On violence against the police U.K.

10 12 2010 by a participant in the Parliament Square demonstrations
The condemnations are as predictable as they are boring.  The public-school educated Sun hacks, who write like some coked up parodies of proletarian semi-literacy, refer to “louts” and “hooligans”.  The Daily Mail complains about someone urinating against Churchill’s statue, and the Telegraph is dismayed that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were “attacked”.  Probably by a “baying mob”.  Meanwhile, someone in a moustache on The Guardian talks about how, no doubt, this will provide a “distraction” from the “real issues”, whose repetition ad nauseam presumably has some intrinsic value for the solemn liberal contingent.

I can’t even be bothered to look up the precise terms of the condemnation this time.  It’s always the same.  A dash of the royal family, veneration for some long dead racist, shakes of the head from the banal but well intentioned.  Is anyone still listening?  Haven’t we read all this before?
The NUS and UCU are of course, for “peaceful protest”.  What is the effective record of “peaceful protest”?  How does social change happen?  Is it always peaceful?  Are kettles acceptable, and is it reasonable to try and break them?  Such questions are politely neither asked nor answered: that would be politics – we’re just about protecting our reputations.  Thanks.
One of the oddest, least remarked upon, features of contemporary capitalism is the way it systematically enlists all its main functionaries in talking nonsense on a day to day basis.  The police don’t really believe that the “kettle” is a necessary response to violence.

It seemed more to be motivated by traditional aims of kettling that are rarely stated: to demoralise protesters so much that they are dissuaded from taking part again, and to exhaust them physically so that they go home quietly (not that there was any need for the latter by this stage of the night). While queueing to leave Parliament Square, a woman next to me jokingly told a police officer that if they let us go, she would promise that this would be her last demonstration. The officer replied, “That’s the point.”

OK.  Now we know that.  They know that.  We know they know we know that.  But, of course, they can’t say it, officially, in public.  That’s against the rules.  It’s like the “have you ever taken any illegal drugs” question on a job application form.  No one expects you to answer truthfully: it’s a test, the real content of which is: “are you a fucking idiot?”  No?  Well go right ahead them.  As long as you can play the game, it’s all ok.
Another recent example: Wikileaks cables shows that the US finds the obsequious grovelling of Conservative politicians “humorous”.  But of course, Atlanticist politicians on both sides leap to say how important “the special relationship” really is to America.  Of course they do.  It’s the same rules we learned at school: deny everything, keep looking straight ahead and there’s nothing anyone can do.
We all have our own stories from last night, no doubt.  A girl had a clump of her hair pulled out.  A 20 year old is in hospital, having had to have life-saving brain surgery, amongst 43 hospitalised protestors.  I’m sure it says somewhere that “there will be an investigation”.  (Tomlinson, cough, Menezes, cough, etc. cough.)  “My 19-year-old sister was forced to the floor by police when caught in a crowd and when attempting to get up was punched in the face by a male officer. She is sporting a black eye this morning” says one.  Another: “a guy running away from police along Whitehall getting being unable to run further because of a stray barrier. Before he could jump over, two police charged into him with their shields and repeatedly hit him with their shields, against the barrier.”
Fair-minded people are against “disproportionate”, “provocative”, or “brutal” policing; and presumably in favour of a polite push and shove.  This is an appealing message (and it may make sense to accentuate it to the cameras), but is more or less a fiction.  Of course, there are incidents here and there where we can say that particular police could have been less brutal.  But if the direct action we defend has any content at all, it must mean we supported, and support, concrete attempts to stop the law being passed, up to, including, and beyond the invasion of parliament – and we are in support of people trying as hard as possible to do that.   And it is a fiction that the police could have tolerated that, or that preventing it could ever have been done gently.  If it could have been, we wouldn’t have really been trying.  If the police hadn’t been at parliament square last night, and if they hadn’t been prepared to act brutally, parliament would have been stormed, and legislation to triple top-up fees and abolish EMA would not have been passed. The brutality of the police is not incidental to the nature of the state, it is essential to it.
So you have to pick: the state, and horse charges against children who object to having their pockets robbed; or against the state (which means: against capitalism, for social revolution); and against the police too; brutal or otherwise.   Polite fudges are polite – but more or less part of the continuous stream of liquid nonsense which constitutes the news media.
Next time, we should bring masks to give out.  Just like on the Gaza demos in 2009, too many young people are going to get arrested because their faces appear on police footage – and in the photographs of the numerous “independent” photojournalists who sell images to the right-wing press, many of whom should arguably be looked on as police evidence gatherers.
Someone has to say it: mass violence against the police is necessary as part of any social struggle.  We wish it wasn’t but it is.  The reason is simple: the police defend the state unconditionally, the state defends capital unconditionally, and capital attacks us without remorse – or even a second thought.  Reasonable liberals yearn for a compromise: but the state isn’t listening.  Neither should protestors.
When Charles and Camilla were ambushed, or a fence was thrown at police, or a crowd broke the thin blue line: those were good things, and we support the people doing it.  They are by no means sufficient, nor are they particularly helpful as isolated acts.  What is important is that they establish the movement on new terrain.  They represent the conscious willingness to defy and confront state authority, and state power.  And that is the beginning of everything hopeful

