UK UK Newswire Archive
#ukuncut #ukunstuck what was the point?
28-03-2011 16:25
My sympathies go out to everyone in UKUncut who ended up being arrested piling out of Fortnum & Mason on Saturday, but I hope the question "what was the point of that?" is being asked amongst the organisers and the wider activist community.Video: the Resistance WILL be televised!
28-03-2011 16:22
A roundup of the events of March 26th in London, as people gathered in their thousands to march through central London to demand an alternative to the destruction of peoples livelihoods by the privilged elite. Many marched for an alternative to capitalism itself. Breakaway groups took a more direct approach, occupying buildings and trashing the symbols of capitalist excess that got the nation into this mess in the first place.
The banks and global corporations were heavily targeted and the police found themselves completely outnumbered and powerless to resist the will of the people as their anger spilled out onto the streets.
Music in this video is by Alt Track (who were with the people on the barricades to the bitter end): http://www.myspace.com/alttrack (warning: link to corporate site)
Cop Shop Attacked
28-03-2011 15:34
Last night just after middnight police station on Wollaton Road, Nottingham was attacked with glass jars filled with black paint. We send this loving kiss to Jock Palfreeman and all those who represented for the eternal struggle against domination on the streets of London this weekend.
We chose our target to emphasise the fragility and weakness of the state. If their first line of defence can be hurt with such ease then crackes in the status quo will grow and begin to bleed. We view the cops as the security guards of capitalists, protecting property, reinforcing white supremacy and state control. With this action we show their inability to protect themselves.
As things get worse, as the divisions between the capitalists and the rest become deeper and more entrenched the facism inherent in any police force will become ever more clear. As this become the case it will be important for us to know in our angry little hoodlum hearts that we can strike back whenever we choose to.
In doing this we did not forever alter the state of things, but we did forever alter the strength and resolve within ourselves as we prepare for all out social war.
The love in our hearts is offered up with this action to Jock Palfreeman imprisoned by the Bulgarian arm of state power for refusing to cower in the face of racism and facism. Also to the 14 Chilean anarchists currently on hunger strike, physically captured by the industrial prison complex, but still free in their hearts and strong in their resistance. We won't let them be forgotten.
Finally to those who rebelled against state control on the streets of London, those black clad lovers and fighters who strove to liberate themselves . Solidarity to those who were arrested on Saturday.
Not because they're innocent.
Not because they're peaceful.
But because they're comrades.
The Global Revolution
28-03-2011 15:32
Animal Warfare Revels: Bobby Roberts Address!
28-03-2011 14:51
Palestine Today 03 28 2011
28-03-2011 14:49
A response to the Sisters of Resistance
28-03-2011 11:23
Dear Sisters
Thank you for ignoring society’s and the activist scene’s expectations and calling out male privilege and sexist behaviour. We recognise the behaviours that you describe and the consequent oppression of women that they result in. We are sad to say that we recognise many of these behaviours as ones that we ourselves have perpetrated. Although we recognise that this is not just about us, we are deeply sorry for any actions of our own that have had the effect of oppressing women and upholding patriarchy.
Recognising the widespread complicity in sexist behaviour that exists within our community, a group of men in Nottingham started meeting regularly in Autumn last year, to attempt to deal with our shit, be conscious of patriarchal behaviour and to be better allies of the women in our lives and community. Working from the basis that it is our own responsibility to do this work, not the responsibility of women, we have tried to challenge our own assumptions and behaviours and support each other to change. We have discussed a wide range of issues that have come up for us, including consent in relationships, gender dynamics in meetings, who does domestic tasks in our homes and aggression. We have sought to pick through our own personal histories to identify how and where we learnt our patriarchal behaviour, thus better enabling us to unlearn and hopefully end these behaviours. We have tried to educate ourselves using the experiences of women, to identify our own failures to live up to our anarchist and anti-sexist ideals regarding gender, and to find ways to start changing our mindset and our relationships with the women we know for the better. We are trying to learn from the women we know as to how we need to change, asking them to challenge us on our bullshit without us responding with defensiveness, fear or hostility.
This is not an attempt to show what great anti-sexists we are – we know that we have many failings and that unpicking patriarchal thinking takes a long time. We write out of solidarity with you and to show that, despite the hostility and denial from some men, this is not the whole picture. Whilst it absolutely should not be left to women to criticise us, and face the aggressive response that inevitably follows, we try to use that criticism to challenge ourselves. We have found your suggestions for overcoming patriarchal behaviour a useful tool in helping us to progress.
