22:30 All trapped celebrators are released now.
21:30 Police siege of Soho is starting to relax, but a couple
of hundred people remain trapped in Old Compton St. Mayday
celebrators are being released on an individual basis, after
being searched for weapons and photographed. It is worth
remembering that, under Section 60, police do not have the
right to gather intelligence by forcefully obtaining pictures
of individual citizens.
20:30 Around 500 people, including a samba band, are still
penned in by riot police in Old Compton St. Despite
continuously chanting "let us out", they are not being allowed
to move. Soho has been smoothly taken over by police, and it
has been confirmed that a Section 60 order has been issued for
Central London, stripping citizens of their usual rights.
Police are taking away many people, but it is not clear
whether they are being arrested or just removed from the area.
19.40 Riot police have cordoned off the Soho streets where the
carnival is taking place. The carnival crowd has been divided
by a police line, and officers are violently pushing people
into Old Compton St. Celebrators are using non-violent
resistance -- linking arms and refusing to move -- in an
attempt to remain partying together. There are reports that a
Section 60 order has been issued. Hear an audio Report from
Wardour St..
19.15 The "official" version from mainstream media for the
Trafalgar Sq. rally today, is that over 7000 people joined in
a peaceful protest interspersed with minor incidents.
19.05 Between two and three thousand people are partying in
Old Compton St. and the surrounding area.
19.00 Confirmed total number of arrests so far: 8 people
earlier on in the day, according to a Scotland Yard briefing
given to the Press Association; plus another 4 in Leicester
Sq. just now, while allegedly trying to attack a McDonalds.
18.50 In Old Compton St. an IMC reporter was assaulted by a
police officer and one person was arrested. Police are closing
Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour St. Old Compton St. and the
North end of Wardour St. are still open. See a photo of the
crowdds in Cambridge Circus.
18.25 A separate group of one thousand people are penned in by
police in Leicester Sq, where there are some minor scuffles.
Police numbers increase throughout the area, and officers are
getting into their riot gear. Meanwhile, Wombles were being
followed once outside court. Read a personal account.
18.15 The carnivalistas are now in Wardour St.
18.05 The carnival parade is in Old Compton St. moving towards
Piccadilly.
18.00 Report of 40 police vans in Piccadilly Circus with
officers getting into full riot gear. A Mayday gang in
Leicester, gave out free cake to everyone, as a token of the
free society. Mayday was also celebrated in Greenwich.
17.30 People are now celebrating around Soho. Photo from Soho
16.45 One thousand people party in full swing carnival mood at
Old Compton St, Soho. This event is organised by the
International Sex Workers Union. Very good atmosphere with a
massive police presence in the background.
16.40 Speeches have finished at Trafalgar Square and people
are leaving the area, though a sizeable crowd still remains
there. There is no Section 60 and celebrators are free to move
around.
15.40 Around 2,000 MayDay celebrators remain hemmed in
Trafalgar Square. Latest reports confirm that one person has
been arrested by police and the legal defence people have been
made aware. See a photo from Trafalgar Square here
15.30 800 people are in Oxford Street and move peacefully
towards Marble Arch. No trouble here (Why should there be?).
See a photo from the web cam at Oxford St. here
15.20 Scuffles broke out in Trafalgar Square after police
attempted to prevent the Critical Mass, the CarniBall and
other Pagan Celebrators from joining the Trade Union march. An
Indymedia journalist was struck while reporting. Police are
engaging in heavy handed violent tactics to separate the
groups of people.
15.10 Around 2000 MayDay celebrators heading down Piccadilly
Circus have broken through a police line and are now heading
towards Trafalgar Square.
Read a report from Picadilli here.
14.45 2-3000 people are playing football in Oxford St, have
turned left at Hyde Park Corner to move down Park Lane.
Reports say it's a "lovely and fluffy atmosphere".
14.40 The Piccadilly Circus crowd has moved to Charing Cross
Road.
14.35 Around 5,000 people have gathered at Piccadilly Circus
and are enjoying the carnival. People are continuing towards
Trafalgar Square.
14.30 The "Anarchist Conga Train" is spreading in the Oxford
Street area, police are trying to divide the crowd.
14.25 Police are trying to cordon in (that's the famous
Section 60!) 1000 people at Oxford Street, but don't succeed
as people are moving off quickly.
14.10 Several thousand people are peacefully moving around in
Soho and Mayfair, celebrating a sunny Mayday!.
Hear the audio report report from Bond St, and see some nice
festive pictures here.
13.45: 1000 people are walking along New Bond Street towards
Piccadilly Circus. Hear the audio report from Picadilly ircus.
The Wombles are part of this group. Increasing police
presence, but not intervening.
13.40: Parts of the critical mass bike riders plus some 400
people on foot are moving along Wardour Street towards Oxford
Street. There is a nice and festive athmosphere. Although
burly undercover cops can be seen in baseball hats chatting
away with uniformed officers.
