

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) was formed by a group of disabled people after the 3rd October mass protests against cuts in Birmingham, England. The 3rd October saw the first mass protest against the austerity cuts and their impact on disabled people, it was led by disabled people under the name of 'The Disabled Peoples' Protest.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed article relating to our European Disability News section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "Police Fracture Wheelchair User's Shoulder During Peaceful Protest Outside DWP" was originally written by DPAC: Disabled People Against Cuts, and published by Disabled-World.com on 2012-09-02 (Updated: 2021-07-31). Should you require further information or clarification, DPAC: Disabled People Against Cuts can be contacted at dpac.uk.net. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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Cite This Page (APA): DPAC: Disabled People Against Cuts. (2012, September 2). Police Fracture Wheelchair User's Shoulder During Peaceful Protest Outside DWP. Disabled World. Retrieved September 22, 2023 from www.disabled-world.com/news/uk/dpac.php

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