04/11: Demonstration Reports - November 3rd
Hello to everyone Class War met at the NHS demo in central London yesterday, and on the Bash The Rich march yesterday afternoon in Portobello Road.
The NHS event saw some 3-4000 marchers demonstrating in support of the health service, with union coaches from across the UK. How sad then that the first speaker in Trafalagar Square was a taped recording of London mayor Ken Livingstone. If Livingstone was that bothered, why was he not there in person? And given Livingstone's comments in support of scabbing, why would any trade union touch him with a bargepole?
On to Notting Hill and the Bash the Rich event. Bemused shoppers were treated to the strange site of scores of police officers wandering up and down Portobello Market following specific activists as if a national emergency had broken out. Some 300 people had gathered, and after a brief impasse, the march set off towards Cameron's house, under heavy police escort. At this point some demonstrators opted to stay outside of the march, fearing the event would be blocked off. In the event, demonstrators continued reached to within a stone's throw of Cameron's London home, bringing our message to the Tory leader and his neighbours "We Can't Afford The Rich".
By now occasional arrests were occuring, as the Territorial Support Group looked to emphasise their control. The efforts of Fitwatch, who look to frustrate the police camera teams was getting on the cops' nerves - all the more reason to support their actions! Marchers then headed back east, greeting the gastropub The Fat Badger with cries of "Burn It Down, Burn It Down". There was then time for speeches in Meanwhile Gardens, before a safe dispersal.
If class politics is to progress in the UK, we need to get away from our computer keyboards and the artificial "communities" on-line activism creates, and get back - visible - in working class communities. The Bash the Rich march was an important first step in doing just that. More will follow.
The NHS event saw some 3-4000 marchers demonstrating in support of the health service, with union coaches from across the UK. How sad then that the first speaker in Trafalagar Square was a taped recording of London mayor Ken Livingstone. If Livingstone was that bothered, why was he not there in person? And given Livingstone's comments in support of scabbing, why would any trade union touch him with a bargepole?
On to Notting Hill and the Bash the Rich event. Bemused shoppers were treated to the strange site of scores of police officers wandering up and down Portobello Market following specific activists as if a national emergency had broken out. Some 300 people had gathered, and after a brief impasse, the march set off towards Cameron's house, under heavy police escort. At this point some demonstrators opted to stay outside of the march, fearing the event would be blocked off. In the event, demonstrators continued reached to within a stone's throw of Cameron's London home, bringing our message to the Tory leader and his neighbours "We Can't Afford The Rich".
By now occasional arrests were occuring, as the Territorial Support Group looked to emphasise their control. The efforts of Fitwatch, who look to frustrate the police camera teams was getting on the cops' nerves - all the more reason to support their actions! Marchers then headed back east, greeting the gastropub The Fat Badger with cries of "Burn It Down, Burn It Down". There was then time for speeches in Meanwhile Gardens, before a safe dispersal.
If class politics is to progress in the UK, we need to get away from our computer keyboards and the artificial "communities" on-line activism creates, and get back - visible - in working class communities. The Bash the Rich march was an important first step in doing just that. More will follow.