13.30: Trafalgar Square: 50 riot vans surround the square and
a sea of yellow bibs are keeping poeple out, with no union
marchers insight yet! Bemused tourists stare in disbelief as
they are watched by surveilance police from the rooftops.
13.25: About 300 to 400 people moving along North Audsley
Street with 50 police and more in police vans following.
Atmosphere very peaceful and happy.
13.20: Dionysian Underground have 50 people at a beautiful
gathering in Green Park. Balloons wine and flowers in a circle
of trees "thanking mother earth for being so bountiful and
giving everyone the power to do what they need to for the rest
of the day"
13.10: People are gathering for the union march which is
expected to start soon. Many Mayday celebrators are gathering
around Mayfair.
12.40: The mass have settled in the Park - having a rest, and
a are being joined by more people chilling.
12.00: 500 cyclists have now gathered around Hyde Park corner,
the police can not section them as they keep moving! Sporadic
blockades of the roads around Marble Arch are happening and
the atmosphere is good. Hear the audio of Criticall Mass
moving to Hyde Park.
11.30 Unconfirmed reports just came in about a possible
section 60 on the South London Critical Mass. The cyclists
were on their way to Hyde Park Corner but they seem to have
been stuck at Oxford street. See some photos from South London
critical mass.
10:37: The critical mass has now been divided into groups
outside the US embassy. The west side is being blockaded with
a concrete barrier.
10:30: Around 200 Critical Mass cyclists are being forced to
congregate outside the Indonesian embassy because police have
erected barriers outside the US embassy with 50-60 officers,
cameras have been placed on the roof and a helicopter in an
adjacent street. The 200 cyclists are being escorted by police.
10:00: South London Critical Mass has now arrived at Trafalgar
Square. The action has a nice carnival atmosphere. Read this
Personal report for a flavour.
09.40: A 200 strong Critical Mass has arrived outside
Horsferry Rd. Magistrates Court in solidarity with the Wombles
7. Cyclists and demonstrators are now in the middle of the
road stopping traffic. Great Pictures of the Breakfast,
Banners and arrival of critical mass.
09:30: 25 people have started a free breakfast outside
Horseferry Rd Magistrate Court. Police is filming and taking
pictures of all people gathered. See photos of the support here.
09.25: Around 70 people are outside Horseferry Road
Magistrates Court in solidarity with the Wombles 7 trial.
Atmosphere is very calm and there is minimal police
presence.Report.
09.15: Reports of heavy media presence outside New Scotland
Yard for the Metropolitan Police Mayday Press Conference.
There are also reports of shops and bussinesses in Mayfair
have been boarded up in anticipation of this afternoon's
actions in the area. Scotland Yard has drafted in 5000
officers for the event.
09.00 The South London Critical Mass is now in the City of
London. Around 500 cyclists have stopped outside the Bank of
England. There is still a carnival athmosphere. See the photos
from the North London Critical Mass too.
08.35 Around 300 people are taking part in the South London
Critical Mass. Atmosphere is very calm but heavy police
presence is in the area, report
07.00: Police have evicted the MayDay Social Centre at Great
Eastern Street. People gathered and left peacefully, as they
said they would.
add your own comments
Unseen Police Tactics
by Bob 6:36am Thu May 2 '02
Arrive at Victoria Station for 10:00, followed by 2 police out
of station, police joined by extra 4 officers including
Photographer walking 3 steps behind us up and down the road in
front of the station, go to sit in a park by Victoria, hounded
by the cops and camera from the park back into the station,
cops following us down into the tube, onto trains for a tour
of central London, group manages to split up dividing the cops
but they stick with us, the groups followed out to South and
East London respectively. Police lay seige to a pub in East
London somewhere that we went into, photographing customers
and passers by,we were then asked to leave the pub by the
landlord ("Can't be having this", get into a taxi - taxi
stopped by the police, driver taken away and given the Pig HQ
phone number to call and let them know where we got out - No
Officer's numbers where visible although we met them later
during the day and managed to get some of them.
I'm sure this must have happened to more people, and is
totally unacceptable .......... Ya Basta !
The trade union demo
by Gary Jarvis 7:39am Thu May 2 '02
yesgaryjarvis@hotmail.com
Good timeline of events in the West End and my sympathies go
out to those trapped in Old Compton St, etc. My sympathies
also go out to those who narrowly escaped injury from flying
bottles, nervous tourists and families.
In fact I spoke to a mum and dad and their child and advised
them of how to get back to Leicester Sq. They were approaching
Wardour Street from Brewer Street as scuffles continued.
I spent the day at the trade union demo, which was a success.
This is not a criticism but why could not the people who
devoted their energies to having a rallying point in Soho have
joined the trade union demo? Correct me if I'm wrong but where
were Rhythms of Resistance on the trade union demo? Their
presence on all the anti-war/CND/Palestine demos has been
greatly appreciated. I would have like to have seen the band
and the party people on the trade union demo.
