Talk:G20 protests: Inside a labour march

Original research
my notes from 2 April; typos and simple misspellings cleaned up, e-mail addresses withheld Ross makes a speech on the steps of the National Museum: Now that the recession is underway, they've been trying to shoulder more of the burden onto the people, and onto the young people...they're expecting us to pay ffot it. "Tradition of the Jarrow Marand the strikes, ches, through some of the poorest parts ofLondon." "Fighting for jobs for young people, fighting for free education, fighting for our share of the wealth, which we create."

Ross saunders -- branch secretary of Cardiff West Branch

25 active members in west branch

Rbs attack -- "it's not very constructive but it does make you smile"

ross explains: Disaffection with the Labour Party since the 80s -- "there used to be democratic structures, political meetings...now, they passed a resolution calling for renationalisation of the railways, and they [the party leadership] just ignored it". labour has lost haf its membership, people looking for an alternative -- now 2 branches of SocialistParty in Cardiff,but BNP gaining membeers as well

"we're going to stop all the squabbles - they're going to unite against us. That's what happens" - Mia

"protest is basically theatre" - Ross

One demonstrator from Sheffield: "police hace been surprisingly unridiculous" today

About 200-250 expected in this march, one leader says they hit that mark -- people from Sheffield, Cardiff Newcastle,, manchester.

Police taking march off original route -- was supposed to go past Parliament, instead going down back streets where there's nobody to protest to. "justified aggression" at bank. 2we don't condone it but people have only got certain limitatiions". Peter

Empty street hoto from Wapping High Street.

Says one policeman: "Very positive atmosphere." "Everyone;s very well behaved" on route change: "students are getting the message out"

East London Trade Unions providing lunch for the march.

RMT plans strike in 3 weeks' time.

Neil Cafferky. "communism" -- Considers himself a Marxist and Trotskyist, but the word "communism" has certain negative connotations and would "act as a barrier". London organizer for the march. "We are for a democratic plan of production." "The working class, the youths brought into the heart of decision making."

Route change -- "we wanted to have a march from camberwell green up to victoria park and across the olympic sites and to the excel ctr." met wanted no march of any kind -- "we only have 650 trained traffic police" so we can't facilitate a march. "It's all very well having concern for health and safety --our concern is using planning to block protest." Bureaucratic, legal and violent blocks.

What do you think is a resonable limit? "If the police set out with the intention assaulting marches then violence is unavoidable." If the demonstrators show peaceful intent, isolate police provocateurs. If it comes to the case where the defenders have to defend the march "it must be done in a disciplined manner"

Some organizations don't agree with stewarding -- socialist party says this is a mistake.

Wasn't on y'day's demos. It's often the case that there is provocative behavior on both sides. "Clear political understanding of the role of violence" -- it's "counterproductive".

Protest = theatre "intersting pov." "A demonstration is always a means to and end." Industrial action, occupation also valid forms of exression.

9 May Cruciform UCL, rally for youth to campaign

Atmosphere at excel low-key -- no violence but surprisingly few people.

Review
--Brian McNeil / talk 22:25, 3 April 2009 (UTC)

First person narrative
I am wondering if would not be appropriate to replace instances of "I" with "Wikinews"? --SVTCobra 23:21, 3 April 2009 (UTC)


 * After a discussion, the "disclosure" statement at the top of the article was added. --SVTCobra 01:03, 4 April 2009 (UTC)