Around 50 demonstrators gathered in front of the entrance of the Hotel, handed out leaflets and talked to people passing by. People seemed very interested, and many already knew about this latest wave of state repression against anti G8 infrastructure and activists from mainstream media.
From the demo call:
"Why at Kempinski London?
Kempinski is the Hotel Group which hosts the G8 Summit in 2007. Kempinski has privatised large parts of the village of Heiligendamm, as well as beaches around it. Heiligendamm is the town in northern Germany where this year's G8 summit will take place. Bacause of this, the whole area around the town is fast becoming a no-go area even for the local people.
By choosing the symbolic site of the Kempinski Hotel in London we will protest against the upcoming G8 in Germany and the capitalist system it represents."
Comments
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constructive criticism
12.05.2007 10:00
2. Not enough flyer to give to people passing by explaining the situation.
3. Lot's of other flyers were distributed that had nothing to do with the G8 and just confused people that were interested.
4. No plan of action. With those numbers it would have been easy to blockade the entrance with a banner (explaining why we do this e.g. "Block G8 and their host the Kempinski-Hotel Group - Stop Repression in Germany") while others would distribute flyers.
5. A demonstration would have been nice marching towards the hotel from somewhere.
6. A snappy slogan to shout at least, to make people aware of our intentions would have been an easy thing as well.
Overall, all the preparations needed for those things could have been sorted out beforehand, with a little meeting or at least an announcement in the Indymedia call out that people should prepare stuff.
I really thing 90% of the people walking past had no idea what we were all about and though we are just some weird anti-capitalists (which we are) that were arbitrarily targetting meaningless hotels (which was definitely not the case).
Even though I am new to the Lodnon scene in wondered whether, mobilising "only" 50 people (which I think is a bit overestimated as well) in such an extremely huge place as London is a "good" turn-out? Personally I expected something more.
Other than that. Definitely better than nothing. Just a bit more organising next time.
Saludos Libertarios.
participant
I guess you're right
12.05.2007 11:42
I'm also "new" around here, but welcome and hope to see you next time!
andre
answer @participant
12.05.2007 12:10
"Even though I am new to the Lodnon scene in wondered whether, mobilising "only" 50 people (which I think is a bit overestimated as well) in such an extremely huge place as London is a "good" turn-out? Personally I expected something more."
please read a bit about mobilisatinon in London on indymedia and try to understand the massive difficulties. especially if you are "new" to London you should do that first before blaming people.
if you see the 150 at autonomous mayday, the 10 at kopenhavn solidarity demo, then this IS a good turnout. about your list, sure you are right, but im always wondering why the people who do at least a little are blamed rather than those who did nothing or didnt come.
so yeah, see it as constructive criticism.
see you next time.
me
press pics
12.05.2007 15:09
http://www.marcvallee.co.uk/stories_kempinski_g8.html
press pics