Perhaps I've got this completely wrong and people attended the
trade union demo before going up to Soho, but in my opinion
the people in the surrounding streets from where the party in
Soho was taking place were a very different crowd to the trade
union demo. I had no sense of solidarity with the hundreds of
people milling around. It was just the feel of people trying
to get a closer look at what was behind the police lines.
I too wanted to know what was going on behind the police
lines, but this year, (May Day), having attended the trade
union demo and marched with pensioners I saw no point in
heading to any other demo during the day. The only reason we
got to the surrounding streets was because we heard that there
was trouble and that the police were in riot gear.
Which came first? The throwing of bottles and street furniture
or the Section 60?
Both in my opinion could have been avoided if everyone had
united behind the trade union demo.
Gary Jarvis, National Union of Journalists.
where people were
by Genoseize 1:53pm Thu May 2 '02
"why could not the people who devoted their energies to having
a rallying point in
Soho have joined the trade union demo?"
In short, because we felt in was more worthwhile to be in
Mayfair, and were busy there.
Equally, we could ask you, why couldn't the people on the TUC
march have joined us in Mayfair?, (or
at the very in Soho which didn't clash with the TUC march
timewise).
And to answer your question, although I don't have knowledge
of everything that happened, I saw absolutely no
violence at all towards the cops until well after they set up
lines of riot drones penning us in. That was my experience.
clarification
by Genoseize 2:00pm Thu May 2 '02
In fact I didn't see any violence from the protesters/partiers
towards ANYONE, (or anything) let alone
cops, only a few random attacks by loose-cannon-psycho type
cops against us a couple of times.
After the cops had penned us in, though, I saw a few bottles
thrown, and people pushing police lines.
Maybe I had a weird experience and didn't see what was really
going on, but I think it's much
more likely we were remarkably non-violent.
sambistas prefer company of loved up anarchos
by sparkle 4:21pm Thu May 2 '02
To answer your query, Mr Jarvis, the Rhythms of Resistance
samba band were doing their job, whipping up a good natured
party atmosphere in the streets of soho in solidarity with our
friends, the sexworkers. Let it be made clear, that we are
actually an autonomous band for direct action, social change,
demonstrations, the occupation of commercial premises and good
old ass kicking party type occasions. We belong to no
particular cause and take our affinities where we find them.
On mayday our natural affinity was with the soho posse. Its
nice to know we were missed, and some of us may have attended
the trade union demo in 'plain clothes' but we always intended
to lend our support to the sexworkers, and more importantly
the unofficial, peaceful and vibrant actions throughout the
day that gave the lie to violent anarchist troublemaking. We
were in the pen, and the only point at which I felt genuinely
threatned and scared was when the riot police appeared. It is
one thing to be in flimsy costume and carrying a whopping drum
among hoards of cheerful, enthusiastic drunk people, and quite
another to find yourself cowering in a urine soaked doorway
from a line of big men in body armour and brandishing large
sticks. I suspect you saw exactly what you expected to see my
friend, and it makes me feel very sad.
Thanks to Genoseize and Sparkle
by Gary Jarvis 5:48pm Thu May 2 '02
yesgaryjarvis@hotmail.com
I have to say, after the comments from Sparkle and Genoseize
and the reports in the Independent and Guardian, that my
comments on the Soho activities may have been a little
scathing.
I apologize for any offence I may have caused. I got caught up
in the section 60 at Oxford Circus last year and following a
very recent brush with the police I wasn't taking any chances
yesterday.
Seeing all the links on IndyMedia has made me realise how much
was going on beside the trade union demo and I congratulate
all those in Soho on their efforts to make a difference. This
may sound like a change of tune - it is.
I don't just want to be a trade unionist, I want to build
bridges, but not in the sense Blair talks about. I really
believe that greater unity can make a real difference to our
efforts to fight New Labour, the excesses of capitalism and
stop suffering.
I'll end with a question. Can we create bigger mobilisations
on varying issues in the coming months?
Gary Jarvis
yes lets organise!
by sparkle 12:16pm Fri May 3 '02
Hello again Gary,
yes, it would be good to see more and varied actions gather
strength from the current swell of interest in anti capitalist
feelings. There are many actions taking place, all over the
country that need greater support. The problem is publicising
them adequately before and after the event. That is where
indymedia comes into its own. Large events organised by cnd,
trade unions, stop the war coalition and globalise resistance
grab the limelight because of the media savvy of their
organisers, and also their 'official' nature. I am in favour
of more wildcat, unnofficial and non violent unpredictability.
How to gain large numbers for these sorts of events is an
ongoing problem. Lets not be downhearted though, I think its
gonna happen and I think Mayday empowered a lot of people.
Large ralleys can be hugely empowering when you see the sheer
scale of support for your own dearly held beleifs, but lets
not forget the smaller protests and actions that happen every
day. Keep checking indemedia, get involved in your local
(squatted?) social centre, pick up flyers handed to you on
demos. Theres a lot going on out there and the best way to get
involved is to actively hunt it down and add your support.
Better still, organise your own!