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quick early report on foreign office blockade this morning

clowns, samba and lebanese dancers took part in a blockade of the foreign office in king charles street this morning. their theme was 'bringing the war home" and they were hoping to disrupt the workings of the war machine for a while

around 100 activists turned up with an impressively large banner at 8am this morning - yes anarchists can get up early!!.

despite a huge police presence, they managed to enter king charles street, and the clowns staged an excellent die-in before being arrested for 'suspected criminal damage' (thought to be the washable fake blood they spilt on the pavement). some fake blood was also spattered across one of the the doorways of the foreign office. another person was arrested 'for sitting on the pavement'.

currently (9.45am) around forty protesters are penned in by large numbers of cops including tsg (tactical support group / thugs), and it is thought they are all likely to be arrested for 'participating in an unauthorised demonstration in the designated zone' (socpa) and police are trying to find enough cell space.

itn news were there so there should be some media coverage at least on local london news at lunchtime. the demonstrators were entirely peaceful throughout (doh - it's an anti-war demo - geddit!). although police were heard to claim they were holding people because of a risk of 'serious public disorder').

rikki
e-mail: rikkiindymedia@googlemail.com

Additions

Only five arrests.

21.08.2006 13:50

It wasn't a disaster at all. Only five people were arrested, all thought to be on suspicion of criminal damage. Generally a very sucessful action.

Sam

Stop the War Coalition statement

21.08.2006 13:54

The comment previously posted on this page purporting to be from a Stop the War Coalition spokesman was not genuine. Stop the War Coalition completely disclaims the opinions expressed therein. Genuine Stop the War Coalition statements will only ever appear on our website -

http://www.stopwar.org.uk - or on our email lists.

Readers might be interested in our press release of Thursday 10th August commending activists in Derry for their occupation of the local base of American arms manufacturer Raytheon.

http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/stwc-press/2006-08/msg00009.html

Stop the War Coalition
mail e-mail: office@stopwar.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Blockade in the Guardian

21.08.2006 19:07

Just in case you missed this:

"Five arrested in 'blockade' of Foreign Office"

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1855050,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704

Marc
Homepage: http://www.protestphoto.co.uk

Yes it was blockaded

21.08.2006 21:19

I'm not sure why a fuller article about the event hasn't appeared on the newswire, or where all the film/ photos that people were using have got to... but anyway!

Yes, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was blockaded for about forty-five minutes between 8.45 to 9.30. We blockaded the main gate forcing civil servants to walk round to the back, passing the banner and gauntlet of clowns. From 8.00 to 8.45 the blockade was at the head of King Charles St. below the arch.

The comments so far have been slightly negative in tone. Personally, and speaking as someone who has been on a number of awesome actions, this was a very self-emporering blockade, well-executed, with good communication amongst blockaders and all round fun and effective.

We made a joke of their SOCPA legislation, and the cops looked like class clowns throwing a loose pen around people trying to leave for them to just decide to leave five minutes later.

All round an amazing action. As one friend said, "The best thing I've done on a Monday morning for a very long time!"

all those arrested now out

21.08.2006 21:34

The last of the five arrestees (four Clown Army cadre and one random civilian) was released at 8pm, some ten and a half hours after arrest. All five have been bailed to return (but not charged, as yet) to West End Central police station in October.

Two of them were offered food containing ingredients they are allergic to, despite telling the custody officers of this when asked if they had any specific dietary requirements - the officers in question seemingly unacquainted with the Met's new found focus on Health & Safety.

ACAB

Comments

Display the following 13 comments

I told you it would be a disaster with most people arrested! — Spokesman for the stop the war coalition
well done. — mediA TOADS
You can get up early now get yourselves a proper job...... — Louise Keane
Stop the War Fighters? —
Manchester — Matron of Mischief
re: I told you so... — bird
maybe — NotNow!
Three week's notice — Matron of Mischeif
did the stop the war coalition inform and work with the cops? — nessuno
We didn't get arrested Mr. STWC! — Nicos
in partial defence of 'i told ou so' — !
Was the FCO blockaded at all? — Zazo
Re: in partial defence of 'i told ou so' — ACAB

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