We see our men’s group as a very small contribution to the fight against patriarchy and recognise its limitations- as men we are likely to be blinded or ignorant to some of our sexist behaviour. We would like to contribute towards the creation of spaces with women in which the issues including those raised by the Sisters of Resistance can be discussed amongst women and men, with the aim of challenging patriarchal thought and action rather than seeking to justify the status quo. We strongly believe that patriarchy is entwined with capitalist society, and that if we wish to build communities of resistance then all the abuses and hierarchies prevalent within the dominant society must be challenged with equal determination. We would also be very willing to participate in the initiatives of others around these issues.
We have had enough of men’s denial and excuses – let’s work together to bring down the patriarchy!
Tax avoiding shops
28-03-2011 11:23
thousands of people in fluid and well organised break away groups took to the streets to show their anger at the inequalities of a capitalist system that continues to reward the rich at the expense of the poor and working classes. Global corporations, banks and symbols of decadence where all targeted throughout the day.
Banks
28-03-2011 11:23
thousands of people in fluid and well organised break away groups took to the streets to show their anger at the inequalities of a capitalist system that continues to reward the rich at the expense of the poor and working classes. Global corporations, banks and symbols of decadence where all targeted throughout the day.
Symbols of Wealth
28-03-2011 11:23
thousands of people in fluid and well organised break away groups took to the streets to show their anger at the inequalities of a capitalist system that continues to reward the rich at the expense of the poor and working classes. Global corporations, banks and symbols of decadence where all targeted throughout the day.CW M26 Bradley Manning Solidarity, "Senior Stewards", Cattle Drive, Blac Block
28-03-2011 09:45
Our M26 "No Cuts Day" started pretty well. We have a lot of "Free Bradley Manning" visuals left over from the U..S embassy gig last week & have them stored (if ya need to borrow them?) at our Bradley Manning shrine/ art installation at Giuseppe Conlon House (GCH). It displays and desciribes Brad's present prison conditions and daily routine, always could be improved if there's anyone out there is artistically inclined?Solidarity with Bradley Manning, anyone?
28-03-2011 06:32
Stop the Repression of Indigenous Communities in Chiapas Mexico, Demo. London
28-03-2011 00:59
Stop the Repression of Indigenous Communities in Chiapas MexicoDemonstration
London
April 1st
4pm-5.30pm
Mexican Embassy,
16 St George Street,
Mayfair,
London W1S 1FD.
M26 pics and report continued (2of2) - into night
28-03-2011 00:22
continuation of pics and report on london's 'day of rage'. first part can be found here
clicking on pics brings up larger version. all pics copyright, but free for non-commercial, radical use etc. - if in doubt, contact author
part one here ............
police numbers built up, and 'fortnum and masons' was officially closed for business. as the remaining occupiers slowly emerged over a long period of time, they were taken into the side street, handcuffed, arrested, searched, processed, and eventually put onto coaches to various police stations where they were held well into the next day.
a couple of units of riot cops passed through the piccadilly crowds, and scuffles broke out as people taunted them and surrounded them. also, another black bloc group managed to attack several banks, as well as the ritz hotel. as the huge front pane of a santander branch caved in under a battering with a metal railing, the crowd cheered, and the press got their money shots before the riot police moved in.
more police were blocking the end of the road at piccadilly circus, but large numbers of protestors escaped up a side road to regent street. more riot police flooded into the area in front of the store from the south, and set up a reverse kettle, clearing the area in front of 'fortnum and mason' and moving the crowds away in two directions, also kettling some in the process.
in piccadilly circus, riot police protected the barclays and boots branches, but people were drifting down to trafalgar square where fires glowed, a sound system played, and rhythms of resistance provided samba entertainment.
the party in the square carried on for a couple of hours without incident, while small groups continued actions around the west end, setting street fires alight, and targetting casinos and other symbols of decadence.
meanwhile back at piccadilly, the last of the occupiers were still being processed in the street at 8pm, and police were inspecting the damage to the various banks outlets and the ritz hotel.
up at hyde park, the overnight occupation amd peace camp had established itself. unfortunately, tahrir square it wasn't, and there were fewer than a hundred people, a couple of dozen tents and a large marquee, scattered around camp fires in the park. but everyone there seemed to be having fun. there was also another small party and sound system at the south gates to the park. but the hilton park lane, and buckingham palace (both sites planned for after-parties), seemed to have only invited the cops, who didn't seem to be in party mood. parliament square was also quiet, and lorries were collecting the large sand-bags used as ballast for the security fences along whitehall in front of government buildings.
