Today I was a womble
ginger | 02.05.2001 00:08
Being a womble is about exposing a lie the authorities expend all their energy trying to maintain: human beings have the power to hange the world and upset "known facts". The police are neither right, nor good, nor invincible.
Mayday for me started nearly 3 months ago when I first whited up for the niketown zapatista solidarity action. Can't believe it's been such a short time, because the lessons learnt and people met will stay with me forever.
Today a five foot two slightly built short sighted geek girl was on the front line beating riot police! We actually got through 3 police lines between 4 and 6 when we dewombled.
We were originally planning to meet at Oxford Circus at 4, but obviously events were outside anybodies control - just as they should be. Unfortunately this meant lots of thinking on our feet, and concerns about getting all the tat to where it was needed. The advantages of working closely in a (not perfect but almost) non hierachical way is that everyone was looking out for each other and taking responsibility rather than waiting for orders.
Half of the wombles arrived at the meeting point already wombled up, which gave muh confidence and positivity the few of us cowering down an alley way having suffered lots of cop attention carrying big bags of foam and banners into the pic circ area.. We quickly executed our practised transition into wombles (okay, it was a shambles, but it needs a lot of practise!). Then we began marhing north east towards oxford street showering "money" on everyone.
The other protesters were top. We didn't have enough spare suits or padding to involve as many as we would have liked, but it was incredibly uplifting to hear cheers and warm greetings of "here come the wombles". Looks like its not just the police who were looking for us!
We quickly had a few hundred in our group. It all happened quite quickly, haotically and organically, but we kept moving and growing in numbers and marhed across Oxford St North and then circled west. I had a pink kiddy swim ring around my neck, and a foam, cardboard and bubblewrap arm protector with stuffed penguins taped to it.
Our first confrontation was in cavendish sq, behind John Lewis. The police formed a line in riot gear.
We were a little shakey, but basically walked up to them, arms linked behind the big blue tarp. They did their usual baton run, but with the protection we had on we could take it, and then puished forwards and ... blimey we were through the line! Wonderful feeling.
After that whenever we came across more cops it was "Wombles to the front".
In all we breached 3 lines.
My glasses were knocked off, and I nearly got knocked down myself a few times so ended up very shakey, but kept up. I took some baton blows, but caught them all on my proteted arm and was absolutely fine. Other wombles took direct blows to their shins, arms and even heads and apart from some minor grazes we're all fine.
It is important to say that there was 5 female wombles, and I was definitely the least front line - one who was especially nervous beforehand was an absolute star and cruial to many of the breaches. Being a womble is not about individual macho selfimportant action but requires solidarity, courage and trust. You do not need to be a street fighter. You need to be able to keep a clear head, be solid., look out for those who are around you, and see a demonstration as not just an opportunity to smash a few windows (however cathartic that feels) but about challenging the state's right to batter us when we step out of line.
We made lots of mistakes, but that's okay. We're not here for a single stunt action, but untill a better tactic is discovered, or we've won !
Today a five foot two slightly built short sighted geek girl was on the front line beating riot police! We actually got through 3 police lines between 4 and 6 when we dewombled.
We were originally planning to meet at Oxford Circus at 4, but obviously events were outside anybodies control - just as they should be. Unfortunately this meant lots of thinking on our feet, and concerns about getting all the tat to where it was needed. The advantages of working closely in a (not perfect but almost) non hierachical way is that everyone was looking out for each other and taking responsibility rather than waiting for orders.
Half of the wombles arrived at the meeting point already wombled up, which gave muh confidence and positivity the few of us cowering down an alley way having suffered lots of cop attention carrying big bags of foam and banners into the pic circ area.. We quickly executed our practised transition into wombles (okay, it was a shambles, but it needs a lot of practise!). Then we began marhing north east towards oxford street showering "money" on everyone.
The other protesters were top. We didn't have enough spare suits or padding to involve as many as we would have liked, but it was incredibly uplifting to hear cheers and warm greetings of "here come the wombles". Looks like its not just the police who were looking for us!
