UK Promoted Newswire Archive
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Breaking news: Police less than honest
19-07-2011 20:53
Solidarity with Charlie Gilmour
19-07-2011 14:48
Predictably there has been a lot of interest and comment on the sentencing of Charlie Gilmour to sixteen months for two counts of violent disorder. It has been both suggested this was lenient because he’ll only do eight months or less on a tag, and that it was a harsher sentence because of his parent’s notoriety.Neither of these sentiments are accurate. It is a harsh, unjustified sentence – certainly far longer than those involved in drunken violence on a Saturday night receive. And those who think it’s not long should fuck off and spend a week in prison before making such facile statements.
Palestine Today 07 19 2011
19-07-2011 14:18
The (Non)Resistance of Clifton Mansions
19-07-2011 12:55
The attempted resistance at Clifton Mansions, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton is a sorry tale of what London has become, and a missed opportunity for radicalising a new generation of resisters. Brixton, once the home to black power, a strong community spirit, DIY punk culture, squatting and the Brixton Riots in the 1980's, has become a sad shadow of its former self.
The attempted resistance at Clifton Mansions, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton is a sorry tale of what London has become, and a missed opportunity for radicalising a new generation of resisters. Brixton, once the home to black power, a strong community spirit, DIY punk culture, squatting and the Brixton Riots in the 1980's, has become a sad shadow of its former self; it now hosts Brixton Village with its gourmet boutique restaurants, coke-crazed munters flailing on the pavements and the professional upper-class jabbering over a glass of Chardonnay ("Oooh darling, its sooo wonderful"). Its a classic example of gentrification (or "regeneration") wiping away the old community ties, its history and all that gave Brixton its reputation for standing up to police and government oppression, replaced by a sort of pseudo-community that proudly wears the badge of Brixton, but is as flakey as fuck.
Prequel
So open the scene for the eviction of Clifton Mansions. The evening starts off slowly, and as a few of us hand out some leaflets for the eviction party and the morning's resistance, the crowd walks by sullenly, ignoring our solicitations and looking sourly at us, or rushing past to the gym, the Sainsbury's or any number of Brixton's hip venues. Even from this moment, the idea that the community would support the resistance and make a stand for a by-gone Brixton against the murderous Met - Smiley Culture, Ian Tomlinson - was as remote as if we were canvassing against the invasion of Iran. Having given out very few leaflets we wandered back to the Mansions to see if things had started up, but to no avail. The courtyard was beginning to be filled up with those coming down to the eviction party (famously advertised on Fakebook with 1,200 attending); however, they were met with a cold reception by the Residents, who were still busy moving their furniture and stuff out even though it was already 9pm. There were no sound-systems, there were no events - say a film room -, so people sat around, drinking, chatting and making do. Every now and again, there was a burst of ominous thuds, the sound of misled party-goers trying to kick-in doors, because they thought it was an empty building they could trash.
Sequel
Later, we wandered about the building and stood in the snaking queue up the stairwell that led up to the roof, three floors up. And we stood and stood, people pushed past, people came down, the queue moved slowly upwards, until finally we made it up to the hatch and a rickety ladder. There an "organiser" called people up and down, otherwise there would have been true chaos and god-knows how many injuries - hats off to those that self-organised the hatch that night. So at last we reached the wild expanse of the roof, where bodies silhouetted the skyline and a straight 3-storey drop on all sides, including down to the courtyard below. This situation demonstrates the power of anarchism in people (and a lot of luck) - even though the drop was unguarded and precarious, everyone had enough sense not to fall off the roof that night without the need for any overzealous Health and Safety measures. However the scene was not as anarchistic as one would have hoped; there was a serious lack of mutual respect, as punters carelessly or maliciously threw cans and bottles into the crowd below. At times it seemed like a war-zone below as the crowd rushed for cover in the doorways, smashed glass scattered and people covering their heads or eyes ran to get help.
The End is Nigh
At last a sound-system was established in one of the bottom flats, and the D 'n B spewed into the courtyard and a dance-floor started up. Wandering down and mingling for a while, we spotted groups of men moving in and out of the building, sometimes masked up, and later we heard about how people were being pickpocketed on the stairwells, and how a group of these crims had broken into a room, beating up and robbing everyone in there; a man with a bloodied face wandered round the party looking for his attackers. People just partied on and one felt very little solidarity in the place, just a sort of hedonistic intentional ignorance. Some activists there looked around at the crowd, shook their heads and muttered: "This is a lost cause." And they were right; we made off a couple of hours later as the sky lightened up. Well done to those that stayed, and turned up the next morning, to meet the brute force of the murderous Met; any resistance is always better than none. Even though the resistance was symbol, rather than effective, the media screamed about "violence" and the picture of the man "jumping" into the police lines, was actually a man who tripped off scaffolding as police pulled it away from under him; he is currently being held, facing charges of "assaulting a police officer".
Lessons Learnt
So Clifton Mansions, a squat since the 1990's was closed down in a matter of hours; the resistance was symbolic, the Brixton community did not rise en-masse to say "No!" to police brutality, the corrupt Lambeth council or gentrification; what could have been an opportunity for creative direct action was lost. So what went wrong?
1] The Fakebook Crowd: the FB crowd has been slagged off everywhere for the bad atmosphere, and in many ways, quite rightly. The Fakebook invite itself seems a little mystery in the affair: was it sent out by "disruptive" influences looking to either break apart any effective direct action, or to lure kids into the fray so the police and media could later take paint them as a violent and unruly generation needing stern repression (which they did anyway, even though there was little resistance)? However the crowd was also a good mix of South London crew, regular kids and many locals, residents, ex-residents and the like. What was lacking was direction, activities, some ground rules (like "don't kick any doors in"), a sense of solidarity and organising groups who could make sure people didn't take the piss. Such things might have been sneered at first by a cynical generation, but in the end, it creates a much more productive atmosphere, fun mixed with a sense of purpose. We were there to resist, and while a good South London mash-up is fun, all you really have in the morning is a hangover.
2] Clifton Mansion's residents: Understandably residents were stressed with having to move out of their homes with 2 weeks notice before the eviction party began. However, there was never any sign of any organising for the party or the resistance; while the residents had links with the Brixton community, I did not see any propaganda out and about, or people being properly informed. The eviction party seemed to be a "nuisance" to them, when it could have been an opportunity to educate people about the history of Clifton Mansions, the criminalisation of squatting, or getting people to build barricades and other direct action infrastructure for the next day. Residents seemed to escape to their rooms and there was no engaging or organising the bored party-goers to do something constructive. There was no crash space for activists that had come from all over London to help out. There were no security arrangements to create a safe space for guests and residents alike. A message to all those at the brunt of future mass-evictions: please get organised early, engage with the activist community and plan ahead to be effective.
With better co-operation, a clearer purpose, more unity and a sense of the ridiculous, we might collectively have creatively resisted for a whole day, maybe two. There was ample opportunity for building structures, casting nets, dropping banners, getting a message across. With time, the community might have stepped up and said "No!" to the sight of the fascists-in-blue beating harmless kids. Together we may have secured a reprieve for the building, time to consider its future, in full, as the community. At the same time, there is certainly a fishy stink to the affair: the Fakebook invite, the super-prepared police (notice the piggy-climbers and full TSG in eviction photos), the media harping on about the "violence" at the eviction (what a heap of shite). If people had really resisted, there is no doubt that the Tory-machine would have gone into over-drive to use it as a justification for the criminalisation of squatting. Maybe the damp squib was the best outcome. Nevertheless, the corrupt Lambeth council now has full occupation, the police got their overtime pay (but didn't get to beat any "hippies" up), Camelot will look after the building with its own expensive private squatters ("licensees"), and before long Brixton will become the new Kensington, and everything will be alright.......
NO CLASS (MY ARSE) by Sean Cregan
18-07-2011 18:02
A poem written in HMP Wormwood Scrubs by antifascist prisoner Sean Cregan.Palestine Today 07 18 2011
18-07-2011 15:29
Breaking: Greenpeace Polar Bears occupy Cairn Energy HQ
18-07-2011 08:27
This morning about 50 polar bears have occupied the Edinburgh HQ of Cairn Energy. They are believed to be trying to find Cairn's elusive Arctic oil spill response plan.Cairn is one of the companies spearheading attempts to extract fossil fuels from the arctic, region, despite the fact the ice caps are already melting as a result of fossil fuel use. Arctic extraction also involves drilling deep which has risks and the whole operation is likely to be catastrophic for wildlife and the environment.
Street party against business, banks, service cuts
17-07-2011 17:55
Saturday 16 July 2011
2.00pm people gathered in the Market Square, being entertained by a small sound system in a rucksack!
Others had gathered outside Vodafone in Clumber Street, Nottingham [Again :-)] After a while, folks joined together and went on the regular troll around the usual tax evading businesses in the city.
Other businesses visited included Philip Green's TopShop, BHS, Boots, Burtons / Dorethy Perkins, another Vodafone shop .... and of course, the banks. NatWest, Barclays, RBS, Santander, & LloydsTSB .... oh and once around the Broadmarsh.
All accompanied by the usual wardens, security and the occasional policeman .... just to make sure everyone was safe!
Report: Street party against social control & the banks
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1931
Text of the flyer, wot was handed out:
Reclaim Nottingham!
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY
This street party is an attempt to reclaim our city from corporate bloodsuckers, grey-faced bureaucrats and humourless wardens and police. When CCTV watches our every move and even busking can get you a ticket, having fun for free has been made illegal. We want to change that. Come and join the party!
WHO OWNS THE CITY?
This city is supposed to belong to us, the people of Nottingham. But most of the city centre is controlled by giant companies who only want to drain money out of us. Even the Market Square has become another place for the Council to make a few bob. We are only allowed in if we have money to spend. It’s time to take back the space.
BUNCH OF BANKERS
One of the worst offenders are the banks. Making billions out of arms, oil and environmental destruction isn’t enough – they still need to be propped up by bailouts from the taxpayer. Whilst their friends in government make our lives a misery with cuts to services, the bankers are using public money to top up their multi-million pound bonuses. Enough’s enough! Chase the bankers out of town.
Cuts Protest @ Vodafone, Boots, NatWest, TopShop..
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1106
Notts UK Uncut occupied Lloyds TSB Bank Nottingham
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1105
& recently ........
NHS Campaigners hang Andrew Lansley for his crimes
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1921
Cuts campaigners @ HSBC Vodafone Virgin & the rest
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1922
Protests in Notts Mark 63rd Anniversary of NHS [Feature]
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1927
********
Notts UK Uncut
http://www.nottsuncut.webeden.co.uk
UK Uncut
http://nottssos.org.uk
Notts Save our Services
http://nottssos.org.uk
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Remembering Carlo Giuliani in Berlin
17-07-2011 17:55
Ten years ago Carlo Giuliani was shot dead by police at the G8 protests in Genoa, Italy. His death marked the escalation of a transnational struggle against capitalist globalization. Yesterday, anti-capitalists in Berlin remembered the tragic loss of the young militants life and vented their anger against a murderous system.
In the last weeks numerous stencils and posters announced a demonstration in remembrance of Carlo Giuliani. The posters stated explicitly that the demonstration would not be registered with the authorities. This is highly unusual in Germany, where demonstrations have to be registered in advance with the police and local authorities, which normally sets in motion a surveillance and control apparatus which ensures that no disruption of the normal state of affairs is possible. But not this time.
It was a warm night in Berlin-Kreuzberg and the police was already waiting at Lausitzer Platz, the rally point of the demonstration. Via megaphone the cops arrogantly announced that any unregistered demonstration would not be allowed to proceed. Suddenly, out of the dark a masked black bloc of 1000 people emerged, bypassing the riot units and marching fast through Kreuzberg, shouting "polizia assassini" on its way. The cops were taken by suprise but quickly followed the demonstration, trying to cut off its way. In this moment the demonstration split up in smaller groups, swarming the nightlife area of Kreuzberg, causing traffic interruptions, engaging in skirmishes with the cops, throwing stones and bottles at fleeing police vans, and generally causing chaos for the following hours.
Last night, we not only remembered Carlo, but reminded the security apparatus which killed him that we are still here.
Pictures and video from the action:
http://just.ekosystem.org/BLOG/?p=2421
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YarrHK3lR5c
Full article | 2 additions | 3 comments
Freedom: Comrades Jailed
17-07-2011 17:41
Seven protestors have been jailed in the last couple of weeks in London and it is likely that more will follow soon.Obviously they deserve our support and also we must do everything possible to avoid others being imprisoned.
Photos from the Cambridge Abortion Rights Demo 16 July 2011
17-07-2011 14:47
http://groupspaces.com/FeministActionCambridge/item/162671
Vodafone - Tax Avoidance Bad; Child Abuse Worse.
16-07-2011 22:55
Vodafone - Tax Avoidance Bad; Child Abuse Worse.
Last weekend Notts Uncut were protesting outside Vodafone. They'd dropped the shutters and a ten year old boy was looking through the shutters when a member of staff inside the shop slammed her hand into the shutter forcing it into his face. This was witnessed by around 20 people.
His dad went into the shop the following day to complain and the store manager agreed the member of staff's behaviour had been unacceptable and promised a written apology from Vodafone to the boy and a personal apology from the member of staff.
We went to Vodafone today for him to receive his apology and Vodafone have now decided that no incident took place and no apology would be made. After imparting this news they pulled the shutters down again so Notts Uncut maintained a presence outside the shop until they closed up and sent their staff home at 3.30.
We'll be there again tomorrow from 11am.
Vodafone need to know that it's not ok to avoid tax and it's not ok to attack children then lie about it.
Street party against social control & the banks
16-07-2011 15:55
A roving street party against the enclosure of public space for private profit was held in Nottingham today. A mobile sound system toured around the city centre disrupting the business of most of the banks and a few other corporate nasties. We also did a lap of the Broadmarsh Centre. Hundreds of flyers protesting social control of the city centre and the human and environmental destruction of the banks were handed out.
Ironically we ended up being followed by three CPOs and various other private security guards (exactly the kind of people we want to get rid of!) but they didn't seem bothered about actually trying to stop us. Several of the businesses got scared and closed before we'd even got there - we even had the amusing situation of having to wait for some of our mates to be let out of one shop which closed with them still inside!
The spectacle was made a lot of passers by curious and many wanted to take our flyers and find out what it was all about. We even gathered a small army of kids to the cause in the Broadmarsh. We're not the only ones fed up about being told what we can and can't do in our city and making a visible and noisy protest was a good way to get other people to take notice. Even the sun came out for us :)
Reclaim Nottingham!
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY
This street party is an attempt to reclaim our city from corporate bloodsuckers, grey-faced bureaucrats and humourless wardens and police. When CCTV watches our every move and even busking can get you a ticket, having fun for free has been made illegal. We want to change that. Come and join the party!
WHO OWNS THE CITY?
This city is supposed to belong to us, the people of Nottingham. But most of the city centre is controlled by giant companies who only want to drain money out of us. Even the Market Square has become another place for the Council to make a few bob. We are only allowed in if we have money to spend. It’s time to take back the space.
BUNCH OF BANKERS
One of the worst offenders are the banks. Making billions out of arms, oil and environmental destruction isn’t enough – they still need to be propped up by bailouts from the taxpayer. Whilst their friends in government make our lives a misery with cuts to services, the bankers are using public money to top up their multi-million pound bonuses. Enough’s enough! Chase the bankers out of town.
Why are we in the Whit Marley?
15-07-2011 20:44
ASDA kills small community businesses and stirchely has a lively local community which would be threatened by the construction of the multinational corporation; Asda. ASDA destroys livelihoods and community characters all in the name of profit for a few.
We are determined to not let this space be wasted on ASDA that would only damage the comunity, we are going to turn it instead in a comunity centre and a reasource for all the comunity.
This Week in Palestine Week 28 2011
15-07-2011 17:23
Palestine Today 07 14 2011
14-07-2011 14:47
‘Flytilla’ Volunteers Arrive Back in the UK
13-07-2011 23:28
The activists were there to greet several ‘Flytilla’ volunteers deported by Israel from Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. The volunteers had made an attempt to travel to Bethlehem in the Occupied West Bank for the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative. Up to 600 volunteers had made plans to fly into Ben Gurion from Friday onwards to form a solidarity delegation that would visit Palestinians in various towns and villages in the West Bank, illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.
‘Guerilla Ballet’ disrupts BP-sponsored opera event in Trafalgar Square
13-07-2011 23:21
Charlie Byers, who played the prince, explained: “The tar sands are one of the biggest threats to the future of our climate [5]; they are also destroying local communities and wildlife, trampling indigenous rights, and running Canada out of water and natural gas. It is a key time to pressure BP to withdraw, as the corporation has already substantially invested in the tar sands but will not start profiting for years to come.”
Clifton Mansions, homes turned into assets
13-07-2011 20:55
Tuesday's morning eviction of Clifton Mansions, a block of flats in Brixton's Coldharbour Lane, signaled the end to one of the longest lasting community of squatters in the neighbourhood. The residents in the 22 flats that had been occupied since the early 1990's were made homeless in the latest operation of further gentrification of central Brixton that involved police in riot gear, a police helicopter hovering over the area, the fire brigade and bailiffs.
Read full report & pics | more pics | video | Tumblewire timeline
More pics: Party (Urban75) | Eviction (Urban75) | Pics (Demotix)
The eviction of Clifton Mansions signals the end of an era for Brixton. Clifton Mansions was not the only squat in the area, and it will not be the last one, but it definitely represented one of the last bastions of resistance to the ongoing gentrification of central Brixton.
As the squatters of Clifton Mansions stated: "now Lambeth Council will pay Camelot, a private company, to provide “live-in guardians” to occupy Clifton Mansions, whilst the squatters have been providing a free guardian service for years. Why make people homeless and then pay a multinational company to occupy their homes? Eventually Lambeth wants to sell Clifton Mansions to property developers, further reducing Lambeth's social housing stock in central Brixton. Clifton Mansions will be turned into luxury flats priced well beyond the means of the local community."
The building now remains lifeless and ready to be put on the market. As one of the tumbles in London Indymedia states: "This used to be a home to people, now it's an asset".
See tumblepics of Clifton Mansions 24 hours after the eviction: 1 | 2 | 3
Report & Pics: Brixton's Clifton Mansions Eviction
13-07-2011 19:55
Tuesday's morning eviction of Clifton Mansions, a block of flats in Brixton's Coldharbour Lane, signaled the end to one of the longest lasting community of squatters in the neighbourhood. The residents in the 22 flats that had been occupied since the early 1990's were made homeless in an operation that involved police in riot gear, a police helicopter hovering over the area, the fire brigade and bailiffs.
Over two weeks ago, the residents of Clifton Mansions learnt that the police was planning to block off Brixton's Coldharbour Lane early in the morning of Tuesday 12th, and so they put out a call for support. They also organised a farewell party on the night before the eviction with the aim to gather as much support as possible, but in the event, and after having been announced in facebook, hundreds of people turned up at the building seemingly without any idea of what the event was all about. By the very early hours of the morning, the party started to get out of hand when groups of unsolidarian people began to kick-in doors and generally trashing the place despite the pleas by the occupants.
By 8am the 'party crowd' had all gone, whilst genuine supporters started to gather in the street in front of the building. Some of the residents and supporters remained inside, and eventually they started to build an improvised barricade closing off the main entrance gate to the block. At around 9am the first signs of the police operation became visible when a large number of police and bailiff vans and a fire brigade truck arrived at the scene closing off both ends of Coldharbour Lane. A police helicopter also started to hoover over the area at this point, thus adding to the sense of militarisation in the area.
Large numbers of police and bailiffs then gathered at the north end of Coldharbour Lane getting ready for the opperation, whilst some of the supporters in the street moved in front of the barricaded gates. The forces of darkness then quickly moved in, and in the usual bullying and violent manner, police started to push people away from the building creating a line in front of the gates. Another wave of police in riot gear also moved in at this point, and together with the bailiffs broke into the building dismantling the barricade at the entrance.
Police then cleared the area in front of Clifton Mansions setting up two lines preventing any protestors from approaching the building for the rest of the morning. Meanwhile some of the Clifton Mansions residents and their supporters took positions in some of the flats and in the roof in a last show of defiance.
At around 9.40am yet another wave of riot police and bailiffs entered the building and eventually evicted all those still inside the flats and on the roof. The police lines were kept for another couple of hours as bailiff teams boarded up the main gate and took full control of the building. The morning ended with one arrest and tens of people becoming homeless.
The eviction of Clifton Mansions signals the end of an era for Brixton. Clifton Mansions was not the only squat in the area, and it will not be the last one, but it definitely represented one of the last bastions of resistance to the ongoing gentrification of central Brixton. As the squatters of Clifton Mansions stated: "now Lambeth Council will pay Camelot, a private company, to provide “live-in guardians” to occupy Clifton Mansions, whilst the squatters have been providing a free guardian service for years. Why make people homeless and then pay a multinational company to occupy their homes? Eventually Lambeth wants to sell Clifton Mansions to property developers, further reducing Lambeth's social housing stock in central Brixton. Clifton Mansions will be turned into luxury flats priced well beyond the means of the local community."
Here there are some photos of the morning's events:
The building now remains lifeless and ready to be put on the market. As one of the tumbles in London Indymedia states: "This used to be a home to people, now it's an asset".
See tumblepics of Clifton Mansions 24 hours after the eviction: 1 | 2 | 3