FROM::.http://thecommune.co.uk/2010/12/10/on-violence-against-the-police/

THE BIG PRISON SOCIETY OF THE BIG BROTHER OF U.K.

 

Students Run Down Side Street To Avoid Kettle

Students running down a side street in Westminster, avoiding the planned route and the hundreds of police officers. Earlier today, the student march split off in different directions and the police was unable to control protesters as they were taking over several main roads.

 

Protest groups join up at Trafalgar Square

The group last reported to be at St Pauls have marched down Embankment and joined  with other protesters at Trafalgar Square.
The group were followed by riot police and vans, prompting fears that they may have been kettled.
The main cry at Trafalgar Square is now: “Whose streets? Our streets!”

 

 

Protesters try to push through Police line at Trafalgar Square

3pm Protesters make a push to try and get through the Police line and march down Whitehall. Police had agreed not to kettle protesters but only if they stopped attempting to get to Parliament

Police agree not to kettle at Trafalgar

Police have been overheard speaking to NCAFC organisers, saying that they will not kettle the main protest at Trafalgar Square, so long as protesters agree not to head towards Parliament or Buckingham Palace.
Students will be allowed to rally at Trafalgar Square, but should advances be made towards Whitehall then the Police may decide to kettle the protest.

Smaller protest group makes U-turn back to St Pauls

The smaller protest group, thought to be heading toward Traflagar Square from the Bank area, have made a U-Turn towards St Pauls.
Jonny, from SOAS, said: “There doesn’t seem to be much organisation anymore, we’re just being a bit nomadic. The protest got a bit fragmented because people didn’t want to get kettled but the sooner we join up with everyone else the better.
“I’m surprised there aren’t mor epolice actually, they seem to have finally realised that students can protet peacefully.”

Protesters at Trafalgar Square: reports that police will try to kettle

Students are gathering at Trafalgar Square with around 500 others on their way from Bank to meet them.
There is a heavy police presence lining the streets.

Reports suggest that some protesters are leaving Trafalgar Square and heading towards Oxford Street. The large police presence has led people to feel like they may be about to get kettled.

Update from all over London 30 november

It is thought that protesters have split into more than ten groups of varying sizes.
We’ve had reports come in from people at Buckingham Palace, The Strand (main group), Marble Arch, Piccadilly, Hyde Park and Parliament Square.
It is thought that protesters are going to try and re-convene at Trafalgar Square. There are reportedly 10 police vans waiting at Trafalgar Square.
On the ground protesters are asking where they should be going, and have said they felt the protest was dis-organised, though understandable because people have been trying to avoid being kettled.
A group of school kids told London Student that they had come to the protest with the encouragement of their teachers, though hadn’t told their parents they were coming.

Update: Police assault 4 protesters

The number assaulted was actually 5 protesters.
The police claimed that they were entitled to hold the protesters on “suspicion of causing unrest” and “suspicion of having weapons”.
A London Student reporter said that the protesters had no weapons and were simply walking along with their faces covered by scarves.
The protesters were asked to give details but most refused. One gave their name and address

Lewisham's democracy

Labour's Lewisham Council votes Mayor Bullock's cuts in behind closed doors, and defends the vote by riot police.