We quickly had a few hundred in our group. It all happened quite quickly, haotically and organically, but we kept moving and growing in numbers and marhed across Oxford St North and then circled west. I had a pink kiddy swim ring around my neck, and a foam, cardboard and bubblewrap arm protector with stuffed penguins taped to it.
Our first confrontation was in cavendish sq, behind John Lewis. The police formed a line in riot gear.
We were a little shakey, but basically walked up to them, arms linked behind the big blue tarp. They did their usual baton run, but with the protection we had on we could take it, and then puished forwards and ... blimey we were through the line! Wonderful feeling.
After that whenever we came across more cops it was "Wombles to the front".
In all we breached 3 lines.
My glasses were knocked off, and I nearly got knocked down myself a few times so ended up very shakey, but kept up. I took some baton blows, but caught them all on my proteted arm and was absolutely fine. Other wombles took direct blows to their shins, arms and even heads and apart from some minor grazes we're all fine.
It is important to say that there was 5 female wombles, and I was definitely the least front line - one who was especially nervous beforehand was an absolute star and cruial to many of the breaches. Being a womble is not about individual macho selfimportant action but requires solidarity, courage and trust. You do not need to be a street fighter. You need to be able to keep a clear head, be solid., look out for those who are around you, and see a demonstration as not just an opportunity to smash a few windows (however cathartic that feels) but about challenging the state's right to batter us when we step out of line.
We made lots of mistakes, but that's okay. We're not here for a single stunt action, but untill a better tactic is discovered, or we've won !
ginger
Homepage:
http://www.sei.ukshells.co.uk
Comments
Hide the following 44 comments
you're awsome!!!
02.05.2001 05:40
thanks for writing this, we need to see more accounts like it.
you wombles amaze me.
keep up the good work
thanks for doing what you do
thanks for existing
the world needs more ppl like you!
please please please please can we set up a wombles collective in Melbourne? now that would be cool...
whoops, what was my point again? oh yeah.
you're awsome!!!
maya
e-mail:
mayajoy@disinfo.net
Homepage:
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/nooneisillegal
where were the wombles?
02.05.2001 08:14
jjf
e-mail:
xdaydreamx@gmx.net
oh thankyou
02.05.2001 08:24
tara
wombles
02.05.2001 08:35
We need a wombles collective in the Medway Towns NOW. Although this place is 3/4 full of imbeciles there is the odd intelligent freak around.Possibly...
Yeah anyway you gotta universalize the wombles pretty soon or else...
Abigail
e-mail:
beautifulfreeek@lycos.co.uk
Wombles Wont Fail
02.05.2001 09:12
if theres anychance of becoming a member of such a brilliant group is there anychance of u indeed "ginger" (i saw u on telly) :) getting in touch wiv me! fanx
fanx u guys
*chompy*
decoila chompy
e-mail:
decoila@aol.com
Grazie ragazzi!
02.05.2001 09:52
You`re like our Ya-Basta in Italy and I expect to see you in Genova; so, see you there.
El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!
ErCl@!
e-mail:
er_cl@another.com
Wombling around
02.05.2001 10:26
We need more people to "white up" at demos and join us for the next big event. One thing we have learned, the cops went for upper legs which weren't as well protected as arms and shoulders.
Good on you boys and girls. We did it. We fucking did it.
EastHamDan
Womble action
02.05.2001 11:03
I was very impressed with your restraint and was also thankful for your padding as when we linked arms i was surprised at the onslaught of blows from the police who seemed to aiming for legs and heads.
Any way a job well done.
George
George Roscoe
e-mail:
Delsa@vandal.co.uk
missing womble found
02.05.2001 11:27
Lots of lessons to be learnt, we need loads more people next time, but I think it went pretty fuckin well, and there WILL be a next time.
Thanks for the article ginger, I was feeling pretty low after hearing on the corporate news that the cops 'won', but they didn't win, they didn't know what to do, the crowd were fucking ace, it was so peaceful.
Thanks to everyone who helped us get our suits off, especially the woman who saved me from strangling myself with my cycle helmet.
sara
e-mail:
sara_b37@hotmail.com
Beautiful
02.05.2001 13:44
Vincere Vel Mori!!!!!