although there was little sign of the planned homeless sleep-in at trafalgar square, the party was still going strong. police numbers appeared to be building up though, and a little before ten o clock, dozens of riot vans charged down to the square as revellers had a little attempt at setting fire to the olympic countdown clock.
suddenly, more than a hundred fully-kitted riot police flooded into the area, and beat back protestors while snatching some. more police moved in from the south, and also along the upper area in front of the national gallery from the west. some people ran to the north-east corner of the square and were helped to escape the impending kettle by people hauling them up over the walls, but probably around a couple of hundred were trapped by a massive police operation. those inside the kettle put on a short but impressive firework display.
the cordon spread outwards too, with familiar lines forming at junctions in a tried and tested formula. worryingly, more and more units of riot police ran into the cordons fully kitted out for trouble, even though police already outnumbered those kettled.
one police support unit, the men in black, went running round to duncannon street. by the time i caught up, there was a small cordon keeping people back from a man who lay unconscious on his back on the ground. as memories of ian tomlinson came to me, i asked around for witnesses and found a group of boys who said that the man had been hitting some plastic dustbins with a stick, and that the cops had chased round the corner, attacked him from behind, and knocked him to the ground where he lay motionless. there was a legal observer there, so i connected him with the witnesses.
meanwhile, towards the strand, another scuffle was breaking out, and a small group of PSUs were surrounded by a crowd as they tried to make an arrest. panicking, they struck out at people with batons before roughly hauling their catch away to the 'safety' of the group near the fallen man.
dozens more police were filling the area from the east along the strand, and hundreds of people were running for charing cross station to make their escape. i was briefly kettled but managed to blag my way out before the cordon tightened, and then lines and lines of police closed the strand completely.
some people spoke to trapped friends on mobiles, and i heard reports of beatings in the square, riot police rampaging through the station, and many sickening reports of ambulances and injuries.
mainstream reports confirmed at least 80 injured and more than 200 arrests.
M26 pics and report (1 of 2) - daytime
28-03-2011 00:22
while hundreds of thousands of people formed the official 'march for the alternative' from embankment, thousands more took part in organised and disorganised actions around the capital, including a spectacular occupation of fortnum and mason's - the piccadilly department store for the richest elite.
clicking on pics brings up larger version. all pics copyright, but free for non-commercial, radical use etc. - if in doubt, contact author
as tens and hundreds of thousands of protestors flooded the embankment, the official TUC march set off at 11.39, passing downing street just before midday, and heading to a rally of endless speeches including ed milliband who favours pretty much the same cuts, just spread out a bit. maybe that's the alternative the TUC have in mind.
spotting huge numbers coming across waterloo bridge and bringing traffic to a halt as they headed east along the strand, i had a fantasy moment that they were all heading towards the belly of the beast, to demolish the city and bring down capitalism. unfortunately, the police, overwhelmed, were sending them in the wrong direction in order to feed them into the back of the march at blackfriars bridge and perhaps tire them out in case they had any subversive ideas.
heading off to search for something more interesting, i didn't have to go far. trafalgar square was awash with people clearly disinterested in the official event. a small group were on spontaneous fitwatch duty, obstructing the cameras of an evidence gathering team, and a huge banner calling for regime change was draped over the wall in front of the national gallery. rhythms of resistance samba band were playing to a large crowd, before deciding where to head for the 2.11 event call.
ad hoc organising committees had spread the idea that whatever occupations, direct actions, and road blocks that were planned, they should all try to occur at 2.11pm.
i headed up to oxford street, the area marked out by pressure group ukuncut for many events to highlight corporate tax avoidance. the ukuncut campaign inspires local groups to target shops and organisations from a list of major tax dodgers, demonstrating a clear and real alternative to the austerity cuts - simply making the corporations and banks pay their dues as we are 'all in it together'.
top shop was already a small military zone, with dozens of fully-kitted riot police guarding it while flares and smoke were set off off outside the closed shop, and eggs, paint bombs and other occasional missiles made contact with its glass frontage.
one of the shops targetted was british home stores, part of phillip green's empire. he avoids paying huge amounts of uk tax by putting businesses in his wife's name while she nominally resides in the monaco tax haven. while more than a dozen people staged a sit-in within the store, dozens took up position outside and staged arts events, making the link between the money lost to mr green's swindle and the money cut from arts budgets.
veteran actor timothy west, staged a short play with his son sam, in which he played the evil capitalist, arrogantly defending his position and refusing to pay his fair dues.
meanwhile, protestors were roughly ejected from the store by police and security, while security guards tried to prevent cameras from documenting the process.