pic courtesy of guido tallman









 
At first, it seemed like a small turnout at the demo called by Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance (LACA). The police were expecting decent numbers, and were there to contain a repeat of what happened a couple of weeks ago when the protesters forced the meeting to adjourn. This time we were going to be in the public gallery with a maximum of 40 people.
As I was queueing up for the search and pat down, the 150/200 strong march from Goldsmiths arrived. Speeches were held and all seemed to be going according to time-worn liberal traditions, until a masked protester appeared on the roof of the Town Hall with a banner saying: ‘Commons not Cuts’. They were letting people in 5 by 5 and sending them up in the lift. When it was our turn the security guard said:
‘Believe me, I want to be here as much as you.’
‘No, you don’t understand, we do want to be here.’
As we are waiting in the lobby to be sent up, the crowd charges the door shouting: ‘Let us in!’. The door opens and police tumble in backwards, dancing with protesters. About 20 of us are in. The police scramble to push us out or detain us. I jump in to de-arrest someone and get punched in the face. The security guards are out of control. There are several bloody faces. The glass at the front of the building cracks from the commotion outside. Someone sets of a smoke bomb. We try and board the lift, but the police and guards yank us out. We are trapped in the lobby. CID arrive – it is stalemate – no one is going in or out for the time being. A second smoke bomb is set off and the fire alarm starts. The guards get rid of this one as well. The people from the gallery are sent down and yanked out of the stairwell – they either end up in our group or ejected through the front. The officers draw their batons and tasers – their pupils are dilated. We start shouting: ‘Don’t do what you did to Ian Tomlinson!’ That stops them in their tracks. We call out the numbers of the most violent ones. One by one we get shoved down the stairs and out the back. I get thrown backwards and break my fall by dragging a couple of cops down.
Once outside a group leaves singing: ‘Harry Roberts is our friend, is our friend, is our friend. Harry Roberts is our friend, he kills coppers.’ We make our way to the front, where riot police has arrived with shields, horses and dogs. About 10 vans have blocked the South Circular. ITV is there. There are more charges to the front door. I hear that the meeting has been adjourned. CID target one of the protesters and after attempt to stop them, manage to arrest him. The crowd slowly disperses. We hit the pub.
About an hour after the meeting was adjourned, the cuts vote took place behind closed doors (so much for democracy!). It was 36 for, 3 against, 11 abstentions. All Labour councillors voted in favour of the cuts, the Tory and Green councillors voted against, and the Lib Dems abstained. There is seamless progression from what happened outside Lewisham Town Hall to what happened inside. A council, whose members were elected to serve the people, totally betrayed them by acting on the orders of an unelected ConDem junta which has no legitimacy and even less, a mandate for the most vicious cuts we have seen this side of the 1930's. The people gathered outside to protest and assert their right of witness. The answer was riot shields, horses, dogs and brutuality to bring home the will of the bond markets to municipal politics.
LACA:
http://lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/

Lewisham – Fighting The Cuts U.K.

On Monday night Lewisham council was preparing to vote on a package of budget cuts of 60million. A few of us WAGs, decided to leave the cozy comforts of East London and head south to show our solidarity with the anti-cuts campaign. The cuts are going to hit childcare, libraries and jobs, to name just a few. The Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance states these cuts are “an ideological attack on our welfare services. The poor are being made to pay for a financial crisis, which was caused by greed for profit” and this true for all the cuts that are going to be hitting around the country on all levels of government.

When we got down there, we joined a large group of a few of hundred people outside the steps of the Town Hall. There was a large mixture of ages and a politically diverse crowd. Goldsmiths students had marched down from their university, and of course the SWP and a ratbag crew of local anarchists were there. It was brilliant that the Goldsmiths students had marched down, I hope this is the start of students being part of the larger anti-cuts campaign and there being more solidarity between everyone facing these cuts.
There was the usual guy with a loud howler saying something that I couldn’t quite make out and people trying to get me to sign another bloody petition. Then there was word that although the council had said that 30 people were going to be allowed in to sit in the public gallery they had changed their mind. There were people already positioned near the doors to be let in and as we were told that we weren’t actually going to be allowed in there was a surge of people towards the doors. A handy door holding maneuver meant that people were able to storm the building.

Once people had fought past the frankly pathetic security and police presence to gain access to the building there was an occupation of the reception area of the town hall. There was a smashed window and further damage to the reception, with the forty or so people scrapping with the police and security and coming out on top. Flares were going off, fire alarms set off, and the coppers totally lost control. Despite the filth trying to grab people out of the crowd they were unable to arrest anyone inside the building, such was the strength of the solidarity within. There were numerous de-arrests and more than one security guard was sporting a bloody lip by the end of the battle. It was inspiring to see people standing side by side and fighting the cops, not letting comrades get nicked and really causing them some grief.

