Mayday 2001 - Global Day of Action Against Capitalism - London Info.
This page will organically become an account of Mayday 2001 rather than the pre-Mayday 2001 page. Be patient...there should be some inspiring photos online soonish.
REVOLUTION ACCOUNT
Oxford Street
Revo: "World Bank, IMF How many kids have you starved to
death?"
19,000 children die each day from curable diseases and hunger.
By the time Revolution got to the picket of the
World Bank on Pall Mall, Globalise Resistance
plus loads of other protestors had already taken the road as a loud but peaceful
crowd of a
couple of thousand protesters.
Suddenly we were on the move. Fearing the cops would
pen us in, we set off on an impromptu
demo up Piccadilly and Regent Street towards Oxford Circus. It was great to
see the puppets
and placards we had made the Saturday before bobbing up and down the road.
Shoppers,
tourists and workers all gave us a smile and a cheer as we went along.
By the time we reached the Circus, the mood was really
electric. We had reached our target
by 3 o'clock a good hour early and the cops hadn't been able to
stop us. Through No Sweat
we've made Niketown a real target of hatred, and it along with other shops
had already closed,
afraid that they're brand name recognition would now be turned against them
as symbols of
corporate global power - so we had scored one victory at least. Capitalism
closed in its
commercial heartland. The sweatshop bosses lost over £3m in trade.
But as 4 o'clock, the time for the Sale of the Century
action, came and went it soon became
clear that we had been trapped by the police. No one was allowed in or out.
Only then did
some of us have a serious go at escaping, but as soon as we did the police
moved in robocops
with all the gear: truncheons, batons, shields that they bashed you with and
gloves with
sewn-in knuckle-dusters (I kid you not!). I had a black eye for days after,
but some got much
worse.
Eventually a bank of loudspeakers on Niketown (trust
them to reach out and help the pigs)
bellowed, "There has been a breach of the peace. You are being detained
to prevent criminal
damage. Be patient. You will be let out in due course."
"Due course" turned out to be five hours
later! No food, no water, pouring rain with no shelter,
no toilet, no fags. No wonder people eventually took it out on capitalist
property like the traffic
lights. Far from preventing criminal damage, the cops' tactics caused it!
Even when we were finally let out the cops couldn't
resist one last dig. We were all told to give
them our names and addresses and allow them to photograph us or Š we
would be charged.
Most were so pissed off they gave a false name and address and called it a
day. But one
protester refused and was promptly abused, had his balls squeezed in a search
and thrown
onto the street.
But the day didn't end there. We found the nearest
warm pub and downed some beers
watching Sky News, News at Ten, Newsnight. Every picture of the protests and
attempts to
push through the cops was cheered, every shot of a cop bashing someone jeered.
And when
Jack Straw was shown bearhugging the police chief we all shouted, "FUCK
OFF YOU
WANKER!"
No. We weren't dispirited. Just wet, angry and glad of a job well done!
Holles street Revo :
Half of us went up to Highbury for the South East Region TUC demonstration,
to
demonstrate with trade unionists and the Kurdish community of North London
who
are being criminalised by the Jack Straw's Terrorism Act. Then we jumped
on the
tube as we got the phone call that it was kicking off at Oxford Circus. We
arrived to
join hundreds of others trapped outside it, with more arriving every minute
in groups
of friends. Lines of riot police backed by horses backed by police
vans ringed
thousands of protestors inside Oxford Circus. It looked like a military
seige.
There was no way to push through. We joined a
group of several hundred
protestors in threading through the backstreets trying to get through the
police to join
with the protestors inside and keep from getting penned in. Several
times we either
broke through or outmanouvered them. At one point we ran round a side
street and
ended up behind the police line, forcing them to retreat in haste - beautiful!
Protestors let out the air in the tyres of the vans we "captured",,
so that they couldn¹t
be moved and used against us.
But in the end we got penned in Holles Road, between
Oxford St and Cavendish
Square. The samba band Rhythms of Resistance kept us jiving and kept
up the
morale of people trying to push through the police lines, but after an initial
breakthrough the cops brought up the horses and drove everyone back with batons,
while behind us a line of riot cops was reinforced, and the trap was complete.
5
hours of sitting in the cold and rain began.
