Clowns versus Pro Capitalists at Leicester Square

t bag | 18.10.2004 02:01 | European Social Forum | London

At approximately 4pm this afternoon a (so called) pro capitalist group calling itself CRAP (Capitalism Represents Acceptable Policy) broke away from the anticapitalist blok of the march to go on a little wander through Central London………

This small group of (almost) smartly dressed men and women set off through Covent Garden on the 5th Annual March For Capitalism, waving banners declaring “ Tax the poor” , “Bombs not Bread” , “War is good for the economy” , “I love my SUV”, “Climate change? Bring it on” and “Money is my life”.

They applauded Starbucks and Pizza Hut (much to the confusion of the staff) and encouraged shoppers to keep on consuming, chanting slogans such as “Free Trade not Fair Trade!” “More War!” “More Blood for Oil!” and “More Oil for my SUV!”

Upon reaching Leicester square the “pro capitalists” we greeted by a cheering, slightly bemused, but laughing crowd (who had actually come to see stars arrive for the premiere of Johnny Depp’s new film)
All of a sudden the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army leapt out from behind the Depp fans and attacked the pro capitalists using tickling sticks and bad jokes.

A raging battle ensued and eventually the “pro capitalists” were forced to flee in the face of the Clowns vision of an anti capitalist utopia where eveybody’s nice to each other, money isn’t everything and everyone wears colanders on their heads.

The Depp fans applauded, the police looked confused and the Clowns chased the pro capitalists all the way to Trafalgar Square where some people didn’t get the joke.

… Nevermind

t bag
Homepage: http://www.labofii.net

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

some people didn't get the joke

18.10.2004 19:20

They certainly didn't! when CRAP confronted the main march at 3pm on the Strand, the cops were agitated, there could be a fight! They told me, "it's not a joke, it's a human rights issue, they've got every right same as you"! Nothing about the Crap slogans could persuade them these weren't authentic capitalist counter demonstrators. Frightening or encouraging how gormless they are?

Jenny

nice one

18.10.2004 19:41

lovely :-)
wish i could have joined in the fun but was in workshops and meetings most of the day.
did get to do a bit of samba- ing in my free slot though. i love the pro capitalist piss take march stuff it rocks! next time x

usual suspect

baffled bobbies

19.10.2004 22:24

some police thought the banners would stir up violent responses from the swp rally (sorry...esf demonstration).

its pitiful. the action was hilarious, but seemingly too subtle for the police's sense of humour.

guess you need allies in the crowd to warn the police that a joke is coming. subtlety is perhaps not their strong point.

disillusioned newbie

Good One

19.10.2004 23:25

Very situacionistique...
Keep on with the good "job"!
Zé van Porto

Zé van Porto

Brilliant

20.10.2004 15:07

funny as fuck. i wish i was there.. unfortunately was stuck working in shitty hull. so i missed the whole damn weekend. oh well, next time. keep up the good work

electropixie
mail e-mail: djscreamy@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://electropixie@blogspot.com

We need more pro-capitalists to confuse the police and get media attention!

20.10.2004 16:45

I saw the pro-capitalist demonstration and thought it was a perfect bit of humour that made a point and nicely confused the police. Given the mainstream media's blackout of the ESF and the demonstration with the partial exception of the Guardian more of the same might get some attention instead of viewing us as nothing but a bunch of wishy-washy hippies. Furthermore if at has the side-effect of confusing the police on the look out for rabble rousing crusties then more power to the cause. Also I can't see the SWP spending their hard earned proceeds of flogging the Worker, on a banner or poster that says 'TAX THE POOR' or 'BOMB THE KIDS' and so maybe they won't be able to hijack something with even this limited level of subtlety subtlety.

Paddy

Puppetistas bow down to your Anti- Pro-Capitalist Clownishness

20.10.2004 17:08

I've shared your story with the Puppeteers planning for this year's demonstrations at the US Army's School of the Americas, www.soaw.org

We'll try to continue your spirit of defiant confusion. Keep up the good.

peace b

bruce
Homepage: http://www.babybloc.org

Um

21.10.2004 10:45

SWP blah blah evil SWP blah SWP consiracy SWP indymedia SWP block SWP paper SWP SWP blah blaaaaaaah.....

barry

Kollektives

London Topics

Major Coverage

Other IMCs