". . . the way thatmore heads and hearts will be won in this country is by reasoned argument." says Michael Gove. But alas, that approach doesn't actually have much effect does it now. One may note the current lack of agreement in the LibDem corner of the coalition on these issues, and the shouting down of MPs who appear to have a view which runs contrary to the consensus.
Thus,
Millbank - 10th November
and,
Whitehall - 24th November
On this day, during the march police used their notorious kettling techniques to box in thousands of protesters until well into the evening, effectively removing their right to protest. But the story continued nonetheless . . .
As fifty or so policement made a bright yellow line at the Trafalgar end of Whitehall, pushing around young girls who are trying to get out the way and not allowing any access to the pub there, seemingly preparing a full-speed-ahead charge at the marauding (or subdued, freezing, boxed-in) protesters.
But they were out-flanked by an extremely well co-ordinated march heading west at pace. Chaos in the square ensued as excitement grew, amplified by a few dozen fiends on mopeds donning Guy Fawkes masks. The rapidity of this march, the elusiveness of their stategy forbade the police from getting a grasp on the situation, and, as far as I know, it came to a head next to Charing Cross station, with a tiny kettle - an evening tea-for-one, almost - and many a "LET THEM OUT" and "SHAME ON YOU" being directed at police from bystanders.
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Elsewhere, a few hours earlier, and with extremely good behaviour, the University for Strategic Optimism held their inaugural lecture in a LloydsTSB near Tower Bridge. Thirty-ish individuals joined the few customers already in the bank and witnessed the esteemed Dr. Etienne Lantier give the course outline for Higher Education, Neo-liberalism and the State. Only the bank manager didn't like it - too challenged by the set reading, one might assume. Within 7 minutes they were gone, off towards the growing tensions in central London.
The video is heeeeere! as is lecture notes and future plans and a healthy buzz.
And keep out a curious eye for future lectures in locations yet to be disclosed.
Oh yeah, and the likely story is that the police van was planted as a alluring bait, to excuse the impending containment.... here's what's screeching over the messageboards :-
ReplyDelete*eye witness report from Whitehall.
Heiko Khoo – Police planted an old police van in Whitehall in the middle of 4000 demonstrators, we asked the police to remove it, they refused. Police only 20 yards from the van refused to protect it. They wanted it to be attacked. The 'attack' on the van was an excuse to kettle 4000 people for 8 hours, some 11 years old. We had no water or toilets for 5 hours.
------------and and and
rOssa
The Van was DEFINITELY a plant:
No licence plates
It is painted in the old livery of the met
It is covered in rust
I don't subscribe to the view it was a plant so they had an excuse to kettle us: They kettled us BEFORE the van was attacked. They didn't need an 'excuse' to kettle us. In this day and age if you are a student, you are a criminal according to the Police.
that's proof in my book