Early report on Halloween City demo

Report in an individual capacity on the demo at canary wharf tonight. The demo was called by elements of Reclaim The Streets and the Socialist Workers Party, but was also backed by lots of the far left and anarchist groups, incuding our group Autonomy and Solidarity.

A good turnout of about 250+ (roughly, i didn't count!) probably due to the excitement at the last demo. Our group was followed from setting off in New Cross; two police cans were waiting outside the campus and at one point even a police helicopter buzzed overhead - amazing what the word 'anarchist' inspires in the constabularly at time like this. Arrived to find a good 200 people in the big open space outside the tube. Very clear split between the RTS-inspired 'dancing on the grave of capitalism' street theatre group and the student block. We joined the student block, flanking the the Socialist Worker Student Society banner with our own "DON'T PANIC, ORGANISE!" banner and soon we set off towards Lehman Brothers offices, straight through a police line.

We got about 50 feet before the cops got the upper hand. There was what the media call 'a tense stand off' but is really the point where the crowd decides how serious it is. We made a couple more rushes, but the main body of the crowd were being urged back by stewards. After that there was a charge down the other end of the concourse, i missed how it ended, then straight back at Lehman brothers and the first police line, which by now was redoubled and robust. A portly copper decided to give us some sly kicks under the banner and in his enthusiasm, lost his little hat. Bless. After that, charge back the other way, then charge back the other way, and so forth.

We realised although the crowd was sprinting to start with, it always came to a halt before the cordon - then it would walk very slowly into it. Looking at the station, there was a police line forming there too - meaning there was almost a pen around the whole crowd. Its halloween and there's loads on so we called it a night. It was a good show of defiance and it put the ball up their end too, being held in the fanancial centre rather than an arbitary rally in a square.

All this time there was the street theatre thing going on with samba band. I tripped over one of their pumpkins at one point, other than that no idea what was going on there.

PS - The City Boy hard nuts who said they were going to do us here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=603911&nmt=Wharf%20soapdodgers
didn't turn up, surprise surprise.

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