Frankie 8,146 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 (edited) On Saturday, October 1st 2011, The Union Bears and The Blue Order held a further protest at Ibrox Stadium in the 1-0 victory over Hibernian. The protest consisted of a 54 minute silence, surrounding the section in police tape and the unfurling of 3 banners; "Police Line - Do Not Cross" "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" "Al Megrahi Sits at Home, Football Fans Sit in Jail" Unfortunately, our protest was challenged by the stewards within the stadium who attempted to remove upon unfurling our "Police Line, Do Not Cross" banner. Despite attempts at censorship of our opinion, we will continue our opposition of the proposed 'Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill'. Further to this, following our protest action and the incidents that occurred on Tuesday night, the BF1 section was subject to intimidation by Stewards and Police, both inside and outside of the stadium. Each entrance to the Broomloan Road Stand had 5 stewards and 4 police officers. Certain group members were subject to a full body search 4 times, by 4 separate officers before being allowed entry to the stadium. No homemade banners or flags were permitted entry to the stadium, including the Union Bears group banner. On entry to the stadium, the BF1 section had 8 police officers along the top row, stewards positioned down both aisles, and 4 police officers and numerous stewards facing the section from trackside. In total, our section counted at one point a total of 26 police and stewards around the section. Supporters would also have been aware of the messages over tannoy and scoreboard informing all supporters that they must remain seated throughout the match. The tactic from Rangers security on Saturday appeared to be the elimination of all colour and atmosphere from Ibrox stadium, and the ejection of any fans who dared challenge this aggressive and unnecessary action. We had 6 supporters ejected from our section, with season tickets confiscated by stewards; 1 for standing 1 for filming police 2 for questioning why you can be ejected for filming police 1 for refusing to hand over season ticket details without reason or justification for why details where required 1 for handing out tape to supporters to cover their mouths as part of our silent protest We again, would like to thank the Rangers support for their fantastic backing of the section on Saturday. Your messages of support are greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Alistair McCoist, for his support. It is clear that the management team believes that vocal support and atmosphere can inspire the players. We were utterly appalled at treatment we received on Saturday. We wish to support our team in a vocal, colourful and positive manner and feel we are being subject to intense intimidation and over aggressive policing and stewarding. We will be compiling a document with details of events over the past 2 matches, and submitting this to Rangers. Our hope is that we can resolve all issues and get on with encouraging the team to our 55th and 4th consecutive title without intimidation, fear of arrest or undue over-aggressive stewarding. Supporting Your Team Is not a Crime. Yours in Rangers, The Union Bears and The Blue Order Edited October 3, 2011 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,146 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'd personally urge all bears to contact the club and ask them to explain this disgraceful situation. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,195 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Very well written article and professional all the way through Rangers need to be making more of a stand in this. Utter nonsense to have that many stewards and police marshalling a section which is nothing other than a vibrant, vocal (but not bigotted or sectarian) section of the ground. They really are trying to take the atmosphere away from games. Are the Green Brigade also subjected to such scrutiny ? Rhetorical question..... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,195 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Contact details please Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Contact details please Frankie Ditto - who do we write to? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Great words again boys. Police state springs to mind in all this an absolute disgrace. That big smile for my benefit Craig, LoL. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 No Craig there not because there club backs them to the hilt. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,146 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'd recommend RossMacaskill@rangers.co.uk (Facilities Manager) as the first port of call. CC in JimHannah@rangers.co.uk as supporters liaison while you're at it. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,146 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'm told the Fans Joint Working Group are supporting TBO and UB's and they will be involved once we collate all our info into a document to present to Rangers. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,329 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The buck stops at the top. Craig Whyte should be the guy who should be ensuring that this intimidation of his own support ceases immediately. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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