UK UK Newswire Archive
Evading arrest, Assange attends Occupy London and leaves a cryptic message behin
15-10-2011 23:22
Julian Assange who back in January was handed over the details of over 2000 high profile bank account details that he still hasn't made public.#OccupySheffield 15th October Solidarity Protest #15O #ows
15-10-2011 21:04
http://15october.net/ ) activists gathered on the City Hall steps in Sheffield.
Occupy Nottingham
15-10-2011 20:55
Starting from around 3pm today, Nottingham's Market Square has been occupied by a gathering of people aiming "to show that we will no longer tolerate the corporate greed and Government corruption that threatens our way of life and everything we work for". The occupation is a part of, and in solidarity with, the hundreds of other occupations taking place in 82 countries on 15th October. The occupiers have been enjoying coming together in the sunshine, tents have been set up and a megaphone is being passed around for people to communicate their frustrations with the system. At the moment the police are relaxed and are keeping a low profile.
The good weather has meant that the atmosphere has been great - people have been happy sitting in the square, having a drink and socialising. A lot of families were there this afternoon and kids have been having fun playing in the 'real media' box and making placards. It's strange to see the square being used for social rather than commercial purposes - something we need to change in my opinion.
The relaxed atmosphere masks a deeper sense of frustration with the global capitalist system though. Speakers expressed their disgust with the lack of opportunities they find in recession and austerity hit Nottingham. One woman talked about how the council can't keep open homeless hostels, Sure Start and meals on wheels but they can find money for whicker statues for the shopping centre. One man who couldn't find work said "We are sick and tired of having no jobs, no chance of actually doing anything with our lives". Many people emphasised the need to take direct action to get what we need. "We've got a right to be here" said one man "because we've asserted our right to be here."
The police kept a low presence throughout the afternoon, although Notts police's public order man did pop up to chat to people. One man was taken aside and chatted to by coppers for holding a placard saying 'Up your bum'. Apparently, some gay men had taken offence at the negative connotations. Nothing wrong with being up a bum after all!
At one point a quite drunk man heckled speakers shouting "Get a job!" much to the embarrassment of his friend. After his curly '80s mullet was heckled he seemed to forget his anger and was soon happily performing for the crowd on the megaphone :)
One of the participants I spoke to about why he was there said that he was protesting against "the utter injustices going on in the world today on every level". He said he hoped to "start building a community, democratic-based process... where everybody has a valid opinion that counts." "The monetary system is a joke that makes us all slaves..." he said. "It's run, controlled and owned by the business corporations and the huge bankers and we don't really have a say". In conclusion "Capitalism sucks. We want to get rid of it."
Let's hope the occupation keeps going and the process it's a part of helps to build a better, more equal and cooperative community in our city.
Jarrow March 2011 comes to Nottingham
15-10-2011 20:55
The Jarrow March 2011, which is marching from Jarrow in the North East to London to raise awareness of youth unemployment, arrived in Nottingham today. Marchers and supporters assembled on the Forest Rec at 12.30 and marched to the Market Square where a rally was held. It is the 75th anniversary of the original Jarrow Crusade, which an attempt to raise awareness of the intense poverty and unemployment in the North East. The marchers are demanding a number of major policy changes by the government to improve the lives of young people and give them a better future.
The marchers left Jarrow on 1st October and aim to be in London on 5th Nov and is supported by various trade unions and socialist political parties. They are making the following demands:
- A massive government scheme to create jobs which are socially useful and apprenticeships which offer guaranteed jobs at the end – both paying at least the minimum wage, with no youth exemptions.
- The immediate reinstatement of EMA payments, expanding them to be available to all 16-19 year olds.
- The immediate re-opening of all youth services that have been closed, including reinstating sacked staff.
- The scrapping of ‘workfare’ schemes – benefits should be based on need not forced slave labour.
- A massive building programme of environmentally sound, cheap social housing.
There was a good turnout of people to march with them including anti-cuts campaigners from Notts SOS and Notts Uncut as well as local trade union branches.
It was inspiring to see people so young speaking passionately and confidently about the changes they want to see in society and taking action to spread the word around the country. I spoke to 17-year old marcher Lizzie Graham from Gateshead, whose great-grandfather was one of the original Jarrow marchers in 1936. She said they'd had a really good response from people along the route of the march, including in Notts, adding "It just shows that this system of capitalism isn't working". "We want to do something from this", she concluded, "We don't want to just sit on the dole looking for a job."
At the end of the march, Notts Uncut led a tour of corporate tax dodgers in Nottingham. Other people stayed in the square for the Occupy Nottingham gathering. The Jarrow marchers are heading on to Loughborough tomorrow.
Pics: Cops hassling #occupylsx
15-10-2011 20:55
For the last couple of hours police have been slowly pushing people back further from the occupation, and sometimes allowing people back inside, but mostly not. There have been some very aggressive invasions of the occupation space, with squads of riot police pushing people off the steps of the Cathedral and the surrounding streets. Dog units have been used as well. I find it quite shocking given the square was mostly full of people participating in the big assembly, singing, dancing and making banners.
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Occupied Rome: anarchists clashes with police
15-10-2011 20:29
http://anarchaos.org/ http://informa-azione.info/ http://cenere.noblogs.org/ http://italycalling.wordpress.com/ http://finimondo.org/ http://iconoclasta.noblogs.org/ http://arraggia.noblogs.org/
Côr Cochion joins the Global Day of Action against the banks
15-10-2011 19:59
Occupy Birmingham Protest
15-10-2011 19:04
Pictures of #occupylsx #occupylondon 3pm
15-10-2011 18:55
Got stuck outside the massive kettle and spend an hour and a half trying to get in to the occupied square but with no luck. Just now in one corner the police said they would allow people in past a police video camera filming them, but said they probably wouldn't be allowed out for a while...
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Undercover police agent publicly outed at conference
15-10-2011 18:41
Gathering at Victoria Square on international protest day 15th October
15-10-2011 17:43
http://15october.net). Five persons arrived at 10am to Victoria Square. More people started to join them during the morning and at noon al least 50 people were constantly in the gathering. There were people from different countries and ages varied from children to elderlies.
Pics of the occupation
15-10-2011 16:55
Some pictures of the occupation that i found accross the web today - good to archive in one place.
The atmosphere was really cilled out and fun, the police did what they could to intimidate but the protestors enjoyed themselves - lets hope they can stay the night/wee/month...
General Assembly taking place at St Pauls's
15-10-2011 16:55
The crowds at St Paul's are holding a massive General Assembly to decide in a democractic way, what to do next. It will report back soon.
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Pics: General Assembly at St Paul's #occupylsx
15-10-2011 16:55
Pics from this afternoon's general assembly feeding back from working groups (also arrest pic from earlier)
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Pictures of #occupylsx #occupylondon 3pm
15-10-2011 14:21
Dale Farm: State Repression Increases, as Activists Call for Supplies
15-10-2011 14:13
An update on the Dale farm situation, including information on increased police repression and hostility towards residents and activists, and calls for further supplies to aid the resistance.