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2007 London Mayday, Space Hijackers dancing in the streets

Oscar Beard | 02.05.2007 20:44 | Mayday 2007 | Repression | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | London | World

5pm at Canary Wharf the Space Hijackers began their Dancing in the Streets to have a bit of fun in the financial district and have a poke at the "9 to 5" working life.

The music lasted seconds. This was easy to judge by Reuters Square being overloaded with silver clocks on posts, some kind of modern art, stress-inducing set up that constantly makes you feel like you are late for something.

The police presence was incredibly stupid, considering the innocent piece of fun that was about to take place, and was announced very publicly on the BBC.

The only assumption to be made was the police had panicked, feared the worse case scenario and thought an anarchist army of thousands were about to descend on the financial district and burn it to the ground - not an unusual outcome to arrive at in this climate of constant fear, where yelling "look out behind you" on Tube station platforms has never been so much fun, or standing in the supermarket, looking at bags of flour and giggling.

So, large numbers of police everywhere from the moment you exited Canary Wharf Tube station, what looked like every Forward Intelligence Team in London, a wall of motor cycle cops nicely lined up (not a stress-inducing piece of modern art) and paddy wagons in every nook and cranny, especially around the HSBC building.

The arrest on the video was a young man who earlier had been spotted by FIT and taken off for a thorough search and questioning. And they found nothing on him. I was told today by a third party the reason he was given for being targeted by police was, quote, he was a "known protestor". And, he may correct me on this, but I believe that is not the first time that statement has been used as an excuse to detain and search him.

The arrest, from the video perspective, is confusing as to why the three officers decided to grab the arrestee after following him very closely, other than the police operation cost a lot of money and someone needed to be grabbed in order to make it look worth while; and the MET and City police could walk away with just one egg smashed on their faces rather than a 12-pack of free range.

One person at the scene said other people, who were on the Mayday march in Central London earlier that day were turned away by police even before they exited the Tube station.

The end of the video shows some of the crowd from the Mayday bloc leaving the beach party being followed at some distance by one of the suited undercover men. Then the final piece of film shows the remaining undercover watching the beach party.

I did catch part of the conversation by three of them, after returning from following the bloc crew's safe departure.

"Maintain a low visible presence," one said. Two left, leaving this one gent propped up smoking and watching.

But I doubt they were nothing more than bored private security enjoying the chance to play James Bond for the evening.

Oscar Beard
- e-mail: oscarbeard@yahoo.com.mx

Additions

arrest

02.05.2007 21:45

I was standing directly in front of the young man who was arrested, and, to the best of my memory, this is what happened.
The police began to form a tight line behind us as we left the original meeting place behind the clocks.
Young man stands his ground, deciding he would rather not be told where to walk.
Policeman takes offence at this and barges and pushes young man, ordering him to walk.
The last two stages are repeated several times.
Three (pos more) police pull young man to ground, leaning on his neck and restraining hands.
All hell breaks loose.
The whole incident lasted seconds, and I was being swept along, but that's as best as I can describe it. Also, in response to opinions raised, the Space Hijackers intention was NOT to get arrested, and to continue the party going for as long as pos. The decision to end up on the beach was largely made with this fact in mind- there's a few hundred of them and maybe 150 protesters... they have cars and bike and hats and sticks and stuff...

mv


Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

anarchist army?

02.05.2007 21:50

"The only assumption to be made was the police had panicked, feared the worse case scenario and thought an anarchist army of thousands were about to descend on the financial district and burn it to the ground - not an unusual outcome to arrive at in this climate of constant fear, where yelling "look out behind you" on Tube station platforms has never been so much fun, or standing in the supermarket, looking at bags of flour and giggling."

yeah cos thats never happened before....

Poll tax

J18

Mayday 2000

Shnukums


I agree

02.05.2007 22:53

[Quote] The arrest, from the video perspective, is confusing as to why the three officers decided to grab the arrestee after following him very closely, other than the police operation cost a lot of money and someone needed to be grabbed in order to make it look worth while.
[End Quote]

It doesn't look good on their report that justified the cost of the policing with zero arrest also I don’t know if you are aware that Police get promotions by securing a conviction, althought it might motivates the coppers to do the job it isn't necessary always the best idea, that’s all it is and wounded pride. I know somebody who a Copper and he say that they are mostly imbeciles, which say alot at the qualities of people they are now having to employ to do the job.

I agree


arrests

03.05.2007 09:39

I think that the Space Hijackers didn't want to get arrested is pretty much self-evident (who does, aside from idiot martyrists?). however, to actively try and stop people showing solidarity with an arrested comrade is unacceptable.

rasputin


just to say

03.05.2007 10:35

there were loads of police including the ubiquitous photographer, but only a few officers who were really out for trouble. they stood out like sore thumbs. Annoying them by being cheeky yet overly polite was very satisfying.

how do you define solidarity? the SH at least witnessed the arrest and made sure that his mates knew where he was being taken.


inanna


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