The Dublin anti-racist activists charged in relation to a sit-in at the Taoiseach's [Prime Minister's] office last March were in court on Friday 15th of December 2000 for an initial hearing. The trial date was set for May 21st and 22nd 2001.Fundraising events in Ireland will be planned for the New Year. We will also contacting all supporters asking them to protest to the Irish government.

The Northside People - Dublin 28th December 2000

Protesters remain defiant Eleven members of the Anti-Racism Campaign, Residents Against Racism and Anti-Fascist Action groups will face the courts again in March after a judge set aside two days to hear the case earlier this month.

Supporters of the group say they are expecting the State to take a hard line and are facing a tough court battle.

The protesters are facing charges of resisting arrest under the Public Order Act after they broke into the Taoiseach?s office on Church Avenue in Drumcondra.

The protesters hung banners from the windows of the Taoiseach?s office proclaiming their opposition to the Government?s controversial proposals to introduce 'flotels' for refugees. After a brief stand-off with gardai, members of the group were arrested and brought to two city centre police stations where they were interviewed for two hours before being released. A file was then sent to the DPP.

The group also allege that two female members were strip-searched in Fitzgibbon Street Garda station after the incident.

A spokesperson for the group told The People after this month's hearing that they were determined to fight the State's case and are planning more acts of protest. "There's absolutely no way we are backing down on this and we have all pleaded not guilty to all the charges," spokesperson Greg Kerr said. "We are also disgusted how the authorities handled what was, after all, a peaceful protest."

Independent councillor Finian McGrath has come out in support of the protesters and described the actions of the authorities as "disgusting". "The use of such laws to clamp down on legitimate public protest is a disturbing attack on civil liberties," he said.