a small group of black bloc passed by, and cocked up a little by throwing eggs and paint bombs at the police and at the front of the shop, not realising that in doing so they were also showering the protestors with their unwelcome gifts. some riot squad units came chasing them down oxford street providing a surreal spectacle for many ordinary shoppers and tourists who seemed blissfully unaware of the uk 'day of rage'.
adding to the surreal goings-on were a small group of elves hopping around, and some clown army types who posed near riot cops, not to mention the huge trojan horse which arrived at oxford circus. the horse, fashioned from sack-coloured fabric on a vast wooden frame, had begun its journey in kennington and then broke free from the TUC march, cantering up regent street before taking up position right in the middle of the oxford street junction.
while the samba band played outside the closed 'top shop' store, not far away, small groups of black bloc smashed windows of particularly decadent bond street stores and clashed with riot police in mayfair.
i decided to take a quick peek at the 'official' events in hyde park, but as speakers droned on from the main stage, it looked like the crowd was quickly dispersing and leaving in droves, some making their way into oxford street, while others filled pubs and food outlets, and stretched the transport infrastructure to the limit.
back at oxford circus, i counted a couple of dozen vans of fully kitted riot police sitting in the back streets, and as news went out of a possible impending kettle, the samba band moved off down regent street a little after 4pm, while a large crowd of ukuncut supporters headed off to their 'secret target' which turned out to be the elite piccadilly 'fortnum and masons' department store.
'fortnum and masons' is owned by 'whittington investments' which has a 54% stake in 'associated british foods', producers of ryvita, kingsmill, and who are also owners of primark. 'associated british foods' are believed to have dodged more than £40 million in tax. the piccadilly store is a favourite of the royals and the super-rich and they sell luxury picnic hampers for the princely sum of £25,000 - which is more than the yearly salary of an NHS nurse, but clearly just a picnic in the park for some.
at the piccadilly store, more than a hundred people managed to enter, and took up positions on the very posh stairs and balconies and among the very expensive foods and fineries. as police struggled to close the doors, other protestors climbed on to the overhead canopy and put up banners, chalked slogans on the wall, and danced and cavorted.
there were some scuffles as riot police tried to secure the area in front of the shop, but it was generally peaceful and even good-natured, and some who left the occupation early were allowed to go, while dozens stayed inside, singing protest songs and staging games.
the people on the roof climbed down after about 40 minutes. they were helped by the crowd, and escaped without arrest, although most were unmasked and easily identifiable, so may be the target of police intelligence later. i considered hiding faces in my pics, but there were just so many cameras there as well as police surveillance, that i am certain the police will not be helped by my shots one bit.
while all this was going on, piccadilly was still full of marchers struggling towards hyde park before it was due to finish. as they passed, the general atmosphere was one of support and excitement.
article continues part two here
Black Block - Mindless Yobs?
27-03-2011 23:22
During the TUC march on Saturday a 600 strong black block marched through London with militant efficiency. The took out banks, multi-nationals and other symbols of capitalism. They all wanted different things but were united in their desire to make the capitalists pay. See the London Indymedia article on the events.
#26march Trafalgar Sq in the evening Pics & Report
27-03-2011 23:22
After a full day of determined activity, protest and action around central London hundreds of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square from around 5pm. For the first few hours the square turned into a huge party with people mainly dancing to several mobile sound systems, a samba band as well as enjoying live performances over an open mic. But later in the evening, at around 8pm, huge numbers of riot police moved into the square charging into the crowd. At first protestors responded the attack by trying to defend the space, but finally the hundreds of riot cops moving in managed to re-take the square and to kettle around 200 people that got stuck between the thick police lines forming quickly all over the place.
When we arrived in the area we found a square truly resembling the worst images of what a police state may look like. The lines of riot police were everywhere and new ones were being formed all the time, thus preventing anyone to approach the centre of the square and making any contact impossible with those trapped inside the kettle.
The violent police operation didn't manage to stop crowds of people from gathering outside the police cordons, and from stopping traffic mainly in the south side of the square in the junction with the Strand. Police repeatedly charged these groups of protestors but people keept coming back towards the square. Eventually police moved extra riot police lines pushing people away from the area and cutting all access to the square. We left just a few minutes before lines of riot police lines pushed people away from the south side of the Strand around Charing Cross station and closing all posiible exits from the area. The kettle inside the square lasted for a few extra hours, with the last protestors not left out until after 2am, many of which were arrested.
Here there are some pics. Even though the image quality is far from ideal due to the poor light conditions, at least they may help to visualise what the Trafalgar Square area looked like at the end of a determined day of protest and resistance to the Government imposed 'austerity measures'.
.
Serious Violence by police at protest party
27-03-2011 23:13
