1)A number of demonstrations have been announced for the time that thousands of activists will gather in London. Yet, accurate information is difficult to obtain. 2)The final Sunday demonstration has been called against the war and Bush. Many groups and individuals might be dissatisfied with the choice of this subject which seems to aim at assembling a large diverse crowd but fails to demand radical alternatives.
Here are a few announcements of which I am aware:
Thursday, 14th in Calais (France). This rally is meant to be attended by the people who travel to the ESF by Eurostar, through Eurotunnel or go on one of the ferries from Calais to Dover. The demo is called in support of refugees and sans papiers in the Calais region and also highlights the fact that hundreds of migrants will be excluded from the ESF due to visa requirements and high costs. The demo is well advertised, for example here:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298612.html
Thursday, 14th in Dover (Kent). After the Calais demo, people travel on to Dover where they continue the demonstration in support of the asylum seekers who live in Dover. (Some are detained in the Dover detention centre.) All information I could gather is that it is meant to start at 20H30. There is no assembly point or route plan. Also, it seems unlikely to be attended well because of the late start. How are people going to make it to London after that? We might still catch a late train, but then? The registration points will have closed, and I suppose that without wristbands, we won’t be let into our communal accommodation spaces? Would it be at least possible that activists from Kent get on of the coaches that come from France and get a free lift to London?
Friday, 15th in Canary Wharf (London). A march and action has been proposed for Friday afternoon in Canary Wharf. It is called against precarious work and low pay for cleaners who often come from migrant backgrounds. It should attract trade unionists, communists and other worker’s rights campaigners as well as refugee support groups and anti-racists. Apparently, it has not been authorised, which made some controversies. Yet, this doesn’t mean it won’t happen because the point of direct action is to do it when necessary and not when the authorities allow it. Again, the only information I could gather was the starting time (4 pm), see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/298067.html.Could someone please post more details such as an assembly point, nearest tube etc.?
Thursday, Friday, Saturday in London. Some proposals have been made about direct action at Waterloo train station and one of the airports. This would be against deportations and for open borders and the freedom of movement. Anyone knows more about this?
Sunday, 17th in Central London. Obviously, everyone knows about the big march at the end of the ESF. But rather than just being a march, some direct action could be co-ordinated.
Further, the topic of the rally (anti-Bush) is a bit off-putting for those who demand radical changes to the way this world works. (Does anti-Bush mean pro-Kerry?) I don’t know what groups will be there at the march and if political parties are allowed, but I wouldn’t be happy if New Labour member Livingstone was marching with us, or other neo-liberal or nationalist groups. At the Paris ESF, there was an anarchist alternative protest, which later attacked the French Socialist Party (New Labour’s equivalent in France) which was at the official demonstration. Will there be an alternative demonstration for anarchists, horizontals and others? If not, will there be a block of horizontals and anti-capitalists in the main demo?
Anti-fascist concert. I heard there will be an anti-fascist concert. Anyone knows when and where?
Could indymedia users please post more about other direct actions and events? Can everyone please refrain from talking about conspiracy theories, SWP members etc. Thankx
Thursday, 14th in Calais (France). This rally is meant to be attended by the people who travel to the ESF by Eurostar, through Eurotunnel or go on one of the ferries from Calais to Dover. The demo is called in support of refugees and sans papiers in the Calais region and also highlights the fact that hundreds of migrants will be excluded from the ESF due to visa requirements and high costs. The demo is well advertised, for example here:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298612.html Thursday, 14th in Dover (Kent). After the Calais demo, people travel on to Dover where they continue the demonstration in support of the asylum seekers who live in Dover. (Some are detained in the Dover detention centre.) All information I could gather is that it is meant to start at 20H30. There is no assembly point or route plan. Also, it seems unlikely to be attended well because of the late start. How are people going to make it to London after that? We might still catch a late train, but then? The registration points will have closed, and I suppose that without wristbands, we won’t be let into our communal accommodation spaces? Would it be at least possible that activists from Kent get on of the coaches that come from France and get a free lift to London?
Friday, 15th in Canary Wharf (London). A march and action has been proposed for Friday afternoon in Canary Wharf. It is called against precarious work and low pay for cleaners who often come from migrant backgrounds. It should attract trade unionists, communists and other worker’s rights campaigners as well as refugee support groups and anti-racists. Apparently, it has not been authorised, which made some controversies. Yet, this doesn’t mean it won’t happen because the point of direct action is to do it when necessary and not when the authorities allow it. Again, the only information I could gather was the starting time (4 pm), see
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/298067.html.Could someone please post more details such as an assembly point, nearest tube etc.? Thursday, Friday, Saturday in London. Some proposals have been made about direct action at Waterloo train station and one of the airports. This would be against deportations and for open borders and the freedom of movement. Anyone knows more about this?
Sunday, 17th in Central London. Obviously, everyone knows about the big march at the end of the ESF. But rather than just being a march, some direct action could be co-ordinated.
Further, the topic of the rally (anti-Bush) is a bit off-putting for those who demand radical changes to the way this world works. (Does anti-Bush mean pro-Kerry?) I don’t know what groups will be there at the march and if political parties are allowed, but I wouldn’t be happy if New Labour member Livingstone was marching with us, or other neo-liberal or nationalist groups. At the Paris ESF, there was an anarchist alternative protest, which later attacked the French Socialist Party (New Labour’s equivalent in France) which was at the official demonstration. Will there be an alternative demonstration for anarchists, horizontals and others? If not, will there be a block of horizontals and anti-capitalists in the main demo?
Anti-fascist concert. I heard there will be an anti-fascist concert. Anyone knows when and where?
Could indymedia users please post more about other direct actions and events? Can everyone please refrain from talking about conspiracy theories, SWP members etc. Thankx
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