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Heroes Save Grafton Centre From Picnic Mob

Grafter | 01.05.2004 20:00 | May Day 2004 | Repression | Cambridge

1:00 PM, the Grafton Center, Cambridge

In a funny but disturbing display of hostility, Grafton Centre security guards under the watchful eyes of mall managers grabbed anti-sweatshop literature out of the hands of mild-mannered protesters, forbid the use of video and still cameras, and triumphantly dismantled the sinister May Day picnic apparatus inside the mall. A potentially violent mob which was handing out pink "No To Child Labour" balloons to passing children was also suppressed with ruthless effectiveness.

Picnic 1 [Can I see your papers?]
Picnic 1 [Can I see your papers?]

Picnic 2
Picnic 2

Picnic 3
Picnic 3

The Grafton Grapple
The Grafton Grapple

This one's from Dublin but it's cool anyway
This one's from Dublin but it's cool anyway

Dangerous Criminals
Dangerous Criminals

Who are you consuming?
Who are you consuming?

Subversive Balloon Stopped in the Nick of Time
Subversive Balloon Stopped in the Nick of Time


When a demonstrator with a video camera refused to stop filming the childlike actions of the security guards confiscating literature, he was set upon by three security guards and the exodus began. A total of eight demonstrators were grabbed and hustled out of the mall, to the consternation of shoppers and management. As the Picnic Mob arrived outside at the bus stop entrance one by one, the protest gradually reconstituted itself at the entrance. The police then arrived and said that they were telling us to disperse under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, because 20 people outside the mall entrance giving away free brownies and balloons was a "serious threat to public order." [No kidding, we're not making this up!] At the instigation of the mall manager, the demonstration was marched off Grafton Centre property, past a waiting police van filled with another dozen or so constables ready and waiting for the word to do battle.

By about 1:45, the picnic was happily set up outside the main entrance to the Grafton Centre beside the Cooperative Bank, under the watchful eyes of the combined mall/police security forces. The demonstration, which included juggling, dancing, free food, people reading books, and other non-shopping activities, was finally vanquished by 3:00 pm GMT.

Grafter


Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

It's A Free Market, so you'd better PAY UP!!

01.05.2004 21:27

At least we now know what they think the role is that the general public should play when they enter this illustrious establishment.

In other words, if you're not spending money, they don't want you around!

If you want a better deal for the workers who work there, they don't want want you around!

If you want to remind people of where (and how) the goods in there got on the shelves, they don't want you around!

If you want to point out that there is more to life than spending money on the latest consumer follies, they don't want you around!

However, if you go in with the intention of being a passive consumer, willing to have your money sent out of the local economy to a head office and ultimately a company director possibly thousands of miles away, if you don't want your money to help contribute to your local economy (and therefore local community), then they'll welcome you with open arms and a plastic smile.

Remember folks:
It's a free country and a free market, but, you have to pay for it somehow!!

Another world IS possible, but only if we get rid of these plebs first!!

Proletarian Plebian


Congrats

01.05.2004 22:27

Just like to congratulate everyone who participated in Cambridge today, whether you confronted private security guards or just stopped and expressed an interest in the picnic. This event highlights an important trend in our society, namely the privatisation of public spaces, it is a wrong that should be challeneged, and challenge you all did today, and in fine style.

Congratulations.

Keep up the good work

Karic


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