first set of tesco occupation pics still missing from earlier post
rikki | 02.05.2005 09:49 | Indymedia
approaching the venue from the meet point
samba in tesco
samba in tesco
da manager
dancing in the aisles
da manager
even the security get a bit jiggy
dancing in the aisles
shoppers read the leaflets about the action
even the security get a bit jiggy
shoppers read the leaflets about the action
megaphone man also get the message across
megaphone man also get the message across
calling the cops
trying to stop the banner
calling the cops
two community support and two police arrive
trying to stop the banner
not a lot they can do
two community support and two police arrive
waiting for back-up
not a lot they can do
NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOU CHAINSTORES
waiting for back-up
police reinforcements get pushy
bustling protesters out
NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOU CHAINSTORES
total over reaction to a peaceful protest
police reinforcements get pushy
that thumb hold looks painful and unecessary
bustling protesters out
police photographers arrive
Shoppers and staff reacted very well to the stunt, as a large banner was unfurled "YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR CHAINSTORES". A protester with megaphone urged shoppers to take back something from Tesco's (who announced £2 billion profits recently).
The pink sambaistas entered the store openly as a group, and started playing before security even noticed them. The manager asked them to leave, without success, and a scarily large security guy tried to block their progress, but the vibe was so good, that even he gave up and even jiggled a little. Meanwhile other activists had arrived and tried to unfurl the banner at the checkouts. At first, the security tried to stop them and there was a bit of scuffling, but as two community support officers and two police arrived the focus was on the band and the banner got unfurled.
After around fifteen minutes, the cavalry arrived (bigtime!!!). F.I.T. officers soon arrived with police photographers and the police heavies flooded in. Bystanders expressed shock and outrage at the over the top and heavy handed police tactics. Protesters comprised over around twenty sambaistas, a few dancers, and maybe another twenty or thirty activists involved. Seven vanloads of police stormed in and pushed the pink clad anti-capitalists out of the shop. I witnessed two quite violent arrests, with one person being pushed face down onto the ground. The protesters maintained their calm and non-violent tactics, regrouped in the carpark, held up the long banner, and danced awhile handing out leaflets before taking to the streets.
As they danced along Morning Lane, even more police reinforcements arrived. I counted twenty four vans, plus some ancillary vehicles including three top brass rangerovers. Two police photographers and the helicopter overhead witnessed the sight of all these cops pushing the (maximum 50) activists onto the pavement quite violently and corraling them in time-honoured fashion. Some people were pushed into the corral, and any remaining onlookers were kept away by further police lines. Shocked Hackneyites couldn't believe the over-reaction to what they saw as a harmless protest on a sunny afternoon.
As one small group was pushed away, there were further arrests.
The band were held in a small area on the pavement for a couple of hours. Fortunately, someone appeared on the roof of the 'SCOPE' shop and threw some bottles of water down to the band.
After some negotiation, it was agreed they would be escorted to London Fields, and a massive police operation ensued to keep the small number of protesters enclosed as they did this. The lines of vans and huge numbers of cops effectively brought all local roads to a standstill.
On the way to the park and at the park, minor scuffles broke out, and further arrests were made, bringing the total for the day to ten.
rikki
Comments
Hide the following 12 comments
DIm
02.05.2005 11:20
Zaskar
What's wrong with Supermarkets?
02.05.2005 13:59
Have a read...
Corp Watch
Homepage:
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/pages/whats_wrong_suprmkts.htm
Good idea but.........
03.05.2005 12:26
Dixon
Waht's wrong with supermarkets?
03.05.2005 15:20
Keith
oh c'mon zas..
03.05.2005 16:06
slummin 'it
Where do you get off being anti-working class?
03.05.2005 20:25
a) People have to work at 'Tesco'. You most probably made their day a whole lot more difficult by prancing about like a bunch of unemployed stoners, and not responding their plea's to cease fucking-up the broth!
b) People have to shop at 'Tesco'. Yeeeeeees. People who have little money (I know it's a difficult concept to grasp, but bear with me...) have to buy food wherever they can get it cheap and near to their homes. THEY DONT HAVE THE LUXURY TO CHANGE WHERE THEY SHOP BECUASE SOME MIDDLE-CLASS TWAT HAS A CONSCIENCE TRIP!
Please, please, please don't do this type of thing again. We need to change society, this much is true, but you have to do this properly. Working Class action will overthrow capitalism, NOT THIS. Join the Labour Party, join a union and fight. This shit just upsets people and makes them want you to fuck off to daddy and mommy in your mansion in Surrey and stay there.
Yours sincerely,
Random supporter of the Working Class.
Supporter of the Working Class.
CJM
e-mail:
chrisjmarks@hotmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.labour.org.uk
to dixon
03.05.2005 20:48
tp
04.05.2005 14:41
Dixon
"our cause"
05.05.2005 15:14
think
06.05.2005 11:36
You know what, i apologise for calling it your cause. I should have called it your action. You are right and most people are fighting for a common goal. However, it becomes your cause when you marginalise people. I am on your side but you cannot deny that certain people were provoking the police (though the vast majority weren't). I was cordoned into that ring on the pavement and what the sambaists and others were doing was fantastic and inspirational for someone like me who has only recently been interested in social issues and politics. Talking to people and hearing what they had to see was eye opening. However, to witness one bloke walk up to a copper and quote say he was here with his mates to "bash coppers" is doing you no favours. If you all have a united cause it may work but having twats like him around is nevr going to get you support or work.
Tell me if i'm wrong but i'd say thats pretty straightforwad?
Oh yeah. And why's it a bad thing if i'm writing a dissertation on the anti-globalisation movement? DoIf you have a reason i'm genuinely interesd. Dont just call me a twat again cos you have to have a reason otherwise it kind of makes you the twat? Not being harsh. Just honest.
dixon
Don't understand certain comments
06.05.2005 16:16
I don't understand why this action make trouble with some people who comment it as a bad thing. Though i'm not mad about samba and "Pink Block", I think this action is interresting. Yes, poor people have to work in supermarket for little wages and have to buy their food in it because of they have not much money. But activists who took part of this action were fighting against this. So, where is the problem? We don't have to be respectable to protest against capitalism, we don't have to ask for what should belong to us but we have to take what should belong us. And i think the people who work in the supermarket can understand why activists are fighting for their rights.
Direct action
Don't understand certain comments
06.05.2005 16:18
I don't understand why this action make trouble with some people who comment it as a bad thing. Though i'm not mad about samba and "Pink Block", I think this action is interresting. Yes, poor people have to work in supermarket for little wages and have to buy their food in it because of they have not much money. But activists who took part of this action were fighting against this. So, where is the problem? We don't have to be respectable to protest against capitalism, we don't have to ask for what should belong to us but we have to take what should belong us. And i think the people who work in the supermarket can understand why activists are fighting for their rights.
Direct action