Mayday Protest Press Propoganda Begins
May the truth be with you | 11.04.2003 14:13
First of a clutch of mayday related scare stories from the press. Here one version which was changed later in the day. Another followed the following day which removed reference to the stop the war coalition. Almost the exact same article appeared in the FT the same day. Strange that, the ft is often a bit more rigorous in its journalism than the evening standard.
May Day riot warning
By Graham Keeley, Crime Reporter, Evening Standard
8 April 2003
Hundreds of extra police officers will be deployed to defend businesses and government buildings amid fears of a repeat this year of May Day rioting.
Senior police officers across Europe believe the traditional Labour Day march will be a target for radical groups brought together because of their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Intelligence suggests that, with Britain's involvement in the conflict, London could be a particular focus for the hardcore elements of the anti-war movement, triggering more of the violence that has marred May Day demonstrations in the capital in recent years.
Police believe that with the Stop The War coalition losing its broad appeal since the attack on Iraq by American and British forces, a mood of frustration and growing anger has spread among activists who are said to be determined to overthrow the New Labour Government and who oppose the "increasingly imperialist" US.
There are said to be plans for industrial action and smaller rallies to coincide with tomorrow's Budget and another anti-war rally in London this Saturday.
But senior police officers say their main concerns are the May Day rallies, which they feel may be hijacked by a hardcore of protesters who feel unrepresented by mainstream political parties.
At the same time, police are monitoring far-Right groups because of concern they might exploit tension within the Muslim community.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission claims attacks and intimidation against Muslims have increased since the war with Iraq started, though police say the Muslim community has remained generally peaceful.
Last year's May Day demonstration was orchestrated by the notorious protest group the Wombles - White Overall Movement Building Liberation through Effective Struggle.
Their members wear padded white overalls to break through police lines in imitation of Italian anarchist group Ya Basta!, which took part in demonstrations at 2001's G8 summit of world leaders in Genoa.
These ended in violence and the killing of one protester by police.
Anarchist leaders routinely disseminate their plans for demonstrations on the internet in the run up to May Day, which has become a showpiece for often violent anti- globalisation protests.
In 2001 agitators used the internet to identify a number of sites for protests around London based on the Monopoly board but were foiled in their attempts to bring chaos to London when police corralled 5,000 demonstrators in Oxford Circus for eight hours.
The demonstration led to 65 arrests as well as costing around £20 million in lost business, police pay and extra security.
In 2000, the Guerrilla Gardening website attracted thousands of people to Parliament Square and Whitehall.
The result was tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage - the Whitehall branch of McDonald's was destroyed and a number of statues, including that of Winston Churchill, were defaced - and 97 arrests.
Anarchist leaders admitted the expected violence before last year's demonstrations. At a meeting in Conway Hall in central London - led by 24-year-old Womble chief Allessio Lunghi - one speaker said: "We have a healthy disrespect for property. We can't be responsible for what individuals do on the day."
By Graham Keeley, Crime Reporter, Evening Standard
8 April 2003
Hundreds of extra police officers will be deployed to defend businesses and government buildings amid fears of a repeat this year of May Day rioting.
Senior police officers across Europe believe the traditional Labour Day march will be a target for radical groups brought together because of their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Intelligence suggests that, with Britain's involvement in the conflict, London could be a particular focus for the hardcore elements of the anti-war movement, triggering more of the violence that has marred May Day demonstrations in the capital in recent years.
Police believe that with the Stop The War coalition losing its broad appeal since the attack on Iraq by American and British forces, a mood of frustration and growing anger has spread among activists who are said to be determined to overthrow the New Labour Government and who oppose the "increasingly imperialist" US.
There are said to be plans for industrial action and smaller rallies to coincide with tomorrow's Budget and another anti-war rally in London this Saturday.
But senior police officers say their main concerns are the May Day rallies, which they feel may be hijacked by a hardcore of protesters who feel unrepresented by mainstream political parties.
At the same time, police are monitoring far-Right groups because of concern they might exploit tension within the Muslim community.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission claims attacks and intimidation against Muslims have increased since the war with Iraq started, though police say the Muslim community has remained generally peaceful.
Last year's May Day demonstration was orchestrated by the notorious protest group the Wombles - White Overall Movement Building Liberation through Effective Struggle.
Their members wear padded white overalls to break through police lines in imitation of Italian anarchist group Ya Basta!, which took part in demonstrations at 2001's G8 summit of world leaders in Genoa.