Bo
Bo
e-mail:
Falite7@aol.com
Pricks
02.05.2001 14:52
cybergroover
e-mail:
cybergroover@hotmail.com
You saved May Day
02.05.2001 15:45
focus, and drift away until people started yelling the WOMBLES are here! Then people stopped and started peeling back up the street to make way for you, then following you in the direction they had just been walking away from. When i saw you advancing up Oxford street throwing monopoly money i thought their not seriously going to battle the police with a blue tarp. But you did, and you won, and we all followed you because of it. Right the way to John Lewis infact.
Watching you stand courageously in the face of Battons and Brutality as you tried to make it through the next police line, galvanised the unsteady crowd into a solid group; which then charged all the way to Islington knocking over bins stopping traffic, and generally causing mayhem, but in a relatively non-violent mannor.( well no one hit police men apart from the odd bottle sometimes from bystnders outside local bars), and of course hotly pursued by Riot police. Well done you saved May Day, and kept it a day of free protest!
+ the girls loked pretty cute WOMBLED UP!
tom
Grow Up!
02.05.2001 15:54
Tony Blair
e-mail:
tony@downingst.com
Homepage:
http://www.pm.gov.uk
An Inspiration
02.05.2001 17:40
Then they marched straight towards the police lines in a positive, confident fast manor and shouting "Our Steets, Our Streets!" They went straight through and like others have said it was so inspiring to watch such courageous people in action.
Well done.
Sheffield Mayday
e-mail:
sheffieldmayday@disinfo.net
Homepage:
http://www.sheffieldmayday.ukf.net
Pure Inspiration
02.05.2001 18:41
You guys made the day for a lot of people, you were pure inspiration. Next time Im there with you on the front line.
with love
blueplay
blueplay
e-mail:
blueplaycandles@hotmail.com
Pure Inspiration
02.05.2001 18:41
You guys made the day for a lot of people, you were pure inspiration. Next time Im there with you on the front line.
with love
blueplay
blueplay
e-mail:
blueplaycandles@hotmail.com
Pure Inspiration
02.05.2001 18:43
You guys made the day for a lot of people, you were pure inspiration. Next time Im there with you on the front line.
with love
blueplay
blueplay
e-mail:
blueplaycandles@hotmail.com
Pure Inspiration
02.05.2001 18:44
You guys made the day for a lot of people, you were pure inspiration. Next time Im there with you on the front line.
with love
blueplay
blueplay
e-mail:
blueplaycandles@hotmail.com
Respect!
02.05.2001 19:25
Eddie Stratton
Homepage:
www.oneminutesilence.com
Making waves
02.05.2001 19:32
The media onslaught on you guys has backfired. I've only really started looking into what you're about since the Evening Standard ran that series of hysterical headlines in the last couple of weeks (I work in central London so I get confronted with the billboards all the time).
My reasoning was; if the Standard (or the 'Sub-Standard' as I affectionately like to think of it) hates them so much, there must be something to it...
Then today, front page on the Daily Mail - "The Law Fights Back", and a hiooowwwge picture of a fairly unthreatening looking guy getting smashed over the head with a police truncheon. What a beautiful own goal for the people who want to dismiss you all as mindless thugs - AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN SEE THE IRONY!
Of course the press are going to try and demonise you - but that's kindof the point. You're attacking the system which owns the media, and the media respond by proving how little independence they have from their paymasters when the bottom line is threatened.
Just remember one thing - for all the hysteria, distortion and demonisation of the Mayday protest, you've succeeded in getting millions of people thinking about some things that matter, so who gives a damn what the bigots are saying.
Rich
e-mail:
smiliness@yahoo.com
MORE WOMBLES PLEASE
02.05.2001 19:46
CHRIS
e-mail:
ranterdean@hotmail.com
Cops Get Wombled
02.05.2001 21:02
Not only were the wombles extremely brave in putting themselves to the forefront but also completely inspiring. The noise, the monentum and the unity of that action made it the success it was and gave us back what are rightfully ours - the streets.
