I arrived at Trafalgar Square at 1:30pm, and what struck me immediately was the boarding up of shops. McDonald's - bastion of global capitalism - had been shut down with about 8 police standing in front of it. It was a truly amazing site, and the thought of this company losing a day's trade is brilliant. Even if the day's protests were ultimately crushed by the police, at least the closure of socially and environmentally destructive enterprises had been achieved. 

I met up with comrades from Rock Around The Blockade, who campaign for solidarity with Cuba whilst exposing Bacardi for their notorious exploitative anti-Cuban practices and affiliation with US imperialist agencies (such as the CIA). Together we distributed hundreds of Boycott Bacardi leaflets whilst on our way to join a protest against the World Bank, which represents the interests of global big business and imperialist nations, at the expense of millions of people in developing countries. However, we discovered that the WB had been barricaded by tens of police in riot gear, with the road closed in front. On the road many white vans blocked any possibility of us reaching the building. Police encircled the vans, making damn sure we could not protest effectively. To top all this it was now pouring with rain.

After a disappointing start, we decided to join comrades for the May Day Monopoly protests in Oxford Street. As we made our way there, our number steadily increased as we met up with other campaigners. One police woman demanded to be given a copy of the Boycott Bacardi leaflet: "May I see what you're distributing please? I demand to know what it is you're distributing. Are you refusing to show co-operate?" The officer claimed to have legal right to see what we were handing people - there is no such right. We refused to give in, and just kept walking. At every street corner, small groups of police officers were strategically positioned to monitor our every move.

To see Oxford Street with its materialist, consumerist and homogenised qualities shut down and boarded up was an awe-inspiring site. The knowledge that hundreds of multinational corporations (such as McDonald's, Nike and GAP) would lose a day's trading worth millions gave me and many others hope. By calling this protest, we had made a huge impact, hitting capitalists where it hurts most - their pockets. Ultimately, the state could do nothing to prevent that.

The police had initiated a strategy of divide and rule, where they segregated us into groups with the majority enclosed in Oxford Circus. It was hoped that by doing this we would lose interest and simply give up. How wrong they were. In fact, the segregation only fuelled the anger that we could not be with fellow demonstrators - at one point, we were all separated. Whilst employing a divisive strategy, the police used brutal military tactics, comparable to those used in the 1984-85 miner's strike. Mounted police were used, aiming to intimidate and provoke us further, as well as police in full riot gear. I witnessed high speed vans almost brutally run down a small crowd of protesters. 

As the police had cordoned off Oxford Circus, more and more people gathered around the perimeter as time passed. We wanted to join our comrades and proceed with the march along Oxford Street as planned, but the police denied us this right. As numbers grew, police would ensure we were regularly split into smaller factions so they could control us. I saw police violence being used, with protestors being bludgeoned with batons when they attempted to get through. However, when the WOMBLES (White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles) finally arrived, police control of part of Oxford Street broke down and we were able to march with them directly though police lines. Our sheer number meant that finally, the police had to give way. 

We marched from Oxford Street through to somewhere in Holborn, before returning to Oxford Street again where the main confrontation took place at around 5:30pm. It was here at the front line where the majority of photos in the capitalist media were taken. I was appalled when I saw the front of the Daily Mail today, which applauded the use of violence by the police, picturing a demonstrator being brutally attacked with a baton. Anything that challenges the established capitalist system - exploitation of the proletariat and the environment for profit, demands a tough approach (heavy policing) from the bourgeoisie. Capitalist media will therefore take a hard line on the protest because it is in their utmost interest to do so.

The police were always one step ahead, using suveillance with CCTV, videocameras and helicopters to monitor our every move. When we tried to march on, they would summon mounted and riot police to block our way. It was extremely frustrating, and unsurprisingly provoked many people into the 'violence' featured on the day's news reports.

Officers eventually became outnumbered, and had no choice but to retreat and let hundreds of us through. Their barricade was dismantled and, led by the WOMBLES, at 6:15pm we started to march towards Leicester Square. On the way many shops were defaced with graffiti by anarchists, including elitist Soho clothing shops and offices, and a branch of Starbucks. People stood in doorways and gazed out of windows at us. Some gathered on rooftops. Many cheered as we passed underneath them, which created an almost revolutionary atmosphere. 

As the march went on, police presence steadily increased around us. They succeeded in splitting up the group of around 500 people into several smaller groups. Many people ran on ahead, allowing the police to step in and break up the march. We were no longer a united force, and were vulnerable. As spontaneosly as the march had began, it ended, with most of us dispersing down side streets. A few were left, being threatened by officers armed with a spike like weapon and CS gas. 

By the end of the day, we had achieved the closure of many exploitative multinational's outlets, campaigned on a variety of issues as well as distributing hundreds of leaflets. The day would have been a lot more productive if police were not so brutal and divisive. But, as tools of a capitalist state, we can expect no less. Fighting Exploitation, Elitism & Discrimination http://www.feed.ukf.net/