People were determined not to sit there for hours at
the tender mercies of the riot
cops, but though the crowd gave it another go and some of us broke through,
most
of us remained trapped inside. Some people climbed up on ledges to take
out CCTV
cameras as the most accessible part of this huge Big Brother surveillance
operation:
police with video cams, helicoptors, blanket CCTV, the lot. Some got
up and took
the piss out of the cops, which everyone enjoyed. After three hours
of discomfort,
boredom and anger at the cops, a few people started to trash out of
frustration. The
cops surrounded us and hemmed us in more and more, keeping us in with a Section
60. They only let us out one by one, illegally photographing and taking
names and
addresses in the beginning. We didn¹t get out till 9 - bastards!
The police and media talk about the law, when the police
make it up or break it as
they go along, and the media says nothing except how violent the protestors
are. The
only people we saw get hurt were the protestors, and the police hit anything
that got
near them. A lot of us have got our bruises and bumps one guy
had blood pouring
down their neck.
We need to get all the groups - Revolution, wombles,
Globalise Resistance, and
anyone else - to coordinate for these demos, so that we can all push at once
and
break through, join up and combine our forces, instead of the cops keeping
us apart
and locked down. They have their helicopters and mobile command centres,
we
need to coordinate too. For Example, at one point the Holles street
protestors
pushed, and 15 minutes later the Wombles pushed, when we were only metres
apart with not too many cops separating us. If we'd done it simultaneously,
we
would have overwhelmed them and pushed through, joined up, thrown back the
cops, and then we could have done the same again with our fellow demonstrators
in
Oxford Circus... and then who knows what we could have done, we could have
marched on the City of London, the real heart of the beast, versus Oxford
Street
which is just a big-time high street. And we could have organised
defense against
the baton charges so that protestors didn't get hurt when the police tried
to beat us
back and into submission.
Was anyone with the wombles?
Dear All,
Yesterday's day of action in London went very well - I think the message
went through, there was a
lot of press coverage and besides a small number of isolated incidences we
managed to avoid
violence, giving the lie to the play-up of the panic by the police and press
in the last fortnight.
This is a personal account of what I saw and did during the day.
The day began for me with arriving from Oxford at Kings Cross, the 9:30 end-point
of a very
colourful bicycle-ride to protest car pollution and global warming. People
were dressed up in
costumes, playing music and carrying all kinds of creative signs and banners.A
group of animal-
rights activists were standing outside the big McDonald's there and giving
away veggie-burgers to
the riders. The convergence becam a street-party that lasted about an hour,
during which I got
interviewed for the BBc and sky TV...several scores of police officers eventually
closed in on the
people and made them clear the street.
From there I went on at 11;00 to the Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park. Since
the day was with the theme
of a Monopoly game, activists were nearby building a "hotel" and
protesting the situation of the
homeless and squatters all over Britain. At the speaker's corner, there were
several people
(including myself ) who gave speeches in front of a crowd of about 100 people.
Being in Hyde Park, I
naturally spoke about the topic of debate and the undemocratization of political
decision-making. I
also called upon the anti-capitalists to personify the importance of debate
(at least within the
movement) and to act non-violently.
From there we went on to the World Bank offices where there was a large demonstration
calling to
drop third-world Debt (see http://www.dropthedebt.org/home.html for lots of
information). I was
handing out monopoly-style "world bank cash" to passers-by, 50 and
100 bills with info on the back
side. After about 30 minutes of chanting and speeches, during which some of
us spoke to CNN and
several student newspapers, the whole protest began to march in the direction
of Oxford street at
about 14:00. The march was joined along the way by many protesters coming
from different events, and
by the time we made it to Oxford Circus there were at least 5000 people there.
However, the police
(in riot gear) had closed off all the exits from the circus and trapped us
inside, letting people in
and not out. Their tactic was clear: to get us tired and bored, and perhaps
also to create enough
tension for a violent outbreak that would justify their hysteria over two
weeks.
Around 3:30 the tension was indeed beginning to build up, with several incidents
of protesters
getting frustrated and trying to break police lines. I saw that there was
a need to keep people
interested (and warm), and to direct the attention back to the centre of the
circus - so I gathered
as many drummers and other musicians that I could find in the area, and moved
them to the centre
where we began drumming and singing with the crowd. This lasted for about
3 hours, with some people
juggling pins in the middle and the rest dancing and singing. I worked very
hard during those hours,
leading the drumming band with a samba mini-drum and keeping the people interested
and active. I
think it contributed in a large part to prevent violence from getting serious.
