If you are supposed to be autonomous why are you taking part in an organised march with the official Unions under police permission and conditions? Is it because you can no longer muster thousands of supporters in a truly autonomous Mayday celebration? If so, why not have lots of little dispersed celebrations instead? Do you really want to be contained in a police kettle in Trafalgar Square?

No point going to a MayDay demo.

The 10 anarchists group of 50 people just fight amongst each other and constantly judge and criticize each other so you end up feeling like shit. Furthermore the lack of organization and the sectarianism will mean the demo will be useless as it will be too scattered and the police will have complete control.

So basically there is no point going unless you have loads of motivation cos you will come back very depressed.

Mayday emerges as the day of solidarity between various groups and organisations scattered around the country. Yes if there are more people then there will be a larger demonstration so let's have a massive surge of euphoria as the people who care most about the health of our planet come together and share love.

Perhaps it should start at different, scattered, locations and move towards a central target? That would imply less control of the demonstration. We cannot afford to splinter off. Using the law of elements, should we resemble the ocean in our commitment to stay united then there is nothing that can stand in our way.

A tsunami across London might disable Parliament. If Parliament is disabled then change can occur. We need devolution and a new election based on Proportional Representation.

It's an idea and a plan so that's someting but it seems to show a lack of imagination tail-ending a small traditional Leftist inclined Mayday (many of who are anti-@). Maybe something truly autonomous from the by-now waste of time of sectarian Marxist groupuscles would be better. It's a dispiriting march anyway. Red flags, stalinists, maoists...

But i suppose any advertised gathering point for autonomous types will be overwhelmed by cops anywhere. So, touche! Welcome to Blair Britain!!

Any bright spark got something revolutionary we could have a go at!

Salud

Nice to see such a positive response!!!

OK in its defence:

1) Although we are part of the organised march, we are not "part of the march" so to speak. Although obviously we support the efforts of militant trade unionists and worker struggle, this march represents more of a convenience than a subscription to reformist TUC values, ideology etc.

2) I agree dispersed celebrations are good (I believe there may be a bloc in Manchester as well for example), but they are just that - dispersed and, following that, small. You are right, we can't muster the kind of support we used to have. It is time to rebuild. A unified action facilitates this. The activist networks are still there, the feeling is still there - we simply need to be more proactive in our attitude and activities.

3) You are right, factionalism is a problem. It is a problem that plagues all left wing movements. But this is not about that. In fact, the purposes are quite the opposite. We NEED to bring everyone together if we are to be more effective. The "Sack Parliament" actions are a good example of this. A common purpose under which like-minded activists can unite. WE NEED TO PUSH THIS FURTHER.
(And you can be assured that I will not judge or criticize you)

4) Finally, despite "tail-ending" a traditional leftist line (which I agree can be disheartening) we intend, depending on attendance of course, to make our presence more defined. We are not simply another lefty group, THIS IS OUR DAY AS WELL. This should be a stepping stone to greater things. If we can pull together in this way then, yes maybe next year we may be strong enough to organise our own event - A truly anarchist gathering that sets out our culture and our principles. That places what we think is important on the agenda. But if this is to happen it NEEDS to be a mass gathering. If we were to do this now I can't help but feel it would
a) prove deeply disapointing as attendance and support would undoubtedly be poor.
b) prove ineffective as police presence would be overwhelming.

We need to know that the support, and the numbers are there. I know this isn't the most impressive action in the world. But please support it if you can.

Solidarity

I feel the real Mayday this year will be on the bank holiday monday - May 7th - when thousands of migrant workers and their supporters will be marching. Like the official Mayday, it's under a reformist banner - regularization with conditions - and organized by an ultra-reformist coalition of religious groups, schols, union branches etc called London Citizens. But they are no more reformist than the trade union bosses. And the cause in question does not 'belong' to them anyway. We can show that we believe 'noone is illegal'.
And there is the small difference that May 7 will be a Mayday demonstration by workers on a pressing international working class issue! Whereas May 1st will as usual consist of professional trade unionists and foreign stalinist parties celebrating largely... the merger of T&G and Amicus.

