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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Gavin O'Callaghan

Gardai to meet with councillors to discuss ongoing protest outside Google HQ on Barrow Street

Dublin city councillors from the southern areas will hold a special meeting with gardai to discuss the ongoing protests at Google's HQ's on Barrow St.

The demonstration has been running over five weeks since former journalist Gemma O'Doherty had her Youtube account removed for violating their terms and conditions.

A meeting will now take place as residents are sick of the group who have been spreading what many are calling hate speach.

Local councillor Hazel Chu has been on the end of horrible abuse by some members of the group with one video showing a man give a speech referring to her as "that migrant"

Chu was born in Dublin and has lived between the capital and Kildare for her entire life.

Last Saturday there were tense scenes as the Green Party councillor led a 'Say No To Hate' rally to the area where gardai formed a barrier between them and the protesters.

25/05/2019 Green Party local candidates Patrick Costello & Hazel Chu with their daughter Alex (1 1/2) at the Local and European Elections and divorce referendum counts in the RDS, Dublin (Collins)

Around 200 people with anti-racism banners stood across from the demonstrators letting their feelings known.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Chris Andrews, who will be attending Friday's meeting with gardai, says locals are sick of the group and that they've created a very "ugly" atmosphere.

He told Dublin Live: "The gardai on the frontline are doing an excellent job. It's a very difficult position for them to be as some of these people have been very provocative.

"We've seen footage and some of the protesters are right in their faces and the guards have been incredibly cool and calm.

"As someone who's carried out his fair share of protests I feel there's something good about it and something right about it. But this isn't protesting. This is ugly and there's a big element of baiting people.

Sinn Fein Cllr Chris Andrews (Chris Andrew)

"It's very mean spirited and hateful.

"The abuse that people like The Green Party's Hazel Chu has had to put up with is just unacceptable.

"Such negativity is draining on everyone."

"Residents are sick of them, they find them annoying."

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