Occupy London Christmas Party
Stacey Knott | 07.12.2011 01:03 | Occupy Everywhere | Free Spaces
Occupy London protesters were treated to a top-secret Christmas party last night.
Musicians Thom Yorke and Massive Attack played a DJ set to a lively crowd at the movement's Bank of Ideas squat -a disused UBS building - on Sun Street in Hackney.
The secret party, held in the basement of the building attracted about 100 participants, who remained energized through the sets.
Poets associated with the occupation also performed at the Christmas party as did a burlesque troupe.
Some protesters wore office attire to the event, and the room featured Christmas decorations and posters like "Every day is Christmas for the 1%". Protesters carried a banner through the crowd stating "This is just the beginning" attracting cheers from the crowd.
The celebration marks almost two months of occupation at St Paul's Cathedral, where on October 15, protesters set up camp. Since then, they have occupied Finsbury Square in Islington and the Bank of Ideas in Hackney.
Musicians Thom Yorke and Massive Attack played a DJ set to a lively crowd at the movement's Bank of Ideas squat -a disused UBS building - on Sun Street in Hackney.
The secret party, held in the basement of the building attracted about 100 participants, who remained energized through the sets.
Poets associated with the occupation also performed at the Christmas party as did a burlesque troupe.
Some protesters wore office attire to the event, and the room featured Christmas decorations and posters like "Every day is Christmas for the 1%". Protesters carried a banner through the crowd stating "This is just the beginning" attracting cheers from the crowd.
The celebration marks almost two months of occupation at St Paul's Cathedral, where on October 15, protesters set up camp. Since then, they have occupied Finsbury Square in Islington and the Bank of Ideas in Hackney.
Stacey Knott
e-mail:
stacey.knott@gmail.com
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stacey.knott@gmail.com
Comments
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secret
07.12.2011 09:22
emma g
Cos its for the special elite ones only.....
07.12.2011 11:33
Anarchist
0.99%?
07.12.2011 17:36
well done.
lamoo
e-mail:
lamoo@hotmail.com
If you cannot dance there without police, is it your revolution?
08.12.2011 15:10
This is just the beginning
Fuck off middle class scum!
08.12.2011 16:34
working class and proud
Chap's right, you know
08.12.2011 20:53
Middle class and mingling
Zzzz.. anarcho-negativists have to piss on anyone having fun
08.12.2011 21:30
I wasn't there but why can't the whining anarcho-negativists attack those who really deserve it like politicians and big business instead of droning on against anyone having a bit of fun? Assuming they are genuinely anarchists, that is, and not just trolls. Looks like it was a good event and I hope everyone there had an excellent time!
anarcho-positivist
Exclusivity and hierarchy
09.12.2011 07:48
"why can't the whining anarcho-negativists attack those who really deserve it like politicians and big business instead of droning on against anyone having a bit of fun?"
The issue is that this was two weeks in the planning, wasn't taken to GA and was neither transparent, nor inclusive, nor accountable. As an anarcho you might perhaps have come across such notions?
The party was divisive and demoralising for those excluded. Fighting hierarchy outside the camp whilst a hierarchy installs itself inside the camp is useless. Endorsing celebrity culture is another own goal to be avoided. If radiodead and pals really wanted to support the Occupy MOVEMENT then this should have been a public and open event, which would also have helped draw new people in.
One can only wonder why you aren't out attacking politicians and big business instead of spouting off on a newswire.
No War but the Class war
@ anarcho-positivist
09.12.2011 08:44
Barry Cade
why do you care if someone else organising a knees-up?
09.12.2011 11:02
A hierarchy is only a problem if it involves control. Someone putting together a music event isn't forcing anyone to do anything. If you are miffed because you weren't invited - tough shit. Organise your own party if you want. Anarchism doesn't mean centralising everything, it's about people doing their own thing free of coercion.
I know what you mean about celebs being in the 1%, but it's not like they are Lady GaGa. If they had done a big public event you would (quite rightly) have whined about them just doing it for the publicity for themselves. So they do a small private event.
Is that your real problem - that wealthy celebs were involved? As opposed to because it was a small private event?
It's the classic musician's dilemma - you want to become well-known so you can let people enjoy your creations and spread your message. But once you are there you have "sold out" and lose touch with what you were about in the first place. No wonder so many of them top themselves at 27!
"One can only wonder why you aren't out attacking politicians and big business instead of spouting off on a newswire."
That's a good point - maybe we should both agree to shut up - you with your whining at other activists and me with my whining at you?
anarcho-positivist
Is Occupy about building elites or fighting them?
09.12.2011 11:48
"Just spoke with one person over the phone who told me that he was at Bank of Ideas on the day Massive Attack was playing. He didn’t know who they were as he attempted to enter the basement of Bank of Ideas on that day only to be stopped from entering the area by “Security” who told him he could not enter because some “important people” were down there."
The corporations also have security to keep the Occupiers out, no?
GA was bypassed as a self-selecting group set up a knees-up for its own benefit IN THE NAME OF THE 99% - a precedent that should not go unnoticed.
Mainsteam coverage of the Uk Occupy movement yesterday was dominated by Thom Yorke.
Meanwhile, at the same time the 'invited 100' were having their shindig in a security bubble, in the USA thousands of occupiers in over 20 cities were putting families back into foreclosed homes. Building links with local communities and causing some concern to the banks.
Would anarcho-positivist like to see more exclusive parties, or more radical action coming from the UK Occupy movement? (A liberal would say both ;-) )
There are certainly a number of hard working, committed Occupiers who are unhappy about the way this was set up.
But who gives a shit about the 99% eh?
ftp
@ftp
09.12.2011 14:23
Both. But I'm not a liberal. Although to be fair you didn't say ONLY a liberal would say both. ;-)
anarcho-positivist