The fact is there are 10 groups with self-righteous founders/leaders in UK..

Anarchist Federation - most arrogant
Class War
Sol Fed
Reclaim
AntiFa
Wombles - the best

and more plus loads of individuals not in groups.

On the demo all these people will be there judging each other and moaning constantly about other people. I used to be involved 5years back with the clowns of the A-Fed but all they did was moan about SWPs, Class War, Greens and were completely useless themselves.

Until the groups work more together and the leaders (who think they are not leaders) lose their self-rightous attitude then the Anarchist movement is useless

I am sorry to hear that you consider us to be the most arrogant of Anarchist groups. Obviously I can't speak for when you were in the organisation but I can speak for my own experience. As to disagreeing with these other groups, nothing could be further from the truth. I am in Sheffield AF and we work well with all of the above mentioned groups (we even have a SolFed member) and others you have not mentioned - food not bombs, IWW etc. I have personally marched with both RESPECT and the SWP (even though I do not agree with there policies) for a common cause and we are active supporters of campaigns such as the local "No to NHS Privatisation Campaign". We are a very active branch. You are right, there is the occasional numnut who is obssessed with "correct" theory to the expense of action (and I can tell you I have had my disagreements with them) But this is true of any activist organisation.

Most importantly, we are a federated body. How we act on a national and local level are often very different as local branches are free to pursue there own mandate under AF Aims and Principles. Sometimes we get it wrong. But more often than not we get it right. But to brand the whole organisation in this way is a bit unfair. Granted, we still need work. But I think you will find we have changed a lot in five years.

P.s. I do think May 7th is as worthy a cause. Solidarity. I would urge all anarchists to support both events if they can.

why not just find a nice Maypole and dance happily around it ? it might do you more good than all the useless posturing and anger-driven rhetoric that just proves how futile your small life really is.

Fair nuff ... Call out Gouranga - Be Happy! :-)

- what kind of comment is that?


Yes, wanky 'professional trade unionists' call the demo and dominate the speaking at the end, but those who come on the march, who you so easily dismiss, are marching here in support of their countrymen and women in Kurdistan, Turkey, Iran, Latin America, and elsewhere, who are routinely gassed, baton-charged, arrested, tortured and murdered on May Day.

It is very important to at least have one day a year where all different groups and individuals (despite their differences) walk together in honour of the historical workers struggle and movement that is above any name, organization or party.
Of coarse its not going to be an action packed event, police are everywhere and not all participating in the event are up for it, however, since when are we going to stop attending important events and moments because theyre "boring" or "depressing", what sort of committment is that? plus, theyre only "boring" and "depressing" if you make them out to be, discuss with likeminded people, feel that you are part of a greater movement that is more than a century old... This is OUR day, and we need to show some unity. Descentralized actions are a great idea, but they should revolve around a unitary posture on MayDay.
There is no need for secterianism, if we walk with other people that have chosen different ways to combat the system or to imporve theyre lives (trade unions, parties, etc.) then lets show them that we are an alternative. They are just regular hardworking people, not evil or embarassing to walk along with... If we dont even show up on a day like May Day how are we supposed to covince other activists, workers, etc. that we are interested in pursuing workers struggles and combating the system.
A couple of arty events and stunts are not very effective by themselves, they need to be accompanied by a background of organization and solidarity, a base from which to threaten the capitalist system consistently everyday.
Is the anarchist movement going to stagnate in the arrogant armchair-anarchist or arty-farty middle class anarchsit stereotype forever in the UK? Anarchism is over a century old tradition of WORKING CLASS militancy for a free and egalitarian world, lets not forget our roots, but build upon them, always critically and constructively.
No secterianism, arrogance and the like, will get us very far.

(A) you are spot on with what you say. let's not faff around with all this bitching, put our (usualy minuscule) differences aside and stand together. it's not the most imaginitive idea for may day ever, but it's a great opportunity to go side-by-side under the red n black flags. :-)