I think that its disgusting that you can turn around and say that the police were too heavy handed.

I feel that the police did an excellent job in controlling a crowd of criminals who have got nothing better to do with their time then act like prats.

If they really cared about all that they say they do ie rat infested pigeons, maybe they could have used their time more effectively then upsetting people like myself attempting to do a days worth of work.

Do you honestly think that the men, women and children who made up the crowd, young and old, in Oxford Circus were there to protest about pigeons. You would think that you would want to hide such ignorance.

Out of a crowd of 2000 only about 10 actually committed violence against police and this was after repeated charges which left at least twenty unarmed people I personally witnessed bleeding from their head and torso. They could easily have arrested any violent protestors if this was really the police intent. It was not. They took it upon themselves to teach us all a lesson even though the 'troublemakers' made up less than half a percent of the crowd. We were attacked and illegally detained for seven hours.

I am a pacifist but I fear that the policing yesterday will leave a scar on any protests to come as non-violent activists are banned from expressing themselves. Yet again zero tolerance simply ends up creating an alienated underclass in an effort to avoid answering hard social questions. Next years protest will be more diverse, better supported and harder to 'contain' than ever before. Eventually people will be allowed more rights to protest than business to exploit.

yesterday true to form the Police acted to protect the property of the wealthy. this is exactly how they policed the Millennium . it really didn't matter yesterday whether you were involved in the protest or not . the Police just treated everybody badly in OUR city, all the citizens rights were suspended for a day. The protestors were treated very badly. it is typical of all governments to do this. You have been warned .comply with the status quo or be victimised then criminalised then oppressed by force. Yesterday all you had to do was live or work in central London to be a police target .

I attended the May Day demonstrations yesterday and I was shocked at the police violence against the protestors. They herded us like sheep, wacked people indiscriminatley with truncheons and detained thousands of us for over 4-6 hours. Their aim was simple; to use intimdation and brute force to frighten us into not exercising our rights to protest.

Well, we will continue to exercise our rights to speak out against the injustice of capitalism, and the poverty and misery this system inflicts on millions. Next time, we need to be collectively orgainised, with disciplined contingents and the necessary protective gear so that we can effectively defend ourselves against police violence and ensure that our protests and marches are not smashed up by the thugs in blue. (Socialist Alliance ppc for Greenwich and Woolwich)

The police seriously endangered lives, in their manhandling and assaults on defenceless protestors, herded together like livestock, and look what they do to cattle? The MET broke every law of a free Democratic society and the protestors excercised what 'rights' we have left in a fascist one...Be Warned!

Although many people are disappointed by yesterday's demos, don't forget that all day every newscast on every radio and television station had to say "anti-capitalist demonstrators etc.." This is a new idea for 90% plus of the population, the same thing happened with the original "Anti-aparthed" statements. And we all kmnow what happened there...

Well done - keep it up!

no I don't think it just to do with pigeons, but when I have heard so much shit that you lot have come out with yesterday it just makes me sick.

You go around complaining about free rights for everyone but you cunts just target innocent people.

TAKE THE FUCKING BLAME YOURSELF AND DO SOMETHING GROWN UP FOR A CHANGE instead of dressing up in little children costumes and destroying the place, as well as frightening people around here.

Your all little mummys boys and you need to sort it out. I work hard for my living and I'm not having you take it away for me, for fucks sake I pay your dole money.

Yes I do know exactly what you are protesting for, but in the end you have fuck all chance of changing it because this is the way it always has been.

so fuck off and save a whale and drown at the same time you tree shagging hippy

Emma, why don't you shake your self out of your sad petty minded, complacent little life?

The protesters selflessness shall always stand above the ethical minos who condemn them merely for creating inconvenience - people whose morality regards McDonald's broken windows as a greater outrage than Bhopal, or the fact there are more slaves in the world today than at any time in history - but hey, there have always been slaves doh ... and we get cheap coffee so leave us alone and shut up. Yeah right!

Left to people like you we'd still be subject to the absolute divine right of kings.

I find it distressing, when people are so aggressive. You say we frighten people, you say you hope we die drowning.
You say we are mummy boys. Mums were there, so were kids, gays, black, white and asian people.
You say your money pays me our dole, not mine, I work as do most others who took the trouble to take the day off to stand up for their rights. I'm saying to you that your ignorant. We all are about some things but you can I hope take the time to maybe explore a few other web-sites and find out about why this movement (which is global) is against Capitalism. More importantly check out other web-sites for what we're for. It's a diverse group with diverse ideas and unlike politicians we don't pretend to have all the answers but one more person coming along can bring some more. I don't know you but I'm sure you'd have some good ideas to share for how to make things better. There are smaller actions happening all the time and squeezing it all in isn't easy but it's your choice, comply by all means but smell the coffee and try instead to praise those who are at least trying.

emma seems rather upset about yesterday's events, but the vehemence of her e-mails suggest the problem is not really about "tree shagging hippies" disrupting her day, but something a bit more than that.
emma, calm down and tell us what's *really* the matter.

Emma

Myself and several of my colleagues joined the demonstration against the World Bank as it proceeded along Haymarket.
We decided to join this particular protest because we're disgusted at how many children continue to die unnecessarily in the third world and because it was very close to our work place.
We figured we could show our support for the campaign against globalisation and then get back to the office to meet deadlines and ensure the capitalist monster is well oiled.
I wasn't overly disappointed when it looked like there was no return to the office but after being trapped by the police for six hours at Oxford Circus I was a little pissed off to say the least.
I did not smash any windows but I can tell you something I am now more determined than ever to help build the campaign against globalisation. I suggest Emma you read Naomi Klein's No Logo. You'll find it any bookshop. Read first page 216 on how poor Carmelita died at the hands of her sweat shop master The Gap.

