Second Shut-Down of Vodafone Store in Birmingham
VodafoneProtest | 07.11.2010 21:08 | Birmingham
Student protesters once again activated a shut-down of a Vodafone store in the city centre for a second time in stronger numbers, coinciding with People and Planet's annual gathering, Shared Planet at the University of Birmingham, which attracted more to join the demonstration.
Student protesters once again activated a shut-down of a Vodafone store in the city centre for a second time in stronger numbers, coinciding with People and Planet's annual gathering, Shared Planet at the University of Birmingham, which attracted more to join the demonstration.
In the past week, twenty-one Vodafone stores across the country were closed as a result of the actions, demanding that they pay six-billion pounds of evaded tax, whilst students and workers will be attacked by the Coalition Government's up-coming cuts in the public sector.
It has been reported that the company has already acted to pay one-billion pounds of their six-billion pounds evaded tax, which is evident that students and workers alike are hitting them were it hurts!
In estimate, around 30-35 protesters were present on Birmingham New Street, about 15 of whom initiated an in-store sit-in, which quickly alerted the assistants inside to lock the doors and announce that the store was closing.
As the sit-in took place, actions continued outside as leaflets were circulated and more activists outside blockaded the store's entrance. By then these actions began to attract a moderate number of spectators before the Police and Community Police Officers arrived on the scene.
The sit-in protesters complied with demands to leave the store, so as not to repeat the arrests made during the last Vodafone action. The action was taken outside, with tens of protesters arranged in front of the store sitting down, culminating in a long heavy series of chants that continued to appeal to passers-by and stop-and-watch observers, a few of whom shared their support in spontaneously joining the sit-in!
It has not been confirmed how long the Vodafone branch was closed down for. A nation-wide co-ordination if direct action against the cuts has taken effect, demonstrated by Vodafone's response to pay only one-sixth of what it owes the public financially.
These type of actions should inspire workers and students across the country to continue to build up the momentum. Whether Vodafone will meet these demands by paying their six-billion pounds of evaded tax remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that the Tory cuts can be defeated when challenged at local and a national level.
In Solidarity.
In the past week, twenty-one Vodafone stores across the country were closed as a result of the actions, demanding that they pay six-billion pounds of evaded tax, whilst students and workers will be attacked by the Coalition Government's up-coming cuts in the public sector.
It has been reported that the company has already acted to pay one-billion pounds of their six-billion pounds evaded tax, which is evident that students and workers alike are hitting them were it hurts!
In estimate, around 30-35 protesters were present on Birmingham New Street, about 15 of whom initiated an in-store sit-in, which quickly alerted the assistants inside to lock the doors and announce that the store was closing.
As the sit-in took place, actions continued outside as leaflets were circulated and more activists outside blockaded the store's entrance. By then these actions began to attract a moderate number of spectators before the Police and Community Police Officers arrived on the scene.
The sit-in protesters complied with demands to leave the store, so as not to repeat the arrests made during the last Vodafone action. The action was taken outside, with tens of protesters arranged in front of the store sitting down, culminating in a long heavy series of chants that continued to appeal to passers-by and stop-and-watch observers, a few of whom shared their support in spontaneously joining the sit-in!
It has not been confirmed how long the Vodafone branch was closed down for. A nation-wide co-ordination if direct action against the cuts has taken effect, demonstrated by Vodafone's response to pay only one-sixth of what it owes the public financially.
These type of actions should inspire workers and students across the country to continue to build up the momentum. Whether Vodafone will meet these demands by paying their six-billion pounds of evaded tax remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that the Tory cuts can be defeated when challenged at local and a national level.
In Solidarity.
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