26 March protest was a raving success
Up to half a million protesters marched on London today. It was mostly a peaceful demonstration, against the 85 Billion GBP in cuts promised by the coalition Government, under Tory leader David Cameron. The march organized by the TUC was a family oriented day with all ages and groups protesting under one banner. At around midday a group of around 100 anarchists part of the organisation known as Black bloc, headed through Trafalgar square to the cheers of many, as they made their way up Charing Cross Rd towards Cambridge Circus. They splintered off and regrouped as police followed. Later on in the day they smashed windows of banks and shops and sprayed painted slogans on walls of targeted businesses. HSBC and Topshop had their windows smashed, while paint and glass bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch. The protesters also attacked The Ritz Hotel near Green Park, where they smashed windows with metal rods and road signs. The whole episode peaked in Piccadilly Circus around 5:00pm, where the mob was kettled for hours. It was difficult to pinpoint who the troublemaker were.It was thought that at least two groups of rival Anarchists were responsible.This resulted in fireworks being shot and paint thrown at the at police. In Hyde park, all was calm as marchers were treated to a festival atmosphere of music and speeches, including the Labour opposition leader Ed Miliband’s words of wisdom,”David Cameron: you wanted to create the big society this is the big society,” Miliband stated. “The big society united against what your government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice of the mainstream majority in this country,”He stated. We come in the tradition of movements that have marched in peaceful but powerful protest for justice, fairness and political change,’ he added.The suffragettes who fought for votes for women and won. The civil rights movement in America that fought against racism and won.’The anti apartheid movement that fought the horror of that system and won. The cause may be different but in coming together today to realise our voice, we are standing on the shoulders of those who have marched and struggled for great causes in the past. Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love. We know what the government will say: that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong.”
Artists from the London colleges and universities were represented with a contingent from Goldsmiths, Central,Wimbledon and The Slade. The Fortnum & Mason shop (grocer to the Queen) was occupied by demonstrators from the organisation ‘Uncut’ to protest the companies failure to pay their fair share of taxes. This lasted for hours as police tried to evict the protesters. Otherwise walking around, all I saw was orderly and high-spirited protesters making their point and going about their business. Sadly, I can hear the Governments response already, “This is proof that Britain is a working democracy. In Libya and Syria they would shoot protesters for less than we have encountered today”!!!! Everything aside this was a great day out for anyone bothering to attend! -ArtLyst