It has been reported that a large group believed to be in their thousands have lined the streets of Dublin to show their support to the anti-water charge protesters who are currently awaiting trial after being charged in connection with a protest held in Tallaght last October.
A spokesperson for the latest protest has said the current charges against the protesters represent an attack on civil liberties and the freedom of speech. The group who have been charged with a number of offences have received support from people across the country along with people from abroad. It is understood that a number of demonstrations are being held in Sweden and the UK, in solidarity with the charged protesters.
The move to charge those involved last year has angered a number of people with one protester attending this afternoon’s rally saying: “We should be able to protest any time we want. Now we get lifted in the prisons for, it that’s not on. If we let this go now, we’re finished, we won’t be able to walk the streets.” Whilst another protester said: “I think protests are absolutely essential to democracy…If we didn’t have protests or rebellion there would never have been a democracy.”