It may be easier said than done but for future actions the large mass of potential participants need to be informed of the ways in which to avoid the police control tatics seen in Oxford Circus. I myself have been coralled before and it is a draining and demoralising experience. The police, with the help of the media, are clearly trying to manipulate the constituency of these 'free' protests. We must be wary of allowing this to happen.
Once again, much respect to the wombles in white. Build on it.
Rob
Well Done!!!
03.05.2001 02:28
Is it time to become more militant? I myself have no desire to become another marter to the cause by getting my head caved in.
Yuda
e-mail:
anarchistroundtable@anarchist.com
Caught in possesion of sponge and teddybears
03.05.2001 15:27
Robin
e-mail:
Rc162@mercury.anglia.ac.uk
I'm proud of you, Aunty Bulgaria
04.05.2001 00:41
I'm in my fifties, professional and conventional, but i was cheering for the activists and not the police. I was disgusted at how they behaved and filled with admiration for the Wombles and their followers.
I hope in the coming months those who tried to take away the freedom to demonstate for what you believe in are punished. I think voters will show the government and Mayor what they think too. They may get a shock when we go to the polls.
Womble's mother
e-mail:
jord@firedrake.org
Womble on, guys!
04.05.2001 11:51
Fight the Police-Protected Totalitarian State of Grey Britain - C'MON THE WOMBLES!!!!!!
shonagh
e-mail:
pixy_goth@hotmail.com
HOW TO BECOME A WOMBLE!
04.05.2001 12:04
thanks.
FunkyElf
FunkyElf
e-mail:
daniel_lowe@libero.it
Fair Play
04.05.2001 12:22
kim
e-mail:
franticfruits@yahoo.com
wombling
04.05.2001 12:36
fat twat
glasses
04.05.2001 12:52
gawk
e-mail:
gawkrodger@hotmail.com
YOUR MUPPETS
04.05.2001 14:34
You're against mass corporations yet the vast majority of you were wearing Nike, GAP clothes etc. You also use the internet one of the main symbols of captalism and globalisation. No body knows what you want, you demeen your cause by your thoughless actions. You don't seem to have any aims other than to be pains in the arse. I for one take pity on you. Numpteys. Human rights it is the human rights of people to go about their life doing what they WANT to do. Just because you don't agree with it does not mean you can disrupt or attempt to stop it.
You're against authority yet how many of you ask for help from the police and ambulance service when you were injured by your own "comrades" who threw bottles etc. I watched with my own eyes, so don't start about deluded ramblings about the corporate media bullshit.
I sometimes worry about the future of the world when I see people like I saw on Tuesday. EVERYONE knows the world is not perfect but the majority of your people just seem to want to create a name for themselves or make themselves feel good by damaging property. Sometimes I don't feel like you know what you want, let alone other people.
Think about it.
MIKE
e-mail:
singer_empire@hotmail.com
Errrrrr???
04.05.2001 14:41
Aunt Sally
Mythmakers
04.05.2001 15:01
Are there any of you actually from Wimbledon?
Also, could you design a lightweight version for me for the next London Marathon?
(I'm nearly serious!)
But you are definitely the shape of protesters to come. Good work.
Hugh Jarse
maximum respect to wombles
04.05.2001 21:48
px
wombling free!
05.05.2001 12:15
so, next time we do anything like mayday again, WOMBLE!
dave
e-mail:
dave@anti-everything.com
Wombles
05.05.2001 14:56
I saw some of you break through a single police line but only because they were
doubled over , pissing themselves laughing at your farce.
You look completely stupid in your white suits , builders dust masks and bin lids.
If this is the future of street protest then god help you.
Wombles is an apt term because you are strange looing looking creatures
who are the object of fun and derision, and have views that only you can understand.
Still........ you might look good selling ice cream in those suits in Brighton this summer
Marky Mark
what makes a cop scared
05.05.2001 16:26
And I can still see the fear, marky mark. So much praise for his enemies has made the poor dear sick - piggies find it hard to stomach beauty.
