May Day Autonomous Bloc

Peter Marshall | 02.05.2006 14:32 | Mayday 2006 | Workers' Movements | London

Between 500 and 1000 people marched at the back of the London May Day march in an 'Autonomous Bloc' behind an anti-capitalist banner from The Square Occupied Social Centre. Report with pictures.

At Clerkenwell Green

On the march in Clerkenwell

Samba

At Trafalgar Square

Legal Observer takes notes as police stop marchers

In contrast to the relatively low-profile police presence for the rest of the event, they were flanked on both sides by a line of uniformed police.

Many of the marchers in this section wore scarves covering the lower half of their faces, and some carried anarchist flags. Leading the block were a number of bicycles, and a pedal powered sound system.

Although the overall effect certainly galvanised the police, there was perhaps a lack of much attempt to communicate with the public; billed as a protest against precarity, there seemed little to indicate this, with few placards, banners or leaflets.

The police moved in and removed the sound system as the bloc reached Trafalgar Square and prevented the marchers from entering the square as a group, although many of them simply walked around the line of police. After a few short speeches over a megaphone, the remaining small group moved up the east side of the square to the National Gallery, where again there were a couple of short speeches, before the group was surrounded by police.

It wasn't a tight cordon, and police allowed individuals - myself included - to walk out, though some were refused for a few minutes. Their aim appeared to be simply to stop any movement as a group. I saw a couple of small scuffles, but the police were generally very restrained.

More pictures on My London Diary shortly.

As usual, more pictures shortly on 'My London Diary' website.

Peter Marshall

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

come on!

02.05.2006 15:34

1. Most people were NOT wearing masks as any photo shows

2. 500 leaflets on the politics of the bloc were distributed on the march

3. Police weren't very restraint as the bruises on my arms and legs can show you.

@

Factual Corrections

02.05.2006 15:38

I think that really only a few people from the entire autonomous bloc wore scarves or masks over their faces - as shown by your own pictures (or indeed by checking out the other pics people have uploaded of the bloc).

I also think describing the police as "generally very restrained" is a bit disingenuous - since this implies they showed restraint in the face of some provocation, which obviously wasn't the case because the whole affair was rather orderly and sedate. I also don't think the police were 'very restrained' when the steamed in to pull out the sound system.

- good set of pictures and reports though!

Masks/restrained?

04.05.2006 22:20

How many does it have to be before I can say that many were wearing masks? I didn't say a majority were. But there were quite a few, though many people wore them as scarves much of the time. Certainly more than in the rest of the march, where there were probably not more than half a dozen.

I've seen (and felt) the police when they have certainly not been restrained. Those guys on horses just sat there and watched. I've had them charging towards me, not nice. I saw no blood, no broken limbs or heads, didn't have to try and protect myself against batons. Just a bit of pushing and shoving was all I saw. Even by recent London standards their behaviour seemed relatively restrained. Compared to France ...

I believe accurate reporting is important, and try my best to show and tell things how I saw them. Doubtless there were things I didn't see, so reports from others are welcome.

Regards,

Peter

Peter Marshall
mail e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co.uk
Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk