Just so people know, this is nothing to do with the coalition of resistance, nor NCAFC, nor is it listed by any of the groups or networks behind the recent demos, nor is it listed or supported in public by any of the occupations. So beware.

The below is posted on the facebook event. Well over 1000 down as attending, although attendance figures on facebook are obviously completely unreliable it does suggest this at least won't be 5 or 6 kids getting smashed up by an army of coppers. If it is police-organised it currently looks like they're organising a decent march for us!

Post:

THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS EVENT SPARKED BY CERTAIN NCAFC MEMBERS, WHO CLAIM THAT THIS EVENT IS FAKE, OR IT IS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE. WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NCAFC IS NOT THE ONLY ORGANISATION WHO CAN ORGANISE PROTESTS AND WE ARE IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OR THE POLICE. PLEASE ATTEND AND AVOID CONFUSION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CONTACT US AT  peoplesinitiative@yahoo.com

Since when does a protest have to be endorsed by some group ffs!

It would be good if someone who is good at such things design a decent looking poster for this event and put it everywhere.

Now I don't like the NCAFC's bullshit proprietoral attitude to demos either (the mass events that have happened have been defined and made powerful by the mass of people who have chosen to support them - not some self-elected 'leadership'), but even I'm slightly wary about this date.

I think even anti-authoritarians need to be wary when it comes to this sort of stuff. Just as I wanted to know who the NCAFC were when they appeared on the scene, likewise I want to know who the 'UK People's Initiative' are as will.

these are being spread on the facebook event... it this the organiser? is it some kind of right-wing trap?

 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001855624976


he's promoting the event, but his political views say 'geert wilders', although looking through his profile, he has been supporting these protests since millbank.
he's got some islamophobic views...

the event appeared on his page on saturday at 15:47, and he starts the to promote the event quite a lot

 http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=103335256380091&topic=145

 http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=169781859729051&id=144094815642021

 http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=179398108752641&id=179218858770566

 http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=130086593718858&id=175884882439938

 http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=146501925402650&id=103335256380091

 http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=171886789511966&id=144094815642021

Not conclusive evidence he made it, but appears as if its just some random kid... who supports geert wilders.

Someone advertises a protest in central London. Some people for some reason decide that because it's not an "official" protest-whatever that is, start spreading rumours that it's being organised by nazis or cops or fucking leprachauns.
Now people are confused and being put off going, not only to this protest but to other ones too that aren't "official".
I don't know who put up this demo and I don't care. Having 1000's of angry protesters in central London the week before xmas is brilliant. So what if right wingers set it up-there will be 1000's more of us there than them-or there would have if idiots who like their organised and stewarded and totally ineffectual.
Keep advertising this protest-to the streets on the 20th!

since when does a protest have to be endorsed by anyone? isn't the right to protest a right for everyone, not just for those who set themselves up as groups, organisers or whatever? london on the 20th sounds ideal. the more the merrier!

Wall statement from the UK People's Initiative facebook account:

"UK People's Initiative: March of Resistance
We apologise for falsely claiming that this event was supported by NCAFC and trade unions as well as using NCAFC's logo for a brief period of time. We got a little carried away, when we were trying to spread the information about this event. This event is organised by ordinary students, NOT by the police, the government or radicals. W...e felt that with NCAFC not organising any events this year, we should have a resistance march in London. Please do not ignore or defame this event. We made mistakes, but we have made all attempts to rectify them. Please attend the event and stop spreading rumours about this event being fake."

Of course the thing about facebook events is that they can gather a life of their own, irrespective of who first publishes them, or the original intentions. We've seen this many times before - for example:

In sunny hot June around 1,500 people turned up to a water fight at Hyde Park, in London. It lasted for hours and ended with the closure of Oxford Street. The police attended complete with dogs, there was some trouble as the cops threw their weight around angry and being teased and a bunch of arrests.

Remember the 2008 "Party: Night Of Mayhem" facebook event planned for Torbay by "The People of Torbay", when 10,000 people signed up to attend the "biggest open party Torbay has ever seen". Police made dire warnings and in the end the facebook organiser cancelled the event.

Then there was the "Night Of Mayhem" Hyde Park ‘Nicolas Cage’ mansion clusterfuck party back in February where around 2,500-3000 ppl pitched up at the venue, the riot plod arrived and there was a mini riot.

Anyway, the point is obvious. If it catches the zeitgeist anything can mushroom quickly. Sometimes they fade back into the ether, sometimes they burst forth into reality.

The student protests of late have been characterised by grass roots level organising outside of the NUS / UCU channels. So really, what's there to criticise about somebody announcing a new demo? Sure, the poster is pretty crappo, and sure the name "UK People's Initiative" sounds a bit suspect, buy hey, this is the internet and quality is not a given.

NCAFC warns supporters not to attend 20/12 “March of Resistance”
December 15, 2010

The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts is aware of its responsibilities vis-à-vis its supporters and the students, workers, activists and families who take part in our events in protest at the coalition’s policies of cuts and marketisation in the education sector. In light of this, the NCAFC would like to issue the following warning:

It has come to our attention that an event organised and publicised by a group calling itself the UK People’s Initiative for December 20th, the “March of Resistance”, briefly claimed our support (and used our logo!) We never supported this event and we would like to warn those considering attending that there are concerns over the motives and politics of the UK People’s Initiative. Indeed, suggestions have been made that the UK People’s Initiative may be linked to far right groups, although these remain unconfirmed. The organisers have repeatedly failed to respond to requests for information and clarification.

As an organisation we strongly distance ourselves from this event – in the absence of any further information by the organisers in relation to health and safety and the identity of the people behind the group. We have further concerns in relation to the proposed apolitical location of the event, at a time when Piccadilly Circus will be brimming with tourists and Londoners going about their Christmas shopping.

Demonstrations, actions and events organized by the NCAFC (and its affiliated groups) are debated and voted on in large and democratically run meetings; we also participate in broader forums with organisations including Coalition of Resistance, the EAN and ULU, for instance the London Student Assembly. This is an important process as it ensures that we debate and consider different perspectives and discuss health and safety.

Please spread these concerns widely.

National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts

The NCAFC is organising a national demonstration in London on 29 January

 http://anticuts.com/2010/12/15/ncafc-warns-supporters-not-to-attend-2012-march-of-resistance/

The event will take place on Monday, 20 December 2010. Please come to Piccadilly Circus, London.
The march will set off at 12:00. Thanks PLEASE INVITE EVERYONE!

Due to large amount of trolls and spammers the wall has temporarily been disabled.
ATTENTION: ON THE DAY OF PROTEST THE POLICE ARE LIKELY TO DIVIDE OUR DEMONSTRATION! PLEASE CHECK THIS EVENT PAGE ON FACEBOOK FROM YOUR PHONE AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE MEETING AND REUNIFICAT...ION POINT! INFORM OTHERS! KEEP TOGETHER AND WE WILL BE STRONGER!
Our e-mail:  peoplesinitiative@yahoo.com

 http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1464451


THIS IS THE ORGANISER AS CAN BE SEEN BY HIS SIGNATURE ADVERTISING THE EVENT! HE'S A PUSSY WHO CAN'T DEAL WITH GIRLS. JUST READ WHAT HE WROTE!

AND THIS PRICK WANTED TO BE A LEADER! HAHAHA!