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European Social Forum Reports

Latest Contributions:
Arrests Update
IMC Solidarity Missing From ESF Assembly of Social Movements Declaration!
Guardian Letter: Ken Livingstone's Special Advisor Accuses White Anarchists of Racial Violence!
Anti-Racist Groups Accuse Lee Jasper of Playing 'Race Card' re ESF

Pictures:
The repression at King’s Cross station.
The main ESF demo
Indymedia Banners on ESF demo
The storming of the ESF
The repression after the invasion
[picture report] Samba against war in london
O17 London: A protestor's eye view (report and pics)
Photos from the anti-war march at the end of the ESF

The European Social Forum has ended on Sunday, with a large demonstration and a number of autonomous actions (Clowns actions and Pro-capitalist block). The demonstration had a clear anti-war character and attracted a large number of people who did not attend the ESF. Reports and photos [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6].

A group of activists from the anti-capitalist block were detained at King's cross station in an attempt to prevent them from joining the march [1 | 2 | 3 | Global Project]. They were eventually allowed to leave and when they finally arrived at Trafalgar Square some tried to get to the stage in what some describe as storming the stage. The police possibly in cooperation with the organisers made several arrests including an Indymedia volunteer and member of the ESF organizing body.

Solidarity actions were called, and a number of Clowns invaded Charing Cross police station (Video). Those arrested including a Greek activist are due in court on Monday. The ESF organisation, and the events during the demonstration, have been the subject of a lot of controvesy [In depth: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Previous: 1 | 2 | 3]. Some also resented the lack of coverage of actual ESF events [1] on Indymedia and the mainstream media [1 | 2 | Don't hate the media - just publish on indymedia].

Previous Days Reports: Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

All ESF Features on the ESF topic page

Feature Translation: Spanish

Breaking Reports

22:40 Five persons of the group from which earlier the 4 persons were arrested at King's Cross were arrested at Trafalgar Square. In reaction some activists wanted to get on stage immediately to announce this. A group pushed into the stage area, and then the police came. Reportedly, the organisers tried to get the police out of the backstage area, but at least two violent arrests were made there (as reported earlier).

21:20 The release of at least two people is delayed. Apparently the police say they cannot release them if there are too many people outside the station.

21:00 Some 500 people attended the concert on Trafalgar Square. After it finished, about 200 stayed and made a fire from leftover posters and sticks, singing and dancing around it. The police were trying to stop it, and encircled a group of activists at some stage, but were encircled themselves by other activists. The cops retreated, and shortly afterwards the people left as well.

19:15 Reports of a demonstration in Charing Cross Police Station, including clowns.

18:15 An ESF spokesperson said they were not going to enquire with the police right away about the arrest of the person on their co-ordination committee. He said he saw them being lead away, but was sure they will have legal help. There was no official comment about the arrests at this time. They also did not know how many people have been arrested.
On the newswire [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 ]

18:00 Most people leaving Trafalgar Square in the rain.

16:45 There have been arrests in Trafalgar Square, including one Indymedia reporter (and member of the ESF co-ordinating committee) who was violently arrested. Another Indymedia photographer was knocked to the ground by police as he took photos.

16:40 Reports are coming in that a group of people have tried to get on the stage at Trafalgar Square, probably to make a statement. They are now being held back by a steward of the "stop the war coallition", there is pushing and shoving going on as they try to get through the fence around the stage area.

16:00 Some of the march, including the crew detained at Kings Cross, has now arrived at Trafalgar Square. Samba bands are playing, speeches are going on and the atmosphere is good. Some of the march is still crossing the bridge next to parliament. The police estimate of the number of people involved is 15,000 to 20,000.
Meanwhile some members of the Italian Forum have had their banners confiscated by the police at Russell Square.

Earlier today police were harassing a group of 15 or 20 activists on their way to the march. First they were held at Seven Sisters station for a while. Then when emerging from Kings Cross they were surrounded by a large number of police and a Section 60 was issued. Four people were arrested including two Italian and one Greek activist.
[ More Information | Pictures ]

A "pro-capitalist" march met up with the ESF march, but police are keeping the two marches separate for a while, imposing a Section 14. The pro-capitalists have banners saying "Bring Back The Slave Trade" and "Bombs not Bread". They were shouting "get a job, get a job" at the ESF marchers.

13:00 The main ESF demonstration is today. Thousands are gathering in Russell Square to march to Trafalgar Square in a celebration of diversity and expressing the many campaigns and viewpoints gathered here from across Europe.
By 16:00 figures on the demonstration were being estimated at 70,000 people on the demo (ESF Spokesperson), 15-20,000 people (Scotland Yard Spokesperson), 100,000 (BBC website quoting Stop the War Coalition).