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Activism and Protesting in the U.K

SpookTheDevil | 12.09.2003 13:12 | Analysis | Indymedia | London | World

An 'outsiders' view of protesting in the U.K

I try to keep this short, as I hate long articles. But I have things to say so it might be longer than I hope, I hope you can read through it.

Right,I lived in the U.K for eight years, being active in protesting/squatting in London and Scotland. Now I have moved out of the U.K...so I can look at things from the 'outside'.

During my time in England, everywhere where I went activists were talking about how brutal the Police are. And sure, sometimes they use force that can be seem to be too excessive. But that didn't happen over night, the reasons for the police behaviour have roots in the fact that the British Protesters are sometimes more interested in destroying things than in the actual protest. (and before you say it..I know it isn't everyone).
And in the end the police are there to do a job, their boss has told them what to do and where to keep the protesters. If you get out of that line...they do ALWAYS!!! ask you to move..only when you stay put, do they get physical.
I wish that the proteters would communicate with the polie more, a lot can be achieved with talking. You would be surprised how easily the police will give you rights to protest, as long as you inform them of when and where you are planning to protests.

In other countries, mainly in Scandinavia, I hae beeen involved in many protests and perhaps they are better organised as the police precence is usully minimal and proteters are free to move and make their point. No needless violence.

I think I leave my article here..it has gotten to some of the points I wanted to make and still stayed short enough for people to read.

Let me know what you think...and please...be kind, I rather you not swear at me..*winks*

X-it Spook

p.s Hello to all the Old Dental Factory Squatters from 2001....you know who you are.

SpookTheDevil

Comments

Display the following 25 comments

  1. I agree, but... — Tim
  2. Negotiate with for short term tactical advantage, but abolish them long term. — Hamlet
  3. From the Author — Spook The Devil
  4. not always — anon
  5. British policing — bozavine
  6. British policing... — 4thwrite
  7. You can negotiate if all you want to do is march... — misty
  8. ends? — x
  9. From the Author ..again — SpookTheDevil
  10. DSEI Press this time — mark
  11. Up the unruly mob! — Mobster
  12. WTF — ram
  13. From the Author — SpookTheDevil
  14. Diect Action & Damage — Hamlet
  15. From the Author (before bedtime) — Spook
  16. bah! — ram
  17. Author wakes-up — Spook
  18. Are you sure — ram
  19. Me again, — SpookTheDevil
  20. perhaps — bollockschops
  21. "Spook" - Rude Language ? — Anti-Goverment-Spook
  22. Author replies once more. — SpookTheDevil
  23. pig — ram
  24. Sure... — SpookTheDevil
  25. Why should we give the so Called Goverment the time of day — Dreammaster