PROTESTERS took to the streets in Georgetown yesterday following similar action in Linden on Wednesday, when three persons were killed and dozens injured while protesting against the electricity tariff hike in the mining town. The police were, however, prepared for the situation. They  barricaded Eve Leary from Kingston to Camp Street and stood guard while the demonstrators chanted and marched from Camp to Lamaha Street, in front of the Passport Office.
Several Opposition led political activists; including David Hinds of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) told the Guyana Chronicle they called a peaceful exercise at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, in solidarity with the people of Linden, over the killing of four and injuries to others by the police on Wednesday.
Hinds, who was supported by a handful of people, including Nigel Hughes, Freddie Kissoon and Gerhard Ramsaroop, said they feel the need to call attention to what has happened in Linden and let the rest of the country know that “when a government reaches to the point where they are shooting down innocent people in the dead of night, then we have reached a really sad state in the country.”
Hinds said the people of Guyana need to stand up at the killing of innocent victims in Linden and also draw a link to the recent editorial in the Guyana Chronicle, because, look what happened in Linden.
He said, in Linden, where black youths were gunned down, is barbaric and uncontentious since the people were in a peaceful protest all day, occupying the Kara Kara Bridge when the Riot Squad fired live rounds into the crowd.

Being attacked
Hinds stated that the crowd did not provoke the police but said that missiles were thrown at them after they were being attacked with tear gas.
He asked what reason the police had to turn the guns on the people because in any other country they would have taken other measures to disperse a crowd rather than murdering innocent people.
Hinds charged that, indeed, excessive force was used by the police on Wednesday night because the people were, in no way damaging any property or anything when they were shot at and he blamed the government and said they are to be held accountable for killing the people.
The activist maintained that peaceful picketing is geared towards drawing the attention of the people of Guyana adding that what transpired in Linden was wrong.
Hinds said the police action has since drawn an angry response from Lindeners and they are adamant that they must get justice, not only for the increase in the electricity tariff but also for the murder of the people there.
He said they want all Guyana to know what has happened to Lindeners and they will not tolerate such actions by the police and the government and they are there to stand up for justice although they were not a lot in their numbers yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ramsaroop, an executive member of the Alliance for Change (AFC) said the occurrences in Linden were uncalled for because the protest was planned and announced and the law enforcement agencies were expected to be prepared and be proactive in their approach.
He added that the government should have dealt with the electricity tariff increase in a different manner and added a reduction depends on the pricing but it is clearly a political retribution for Lindeners.
Ramsaroop, while speaking on the phone with Mark Benschop who was overseas at the time, said they are in solidarity with all stakeholders protesting and are working to resolve the issue.
He said the AFC will be going up with a team to Linden since what has happened is heartbreaking and they are in obvious support.
Ramsaroop said he is shocked at the killing in Linden because the police approach was unprofessional as the protest was not a flash action and they chose to fire live rounds into a crowd to kill and injure people.
He urged the police to be more proactive and stand down in the volatile Linden situation.