At 6:00 it started
raining, and people were already exhausted, wet and cold. The police refused
to let us out, and kept
on announcing on the megaphones at the rooftops that we were "being detaied
to prevent obstruction
of the peace and violent damage", and that we would be released "in
due course". (Every time the
loudspeaker went on the entire crowd was boo-ing and shouting obscenities
at it). We spent about 7
hours there - an absolutely illegal mass-detainment and a breach of civil
liberties galore, if you
ask me. They began letting people out one by one around 21:00, each person
being photographed as he
or she went out.
That was it, more or less - I have to say that it was worth it! There was
a great spirit in the
protest, people came to feel a togetherness and unity of purpose that was
really beautiful to see. I
was also really happy to take a large and active part in leading the protesters
and keeping it no-
violent, the success of which was very rewarding.
You can read many more reports on http://uk.indymedia.org/ (and http://www.indymedia.org/
for the
rest of the world).
The Future Begins Today.
Best wishes,
Uri
Latest Information with details about publicised meeting points and actions!
Other Cities Action taking place on these isles of Foot and Bollocks
Links to other Mayday 2001 Sites...
Silly Press Articles About Mayday Monopoly
LIVE VIDEO FEEDS AND NEWS FROM THE STREETS OF LONDON
By now you've probably heard the hype and are wondering what exactly Mayday Monopoly is all about. The idea (as it is understood) is that activists plan and carry out as many 'autonomous actions' (without leadership or central organisation) throughout London as possible on Tuesday, May 1st. Actions such as street theatre will highlight poverty or environmental destruction which results from the monopolisation of power by the multinational corporations which control our governments. By having no central organisation or leadership, activists reject the system (social authoritarian-economic neo liberalism) which ensures that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer by destroying our human rights and making us wage slaves whilst raping the environment and ruining our collective future. In addition, by rejecting authority ideologically as well as tactically we make cracking down on us far more difficult by the state.
What you may have heard on the BBC or in the newspaper is simply mostly police and government propaganda. Most of us are not "intent on violence" or "thugs" - we are simply stading up for what we feel is right - a fair and just society, based upon equal opportunity. The current line the police, government and media is taking - that peaceful protestors should stay at home - is laughable. By their logic, if you care about things, you sit at home and do absolutely nothing; so when you want to go shopping you simply sit at home and don't - this is a good example of anti-logic!
It's common sense that when the political and economic system has failed you, it's time to bring your grievances to the street. Few people sit idly by while they get robbed senseless...Stating that those who care most sit at home and write letters is ignoring history : Women gained the vote by direct action (smashing windows and generally making a nuisance of themselves); The 'UK/Great Britain' founded a so-called-democracy by having a civil war in the 17th Century; the (Neo) Liberal Elite harp on about Ghandi in his struggle for an independent India, but he advocated burning down police stations and his visits to cities inevitably resulted in riots by the mass of the people. Social improvements for the masses is the result of people taking action, not being inactive.
This page, and other pages relating the May Day Monopoly 2001 are intended as an information tool - people who care can use them, and those who are against us, such as the police and rich company directory can use them. The idea of May Day 2001 is to have a fun, exciting and empowering day - not to terrorise London. May Day Monopoly has the potential to be fun and peaceful - let us hope that the police try and keep it this way too. For the latest Independent news about MayDay please check out : UK Indymedia.
Learn how to play monopoly here!
Download a leaflet for the day - hand these out to shoppers and others!
To find out more, please subscribe to the new email listserver by sending a blank email to:
mayday-monopoly-subscribe@egroups.com
Stickers available from: www.freespeech.org.uk/mayday2k/resource.htm or via the resources link at www.maydaymonopoly.net
Also availabe in PDF format at www.freespeech.org.uk/mayday2k/stickers/monopoly_stickers.pdf
Individual sticker images can be found at www.freespeech.org.uk/mayday2k/stickers/stickers.htm
Order the 'official' game guide (highly recommended) from : London Mayday Collective, BM Mayday, London, WC1N 3XX. This costs only 41 pence, but donations of even a quid would be welcome.
1.
Meeting points....this section will list any actions or meeting points that
have been publicised, listed in the order that they will take place on the
day:
In between times we will be moving slowly around the board in a chaotic fashion, we need to know of other actions going on to see if we can fit them into our packed schedule for the day. We will also be publishing some tel no's soon for people who want to find us on the day. Remember, come brightly, on a bike/skateboard/skates/wheelchair/ or foot; with flags, whistles, masks, placards, balloons, bubbles, wigs, music and joy in yer hearts & anger in your minds. Bring flags, placards, music, fancy dress, leaflets AND anything on wheels with no engine.
