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Mayday march and protest at Canary Wharf

Mike Wells | 03.05.2007 13:16 | Mayday 2007 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | London

One arrest with photo of police using "pain compliance" techniques. Police take photos but do not like being photographed.

Civilian cameras turned on police photographer
Civilian cameras turned on police photographer

A banner flies at the centre of capital
A banner flies at the centre of capital

police prevent photographer getting shots of arrest
police prevent photographer getting shots of arrest

"Pain compliance" used during arrest
"Pain compliance" used during arrest

Police photographer in action on march
Police photographer in action on march


A beautiful sunny day for the May Day march ended with a protest at Canary Wharf, where activists sarcastically bowed to the leviathan of money with its great alters to the god of finance that are the high rise corporate money houses of Canary Wharf.

Police, both on the march through central London and at Canary Wharf, where present in roughly equal in numbers with anarchist marchers and protesters.

Three police photographers where employed to record faces while other officers spoke into mics on their wrists. When one arrest was made at Canary Wharf the Evening Standard's photographer was intimidated and screamed at by one officer to move. However he did not appear to be causing any kind of obstruction to officers. It appeared an intimidating and unnecessary act. There was a report of another journalist being assaulted by a police officer with an open handed blow to the solar plexus.

In one of the photographs of the arrest you can see a police officer pressing his fingers into the arrestee's head at pressure points. This is a technique known as "pain compliance". It looks extremely painful. Again one cannot help wondering if this was necessary?

Generally it was a good humored event which ended with dancing a beach on the banks of the River Thames.

Mike Wells
- e-mail: mikejwells@yahoo.com

Additions

More Photos

03.05.2007 19:58

A few more photos can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/gitboy and lots more at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/346719@N20/pool





Forwards Intel were out in force, with three seperate cameramen following our every move.




The Autonomous Bloc was slightly smaller than last year, but vocal and vibrant, and there was a great atmosphere during the march. Everyone seemed happy and relaxed, and a reassuring number of people in masks meant that anonymity was available for those who desired it.




The police were out in force, especially around the Autonomous Bloc, but seemed cowed by the energy and volume of the march. As far as I could tell, they made no serious attempts to disrupt or spoil the march.






Once again, significant and varied participation by immigrant groups added colour and interest to the march. We may not live in a utopia but I find it comforting to think that thanks to the struggles of the british people, political exiles from other countries can parade proudly through our streets with us in defiance of their own rulers as well as ours.






The Autonomous Bloc entered Trafalgar unchallenged, and marched straight into the railed-off area in front of Nelson's Column, despite the protests of a few appalled Trots. In respect for the wishes of the organisers, we didn't quite rush the stage, but we merrilly waved the Red and Black in front of a variety of speakers.




At around five, crowds gathered in Canada Square, to find a large and grumpy police force waiting for them. Many of the officers seemed to have come looking for a fight, and lots of people were searched and threatened with little regard for the law.

During this, I had one of the best moments of my day, standing in a bar dressed as a yuppie, pretending to be an appalled Yuppie to another protestor dressed as a Yuppie.
"Why are all the police here? This isn't normal..."
"Apparently there's going to be some sort of protest or something..."
"Oh. Well, so long as they don't molotov me, I don't mind."




The locals seemed unsure how to respond to the protest. Few if any joined in the party, doubtless intimidated by the police presence.




The first of three brutal and needless arrests marked a downward spiral in the behavior of the police, who became increasingly violent, aggressive and offensive until the march finally escaped their jurisdiction by reaching the beach.

Dave C
mail e-mail: Gitboy@Action4Peace.org

photo cops

04.05.2007 08:43

The police photographer at Canary Wharf really didn't like it when he was crowned May King, and suddenly all the people he'd been taking photos of rushed towards him cheering him on.

I've never seen a policeman so perplexed, it was marvellous.

Cpt. Pants!

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Photos of cops

03.05.2007 14:43

I'm not sure where you got this idea from that Police snappers don't like to be filmed. There's a standing joke at events like this they always get their photos taken. Many of them even smile or laugh when you do it.

Snap Happy

...

03.05.2007 15:43

At least the camera toting cops dont mind having their photo taken!

James

Usually do

03.05.2007 18:23

They usually do mind. In fact they usually start getting right in your face or/and encourage other officers to physically push you away when you take pictures of them.

So all the better to take the piss on mass and highlight this tool that is generally used offensively and to make legitimate protesters feel like they are doing something wrong.

re James

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Homer Simpson moment ?

04.05.2007 10:19

Mike, it's a bit silly to say the police don't like being photographed when in the photo you have posted at the top of your report we see the police grinning away when they are being filmed.

I've seen police photographers and video police loads of times on demos, yes they have a minder (but then so do I when I'm filming for IM) and I've never had any agg. I sometimes think that some who go on demos (maybe for the first time) are so expecting police problems that when they are confronted by one who doesn't get wound up, talks as they talk and is obviosuly just another bloke they can't accept it.

BTW you can ask for copies of any police video or stills just by contacting the station. I do it all the time, no problem just a simple form with details of when and where.

Russ, IM video maker

Good photographs!

05.05.2007 07:44

very good pictures here and on flickr - well done people and thanks!

snapper

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