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Mayday Mayhem In Lancaster

anarchoteapot | 06.05.2004 14:07 | May Day 2004 | Free Spaces

The Mayday weekend was yet again reclaimed by Lancaster anarchists, Greens, party people, families, uncle Tom Cobbley and all!

The weekend actually kicked off with a punk gig in Preston on Friday night (the weekend of 'Mayday Mayhem' was a Preston/Lancaster/Burnley co-operative effort), but got into the swing on Mayday propor. People attended the Trade Union/Labour movement march and rally, with speakers and a brass band from Morecambe. The Greens and Respect speakers were well recieved, the Labour MP (predictably) less so! Theme was tolerance, and as the rally started a BNP leafletter was non-violently blocked by anarchists, then arrested by police for Breach of the Peace.

The pictures following are from the Mayday picnic, on Quayside meadow, which started as a punk picnic, was joined by a 7-year old's birthday party (Happy Birthday Connor! Same age as Blair's government!), then a yurt and sound system turned up, followed by lots of random lancastrians with kids, dogs, cake, a solar airship etc etc. Lots of people out for a walk stopped by during the 8 hour sun-blessed event, and chilled, or read the information boards produced for the event, on the local resource centre, cooperatives, workers without bosses, direct action etc. A footie game struck up with crusty punks and 2 year olds and everything in between well represented.

Later in the evening there was a gig at the Gregson Community Centre, which was decorated with anarchist posters,. info boards and literature throughout, before some revellers sloped off to a free party near Kirkby Lonsdale... a 24 hour celebration of Beltane/International Workers Day!

anarchoteapot

Comments

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greens?

06.05.2004 15:51

"...reclaimed by Lancaster anarchists, Greens,"

do you mean Green Party people, or environmentalists generally? Assuming you mean Green Party, since you wrote Green with capital G. But I didn't see a single Green Party card holder enjoy themselves on the picnic, or rock to the punk later on that night, or pop in and have a look at the info and displays in the Gregson the next day.

No, they were all stood in dusty Market Sq. watching our beloved MP Dilton Hawson say "vote labour!" and the even more beloved (because not yet overtly a two-faced, lying bastard) john whitelegg say "Vote for me!" And @anarchists are worth wooing, because they've already made their minds up that all politicians are power hungry and sad.

Just to put the record straight ;-)

but i did have a lovely time - thanks to all who contributed!

i had a nice time


fair comment...

10.05.2004 12:04

...I should have put 'greens' instead, and yes, enviromentally-minded peope is what was meant. It is true that 'card-carrying' Greens were comtent to go to the Market square sppeches, which were all directed at the up-coming elections and pushing th Greens and Respect. Not as much fun as the other year when anarchists stood in front of the MP blocking him with a "Tony Bliar - War Criminal" banner!

anarchoteapot