Download the Critical Mass leaflet
Download
Critical Mass Leaflet File 2
"A diverse crowd will gather to celebrate International Workers Day at the Angel Crossroads at 1pm. We welcome anyone office workers, passers-by, tourists, anarchists, economists, environmentalists and industrialists, among others to come and share a vision of the future: a future we all can participate in. We aim to create a world in which everybody is equal, in which all share in the wealth we produce with the earth. We aim to form a society that is not based on hierarchical regimes, a society where everybodys contribution is valued This protest is particularly designed to provide alternative media to everyday people. We aim to have a Spontaneous Temporary Autonomous News Stand (STAN'S), before further demonstration....
For further information, contact: angel-islington@hushmail.com
or see the mayday-monopoly discussion group message 2491 at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mayday-monopoly/auth?done=%2Fgroup%2Fmayday-monopoly%2Fmessage%2F2491
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At 12:00pm "Cancel 3rd World debt". Location: Coutts Bank,
The Strand. Meet outside Coutts Bank on The Strand (Charing Cross end) for
a theatrical and humourous event at lunchtime. Fancy dress, banners, monopoly
money and very strange people will be intermingling with yer office crowd
going to lunch, in a very touchy-feely way.
WHAT?
The SALE OF THE CENTURY action is about challenging the role of money in consumer
capitalist culture. FREE MONEY will be distributed for people to go and (try
to) use in shops in Oxford Street and the West End, to provoke discussion
and critical thought about how important these pieces of paper should be in
our lives. This is a non-violent grassroots action.
WHEN?
Be at Oxford Circus for 4pm on Tuesday 1st May 2001.
WITH WHAT?
Bring your friends, family, neighbours! Take the day off work, call in sick
or go on strike. Bring whistles and carnival musical instruments to help create
a true party spirit. Why not bring a sound system if you have one?
You might also want to bring: white overalls (obtainable from all good DIY
shops for about 3), crash helmets, big inflatables or cuddly toys to use as
defensive shields (see the WOMBLES web site at www.wombleaction.mrnice.net
for extra information on preparing yourselves to cope with assault from the
police). Plus bring plenty of fresh water!
AND THEN?
There will be parties across London throughout the evening to celebrate Mayday
2001: keep your eyes open for flyers with venue details!
Do not believe the cop propaganda about gangs intent on looting and breaking:
don't forget that the only people actively preparing and equipping themselves
for violence is the secretive paramilitary group known as THE METROPOLITAN
POLICE. It is they who carry weapons. It is they who beat us to the ground
with steel bars. It is they who run over demonstrators. It is they who charge
us with horses. On Mayday we should be proud of who we are and what we believe
in. We should have the courage to stand up to police intimidation. Don't forget,
we are winning!
Click
here for information about more events on May 1st!
OLD BACON FACTORTY 57 GREAT SUFFOLK STREET (JUNCTION WITH POCOCK ST) LONDON SE1
WHAT WILL YOU FIND INFO AREA CRASH SPACE VEGAN CAFE BANNER AND PROP MAKING WORKSHOPS MEETING SPACES LIKE MINDED PEOPLE INSPIRATION FUN NET WORKING OPPORTUNIES FOOD AND FUN EVERY EVENING FROM THE 28TH APRIL PHONE FOR INFO OR TO HELP OUT
WHATS NEEDED: FOOD COLOURED PANITS BANNER MATERIALS PLATES CUPS CUTLERY COMFY CUSHIONS INFO TO SHARE ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS TOYS DECK CHAIRS INSPIRATION SOUND AND ATTIUDE FUN AND YOU HELP NEEDED NOW FOR LATEST INFO TEL 07960--973-847 OR E-MAIL convergencespace@hotmail.com
MONDAY
12PM Convergence Meeting.
1PM First Aid Workshop.
2PM Legal Aid WOrkshop.
3-7PM Workshops/Networking.
7PM Affinity Group Convergence.
8PM Yet more Legal advice + WOMBLES Top Ten Tips!
Banner Workshops, Affinity Building and.....MERRY MAKING ALL DAY!!!!
Fully Stocked Free info-shop, vegan Kitchen, creche, women's space.
Crash space and chill space....with a bar.
