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@nti-capitalist/ bail out Demo/action at anarchist bookfair?

Anarchist | 14.10.2008 14:36 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements

There has already been a callout for an action against the bank bailout for the friday before the Anarchist bookfair, but why not also do one on the day itself?

The London Anarchist bookfair is one of the largest anarchist events in the world - we could easily use this as an opportunity for a large implicity anarchist anti-capitalist action on the day of the book fair, when (if previous years are anything to go by) at least several thousand anarchists will be in the same place at the same time. It wouldn't even necassarily have to be a daytime action, we could wait until the evening when the bookfair is winding down.
It just seems like, in this time of capitalist chaos, we need to bring militancy and anarchist politics back to the streets, and what better time to start than when we could easily get 1000 plus of us out? - Something to think about in the week running up to the bookfair!

I am not calling for a demo, but opening up the question of what we could put together or do on the day, so lets get a debate going and try to work something out.

Anarchist

Comments

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sauron's eye

14.10.2008 15:34

here debate going.

ratamahatta


a good idea but...

14.10.2008 16:41

I, like many anarchos, will only be in London for the daytime on saturday. I'm allergic to demos in that London and only got there for the bookfair these days. By all means get something going, but don't be surprised when lots of us out-of-towners head for victoria station to get the coach home come 6pm.

Another anarcho


out of towner aswell

14.10.2008 17:20

Yeah, i'm an out of towner aswell, im not suggesting anything specific, just trying to get a debate going on the merits/logistics of an action/demo on the day.

Anarchist


As long as it's thought out

14.10.2008 20:22

Being Saturday, the most obvious targets will be shut and the surrounding areas deserted. That's not a reason for doing nowt, of course. Many (only slightly) less obvious targets available.

Lots of people in London or heading there have all sorts of commitments over the weekend. It's a busy time, so don't necessarily bank on a huge horde. The number of people who're just footloose and free to get involved may not be as big as you think.

Anyone cooking summat up should try to make it hard-hitting and eloquent, but doable whatever the turnout. A farcical arrest-fest with little impact would be a downer, and not what we need at all.

Stroppyoldgit


not a bad idea, but its not gonna happen

16.10.2008 12:44

For a number of reasons.

Firstly, the bookfair is primarily a social event for most attendees, very little is actually organised there. I've been to all of them since 2003 and this is the case - groups and actions do not get organised at the bookfair. Mayday hasn't, for instance. Lots of valuable networking happens, but that's not the same thing. People will have drifted to various pubs throughout the day, and then on to a number of gigs and parties (i can think of about 4) - there might be thousands of anarchists but they won't be in one place at one time.

Secondly the fair is miles from the City. This is only a problem if you wanted to go there, but there are no obvious ideas for an action round Queen Mary's (it's actually quite a nice campus near some nice green space, in a nice working class area. There's a bank machine, and a sainsbury's - best symbols of capital in walking distance).

Thirdly if anarchists were up for financial crisis related shenanigans then they'd have been at the City demo last friday in decent numbers. Now, there were anarcho's at the demo, but in way smaller numbers than would give you any hope for their own private action. Also if your calling something, you should probs have some idea what and especially why - like some reasons to give people why you are taking whatever action. Otherwise its a bit pointless.

Your best bet would be to work out an action plan then hand out flyers with a meet up point and time at the fair. Personally, i'll be in the pub networking after having been on a stall, networking. I'll have loads of out of towners to meet, direct etc. - not really up for it.

why don't ypou think about calling something in a couple of weeks?

bill stickers


or try cleaners demo on Friday 1pm

16.10.2008 20:55

Or support the Schroders investment bank cleaners demo against low wages and upcoming redundancies:

31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QA on Friday 17 October 2008 at 1pm (previously 5pm)

A good place to bring the issues together.

antischroder


Or else...

17.10.2008 00:34

Good idea, antischroder, for people in London or arriving by 1ish on Friday.

Alternatively, people crashing in London on Saturday night might be able to stay Sunday night as well and get together with London people to do summat Monday morning? Then it could be in the City or fucken "Docklands" * rather than in Mile End, where the bookfair is. That's a still not too gentrified working class area.

* A wanky name invented by developers and estate agents after all the docks had been closed. It's really the Isle of Dogs or Millwall, and it's now stuffed with City overspill -bank head offices and all sorts of bastards.

Stroppyoldgit