"World Bank, IMF.
How many kids have starved to death!"

"This is what they call democracy"

We'll be back. Come and join us Emma.
Cheers Gary Jarvis

Emma Emma put down the Daily Mail

Ta for all your comments, interesting reading. Right the only one I can be bothered to answer is the one that asked me why I was so upset about you lot protesting.

Firstly I agree with most things you are protesting with, I have taken a great interest in this and have been reading up on a number of web pages including the wombles page and maydaymonopoly. I myself refuse to buy anything from Nike, Coffee Republic, Nescafe etc because of the conditions that people are forced to work in because of trying to earn a living for their family.

However, what I find disgusting is the way that you lot protested, instead of going for the people who do matter ie the ones who control the companies, you turned round and terrorised people who are trying to get a decent wage etc.

On tuesday I was told I was going to get my head kicked in, was spat on and have a number of bruises down my back, from your so called peaceful protest, just because I was trying to go into work for the day. This is why I am so angry.

To be honest you are going about this completely the wrong way, your not going to be remembered as people pioneering to change the world, your going to be remembered as a bunch of twats who tried to destroy some of London.

If you really want to make an impact you need to change the way you do things, and not try to disrupt people on may 1st, because it makes people like me resent you and want less to do with the causes.

Okay and lastly I apologise for saying I hoped you all drowned, but I was a little fucked off originally.

Ta

Thanks Emma for your considered responce. If you were treated in such a manner by protesters I would obviously condemn it. I live nowhere near London so I couldn't attend. I think sometimes that in confrontational situations both protesters and police can adopt gang mentalities and strike out blindly at anything, but there are idiots who attach themselves to movements (and all the violence hype acts like a big advert for any thug who fancies a go at the police), like those who defaced the Cenothaph last year, or whoever broke John Lewis's windows (an employee owned company, an alternative to capitalist ownership) this year.

I'm sorry those idiots attacked you, but please remember that they are a minority, as I realise you do.

Ha ha ha....whats up with you?i pay taxes,i have a job,and yet you are addresing me when you talk your shit.wake up girl.and by the way.....it hasnt always been this way.
if you agree with some of the issues then get off yr fat arse and do something.Revolutions have happened before and not by excepting the shit that is forced upon you.i suggest you have a long hard think,maybee read a book....just turn off bbc news for fucks sake.

Just having another look at the emails in response to the crazy Met police and I just want to encourage people with some of the conversations I've had since Mayday.
On Saturday I got chatting to a volunteer at Oxfam in Barnet. She was a pensioner and appreciated the fact that the old bill had steamed in to the protestors not giving a shit for life or limb. She was well clued up on fair trade and poor working conditions on kids in the far east. My point is that there is a change in the air. Just reading the above emails and those appreciating the actions of the Wombles I will back and I encourage others to join the movement against our aggressors - the police, the DailyMailExpressTimesTelegraphSunMirrorLocalPress et al. The Guardian and Observer I've some respect for and Socialist Worker is doing a brill job but the Independent and Inde on Sunday I haven't made my mind up yet.

Later on Saturday I got down to Barnet v Torquay relegation battle. At the end of the match I didn't flood onto the pitch. I chilled in the stands. There were some press taking pics of distressed Barnet fans when one of the fans started shouting to a camera man "Why don't you fuck off, you're only here when we lose. You never appreciate the good times." Something clicked in me.
I thought that bloke is absolutely right. I ran onto the pitch and told one of the camera men to fuck off and started shouting how he screwed us on Mayday. Then a policeman walked up to me and where the confidence came from I don't know but I just turned to him and said: "And you can fuck off as well. How does it feel when there's more of us than you. It aint nice is it? How does it feel? How does it feel?"
I then backed off fearing arrest. But as I did a couple of Torquay fans came in my direction - they sense my shouts and that of my fellow Barnet supporter who by the way was still shouting at another camera man were aimed at them. I turned around and said to the few Torquay supporters: "I aint got a problem with Torquay. Torquay are okay - It's them(pointing at the cameramen) that I got a problem with. Them and the old bill." I then did back but not before I heard someone shout "Yeah fuck off old bill." Result.

I just hope that next season this mood continues in the Conference. It's time for Barnet fans to unite with rival supporters. The media and police screw us. We need to unite with fellow footie fans and discuss unity, co-operation not competition. This feeling is something I aint felt since 89 and acid house. The police and media suppressed that - They won't suppress me this time.

Keep on keeping on.
Gary Jarvis

After leaving Oxfam in Barnet a woman was collecting signatures for what is becoming known as the campaign against USF (Ugly street furniture). The protest in question is against a huge advertising hoarding in the middle of the pavement, which makes it difficult for pedestrians to walk. And what is this hoarding. On one side it advertises a lap dancing club in central London. I'm sorry but I don't think Barnet folk will be rushing down there. And on the reverse side - wait for this is a Barnet council ad which reads "Listening to you" - do me a favour and take it away before we do.

Anyone interested in joining me protest outside Gap on Oxford St. I've already got the pamphlets - just need some support. I have already done two Gap protests. One on Mayday outside the Piccadilly circus branch and another on Oxford Street on 4 May when two people returned to discuss issues - I repeat discuss, not ridicule me, now that is positive. The first a lad was concerned that he didn't know where he could buy a pair of trainers that wouldn't be exploiting someone somewhere distant. The second a Barnados charity worker told me I was doing a good thing and told me her boyfriend was well up on all the issues that we discussed.

Reasons to be encouraged for sure.

Keep on keeping on
Gary Jarvis