Please bring toys (for creche), games, sleeping bags, musical instrumentents, books, paint, ideas and finally YOU!
Food is above all needed to be contributed.
The WOMBLES are providing security. No filming or photography is allowed inside and will be dealt with accordingly.
CORPORATE MEDIA? FUCK OFF!!!!
The WOMBLES advise that there will be a strong police presence outside. please ring 07960 973 847 for the latest security update and further announcements!
Boundary on map marks Mayor's proposed congestion charging zone. Map locations 1. Old Kent Road 2. Whitechapel Road 3. Kings Cross Station 4. The Angel Islington 5. Euston Road 6. Pentonville Road 7. Pall Mall 8. Whitehall 9. Northumberland Avenue 10. Marylebone Station 11. Bow Street 12. Marlborough Street* 13. Vine Street 14. Strand 15. Fleet Street 16. Trafalgar Square 17. Fenchurch Street Station 18. Leicester Square 19. Coventry Street 20. Picadilly 21. Regent Street 22. Oxford Street 23. Bond Street 24. Liverpool Street Station 25. Park Lane 26. Mayfair * Location not certain
Legal Information!
For bust card info, legal info visit: http://www.freespeech.org/mayday2k/resources/legal.htm
Special information regarding "section 60" powers is available here: http://www.freespeech.org/mayday2k/resources/s60.htm
Other Cities Action!
BIRMINGHAM
"Hi everybody, there will be protests in brum on mayday this year on the monopoly theme involving anarchists, libertarian marxists, environmentalists etc. If you can't make it to London, are in Birmingham or somewhere around here, get in touch with us (s26 collective email: s26brum@hotmail.com, PO BOX 9417, Birmingham B13 9WA ). Or just turn up on the day. We'll meet May 1, 12:30 outside Virgin Mega Store, Corporation Street, Birmingham.
BRISTOL
"Bristol Mayday collective is in the process of organising events for the 1st May (only 2 meettings to date) We are planning a critical Mass Bike Ride 8am Arnol Fini to start the day but we havn't got any further than that at this stage."
And a "Big Action in Bristol May 3rd. Meet outside Easton Community Centre for declaration of Autonmous Zone and actions to set up FREE EASTON. Vote Nobody. votenobody@yahoo.co.uk."
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh May Day Committee PRESS STATEMENT : "Radical voices to address Edinburgh's May Day Rally. On the 75th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike, a new generation of activists are expected to join Tony Benn MP and Tommy Sheridan MSP at this years May Day March and Rally in Edinburgh. The March assembles at 11.30 am Market Street, Saturday 5th May, for a Rally at 1pm in Princess Street Gardens. And this years message on international workers day is that the struggle for social justice is every bit as vital, relevant and inspiring today. 15 Brunswick Street, Edinburgh, EH7 5JB, telephone 0131556 8869. Email dannymcgowan@blueyonder.co.uk"
MANCHESTER
"Come to Balfour Beatty demo outside their site on Piccadilly at 4pm on May 1st. Bring costumes, fat cat gear, drums&loadsashit2makesomenoise".
OXFORD
"Mayday free food picnic" : From 3-6m in Carfax. A corporate free event, fun, food and frolics!Bring free food, camping stoves, mugs, bowls, games, face paints, paper, banners, musical instruments and a peaceful vibe."
for: International Workers Day. Tuesday 1st May. People Before profit. Globalise the resistance.
5 p.m. Rally: In Oxford
the Oxford and District Trades Council has organised a rally and march.Assemble
5 p.m Bonn Square Mohammad Al-Hili (Iraq, March Against Sanctions) Sarah
Friday (RMT Waterloo) for safe publicly owned transportSylvia Barker (Homes
for Older People Action Group) Kirsty McNeil (NUS) no to tuition fees, bring
back grants (invited) and others from public services, socialism, peace,
internationalism. Bring banners and placards.
6 p.m. March to east Oxford
8 p.m. Social at East Oxford Community Centre: Band "Tongue
and Groove", Mavis Bayton, Natty Marks sounds, poetry, bar.
International Day of Action Page - http://www.mayday2001.org : this site lists all the worlds cities taking Mayday Action on May 1st 2001.
http://www.monopoly.co.uk/ - Monopoly Theme!
Visit our website: May Day Uprising - www.mayday2001.org/wellington/
Mayday 2001 - A more rounded site.
Mayday Monopoly - The 'official site' if there is one.