Those of us who were stuck outside were then subjected to some rather enthusiastic and quite funny (when we were taking the piss out of them) plod. They weren’t shy in pushing, hitting and yelling at people who were actually just standing around. I’m pretty sure that riot shields are not supposed to be used sideways into people’s heads. Isn’t that saying “respect your elders”, not “push your elders down the stairs”, which the coppers seemed to get great excitement from doing. The resulting scuffle which started with the police being heavy handed was a great way to get some frustration out. But as usual the policing was completely over the top and unnecessary. Some of the crowd started off talking to the police about how they should be on our side because of the cuts to police budget, which didn’t go down very well. The guy who kept telling the coppers to form a union and go on strike only got a wack over the head as a response. After they started acting heavy handed, the chants then turned to “I hope your jobs get cut” and no one was trying to talk to them anymore.
The indignation of the cops when you push back was quite laughable, as their voices get rather high pitched. The cop who kept telling the others to grab hold of each others bums provided hours of fun, and I’m sure will continue to do so.
All in all and great night, and really set the bar for the rest of the anti- cuts movement. With the tube strike today, the student demonstration tommorrow  and this fantasic action tonight, there is a real buzz about the anti-cuts movement – long may it continue! There should be people at every council meeting making sure that the people in power know that we will not be taking these stupid and unnecessary cuts lying down.

Angry clashes at Lewisham town hall SOUTH LONDON U.K.

ANGRY clashes broke out in Lewisham, London, on Monday night as police stopped campaigners from attending a key council meeting.

Despite freezing weather conditions, the incident raises the political temperature still further ahead of Tuesday's student day of action.

Hundreds of chanting protesters gathered outside the town hall as the council prepared to approve huge cuts to local services.

A number of them managed to get through police lines and into the building, where a smoke bomb was let off.

There were a number of injuries and arrests as police pushed and shoved the demonstrators outside. It was reported that riot squad TSG were later called and the area was cordoned off.

Interestingly, the cuts were being pushed through by the Labour Party regime, with the Tories this time in opposition and voting against.

But increasing numbers of the British public are no longer falling for the political party trick and understand that the fight is against the entire neoliberal capitalist system.

SOLIDARITY WITH UK STUDENTS FROM GREECE (VOID NETWORK)

All we,…
the students, the working people, the unemployed and the lazy ones, girls and boys from Void Network / Athens Greece section we express our solidarity to the occupation of Sussex university and to all people that will participate in this and all other actions until the great demonstrations of 24 November and beyond that….
The news coming from U.K. about the student’s struggle are making us all here in Athens having great hope about the arising of critical mind and the radicalization of a whole generation in all U.K…. Our thoughts and hearts are there with you…
We believe that Now(!) is the best moment for all students to deny their position in the machine, to break the process of reproduction of themselves as slaves to the economic system, to destroy the hegemonism, ignorance, apathy and racistic domination of the scientific, academic and economic elite of this planet, to create the conditions of constant free sharing of global knowledge and free distribution of the productions of it, to bring their emancipatory understandings to the center of the city, at the center of the political agenda of their society, to unite their struggle with all other people in struggle (the older and the younger ones, the immigrants and the family people, the retired ones and the workers, the excluded ones and the homeless ones, the lovers, the travelers, the ravers, the squatters, the freaks and the romantic ones, the employed, the unemployed and the lazy ones, the angry ones and the disappointed ones, the destructive ones and the creative ones).
Now is the time to create a new public discourse that includes all of us, that starts from the anxiety, the fear and the misery of the every-day student life and expands to the anxiety, the fear and the misery of all the ages, all the society.
Capitalism and State Democracy are destruction machines. Our blood and our minds are the powers of this machine. Now all of us, in one way or the other we know that this machine is bringing life on planet earth in extinction.
Our Life is the Death of the machine. Life of the machine is our Death.
Our best moments are these ones when we are together fighting against the machine. In the universities, in the working places, in the city center, in the forests, against the parliament, the royal palaces, the industries, the super markets and the luxury restaurants, in the T.V. stations and infront of police stations, prisons, and courthouses.
Now…you can see us…
We are all together…And, when we fight we are fighting for our lives….
Stay awake in the deep night of the western civilization…We become more and more millions on this planet night after night…and We Are Ready to Fight Back!
VOID NETWORK // ATHENS GREECE
http://voidnetwork.blogspot.com