During the day we were aware of the setting up of a new camp at Trafalgar Square. Several members of St Paul’s and LFS packed a bunch of tents, set off for Trafalgar and started a new camp. Around 25 tents were pitched. This was parallel to, but not as part of the student protest. This was a unilateral action to further spread the Occupation of London.

One of the guy's in the videos linked below is Leon. He was part of the rescue party for those of us arrested at Parliament on the 5th November. He arrived with a great crew of people with food, cigarettes, water (the protest essentials). His big warm smile and cuddles were an absolute delight to come out to. Leon had been disappointed at the time that he had not made his stand that night.

Well, Leon. You more than made up for that yesterday my friend. Within hours, the police encircled the camp in vast numbers, and proceeded to break it up forcibly. The videos linked below give you some idea of the scenes that took place. There you see Leon pinned to the floor by several officers, face down.

Pictures of the Trafalgar Square Eviction [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]
Video: Protesters dragged off, camp closed | Protesters try to resist police

Rescue Party
A bunch of us declared at General Assembly that the arrested needed support, as they had given us just a few days before.  We took a cab to Kilburn station first, where a group of 5 stayed to wait for one of the arrested.  A couple of us went on to Catford Police Station where 12 were held, including Leon. We took sandwiches, tobacco, water, and were ready to cuddle.

After being arrested at 3pm, the first of the arrested was released on bail at 11.45pm. He had his possessions, including his shoes and clothes, removed for evidence and was released in thin jogging bottoms, a jumper and daps, with no money into unfamiliar streets just before midnight in November. We ran over and gave him a big hug, a sandwich and a much needed smoke. He told us all about being dragged, watching Leon being harassed and treated in a heavy handed way by the police, of being kept in the police vans driving around for hours.

I left shortly after midnight for the last train home, with a group of six more people from Finsbury Square en route for the night shift.  By 3am, only 4 had been released and the custody sergeant informed them that no one else would be released until 8am.

At time of writing, we are still awaiting the release of further arrested members of the short lived Occupy Trafalgar Square.

Read more here.