These ended in violence and the killing of one protester by police.
Anarchist leaders routinely disseminate their plans for demonstrations on the internet in the run up to May Day, which has become a showpiece for often violent anti- globalisation protests.
In 2001 agitators used the internet to identify a number of sites for protests around London based on the Monopoly board but were foiled in their attempts to bring chaos to London when police corralled 5,000 demonstrators in Oxford Circus for eight hours.
The demonstration led to 65 arrests as well as costing around £20 million in lost business, police pay and extra security.
In 2000, the Guerrilla Gardening website attracted thousands of people to Parliament Square and Whitehall.
The result was tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage - the Whitehall branch of McDonald's was destroyed and a number of statues, including that of Winston Churchill, were defaced - and 97 arrests.
Anarchist leaders admitted the expected violence before last year's demonstrations. At a meeting in Conway Hall in central London - led by 24-year-old Womble chief Allessio Lunghi - one speaker said: "We have a healthy disrespect for property. We can't be responsible for what individuals do on the day."
May the truth be with you
Comments
Hide the following 7 comments
url for text
11.04.2003 14:23
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Anarchist leaders?
11.04.2003 14:25
Supreme Commanding Anarchist
celebrate our freedom!
11.04.2003 14:35
anarchoteapot
WOMBLES
11.04.2003 14:47
anarchist(under Allessio of course)
mayday mayday mayday
11.04.2003 15:32
Hmmm. Bit of a line this isn't it.
Also badly researched - there are said to be plans for more protests on budget day and on saturday 12th.... "said to be" - there bloody are! it's not as if the stop the war coalition keep their national demonstrations secret is it! duh.
here we go again
Anarchists or just big talkers?
11.04.2003 15:36
Dubya
2nd Evening Standard Article
11.04.2003 15:38
Anarchists' call to arms for May Day
By Graham Keeley, Crime Reporter and Rebecca Mowling, Evening Standard
9 April 2003
Anarchists have drawn up a list of 50 targets across London that they call "the real weapons of mass destruction".
The targets could be hit by anti-war violence during next month's May Day demonstrations in the capital.
The so-called "Wombles", who have been linked to violent clashes on previous May Days, are drawing up a map of oil and arms firms and government buildings, and urging demonstrators to make a "pre-emptive strike" against them during the march.
Police intelligence is mounting across Europe that a hard core of anti-war activists will seize on the traditional labour day march as a focal point for violence against governments or businesses that are said to be pro-war.
The London march is expected to be led peacefully by trades union activists and antiglobalisation groups, and Scotland Yard believes any violence from extremists trying to hijack the occasion will be contained by a 4,000-strong police presence.
However, the website of the Wombles - White Overall Movement Building Liberation Through Effective Struggle - reveals the group may be prepared to use force in pursuit its agenda.
It calls for "an attack on the real weapons of mass destruction: oil companies, the arms manufacturers, multinationals and banks. Governmental institutions like the Home Office, Ministry of Defence, and the Department of Trade and Industry who through their policies and interests destroy lives, create divisions and misery.
"To aid the day we are producing a map with 50 targets on which people are encouraged to go and have a look at and see what's possible."
They plan to rally outside the offices of Lockheed Martin, which they refer to as one of Britain's biggest arms dealers, Shell UK and the Home Office.
Pictures on the website show potential targets, including McDonald's, Donna Karan and Gap. Protesters are also advised to "wear comfortable shoes you can run in" and "don't take any ID".
A police source said: "We monitor their websites and we keep an eye on these groups generally. Nearer the time, we will offer advice to businesses to take precautions like boarding up their windows or even closing down if we think that is appropriate. But right now we do not. We will have enough officers in the centre of the city to contain any trouble."
After last year's march, in which 300 demonstrators attacked officers in Soho, police published CCTV pictures of 10 suspected offenders. More than 50 people were arrested and 21 were charged with disorder offences, but the 6,000-strong march was largely trouble-free.
In 2001, 100 people were arrested and shops and companies estimated damage and lost business at £20million. Business leaders are anxious not to see a repeat of violent clashes, which effectively closed the city centre. A spokesman for the London Chamber of Commerce said: "In the current economic climate, the last thing London needs is disturbances either on May Day or any other time."
A spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin, which is linked to the production of the Trident missile, said: "We are aware of this march and so are the police." Shell UK declined to comment
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