WE LOVE YOU, WOMBLES - Next time take me with you.
not a womble yet
wimbly wombly
06.05.2001 17:39
i would love to be a womble next year and im sure alot of people would.
people!!!!!!Next year....bring as much foam,stuffed toys and any protection you can think of and the cops will stand no chance.
cheers wombles.im fuckin proud!
ida
e-mail:
wxwrks@2000net.com
wombles I'm just sooo jealous!
06.05.2001 20:33
I was stood next to a Daily Tegraph reporter as he phoned in a completely fabricated account of a riot. Shocking?
They've been tooling up for months these so-called journos
in their squalid bacon-feed factories on Canary Wharf. I have pix (waiting for them to be developed)and will expose these evil men, names addresses and all.
be with you next time for definite
shameless h
e-mail:
shamelessh2001@yahoo.com
Italian styleee
07.05.2001 09:32
I have also experienced at first hand un provoked violence from the british racist police . Although in 1981 in brixton
they were so unprepared that they didn't even take the high ground and the bridges over brixton high street were very usefull , by the time the of 1985 up rising they were more organized having spent most of 1984 in Yorkshire trashing the miners and their homes. Now they are trained in PR and how to deal with the media .The run up to may day was very amusing . It shows that if the police decide a strategy and then produce a series of intelligence reports to justify the strategy, of course the reports unconfirmed by any other agency expect themselves. The police could make up any thing they choose . The people who pull their strings also pull the strings of the corporate media a few well chosen lies and some serious exaggeration and then the press does their bit. The cops then show the headlines in another news conference. Hitlers nazis used the same tactics to make a lie become fact. But cops and journalists have a lot in common they both have problems with alcohol and drugs like Cocaine for example. If you have ever witnessed the british media circus abroad you will know how pathetic they are and how much they drink. If for some reason they lose their jobs it can very often lead to total ruin as their long suffering familys will testify . The police and journalists are a social problem that needs carefull attention. They are indirectly responsible for a system that has no place for social justice
not to mention the fact that their masters have almost succeeded in destroying the planet .
The most important thing for us to do now is find something that is save to eat for us and more importantly for our children.
also aplly to companies house for information as to who runs the corporate media . i already have somne of this info .
every one can be Luther blissett
Luther blissett
e-mail:
luther.blissett@wanadoo.be
Homepage:
www.LutherBlissett.net
Keep an open mind
13.05.2001 07:10
ignorant by saying that.
I myself am only 14yrs old i'm glad i'm not as judging as you.
At least the wommbles are "trying" to help our world.
lisa
May Day Revolution
15.05.2001 08:53
Hello to Orinoco and Raga...Keep the peace in the name of psychedelic colourization, love understanding and music
Stay tuned for more news....we're thinking about going with 4LATER offer of 'the other side' as a prelude to a bigger more elaborate project which is shooting right now..
The fusion of protest and music to create new ways to perceive colour....
Best, ROBIN - director 'UNDERGROUND OVERGROUND'
Tigerwomble
e-mail:
tigeradvice@hotmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.buskers.50megs.com/rubyblue1.html
WOMBLES AREN'T MUPPETS
15.05.2001 09:48
HAD MARGRET THATCHER NOT MOVED THE BANK HOLIDAY UNTIL A WEEK AFTER MAY DAY.. ALL THOSE COPLAINING WORKERS WOULD HAVE HAD THE DAY OFF TO PROTEST TOO. IT WAS MOVED DELIBERATELY SO THAT THE TORIES COULD TRICK PEOPLE INTO A SPLIT ALLEGENCE WHERE THEY ARE FORCED TO WORK ON THE ON ONE DAY THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO PROTEST.
MAYDAY IS A DAY ABOUT UNIFICATION AND EMPATHY, ANYBODY WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT HAVEING TO WORK IS DRAWING CONCLUSIONS WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION CONTEXTUALISATION WHATSEVER.
GET A GRIP
YOUR COMMITMENT IS FREEDOM...OR ARE YOU WELDED TO THE WHEEL INSTEAD OF THE WANG?
gonzo
e-mail:
angelfi@hotmail.com
I wanna join the wombles
28.05.2001 17:27
Euan Blair
e-mail:
euan.blair@downingst.com
Homepage:
http://www.pm.gov.uk/son_euan