March for the Alternative – Report

We were encouraged by the huge turn out, carnival atmosphere and sense of determination yesterday.

Sisters of Resistance were pleased to meet and hang out with inspiring women-led, environmentalists Climate Rush who remind us all that direct action gets results (it got women the vote);  we were also honoured to march (and dance) along side Global Women’s Strike and were happy to have exchanged contact details with these two groups. We were glad that the fact Unison and PCS have majority female membership was reflected on the demonstration and we hope that as the anti-cuts movement grows women will continue to play a crucial role and will be able to raise the important issues of equal pay, child care and men’s violence through and as a part of this wider struggle.

Sisters of Resistance categorically denounce the violence used by the police towards the end of the demonstration. We repeatedly reminded them that their “jobs are next” throughout the day, but they ignored our warnings and instead proved their complicity in the system that also oppresses them. More on their violent behaviour here. Inspired by our Zimbambwian sisters Woza, who repeatedly show their police that love will conquer hate, Sisters of Resistance sang along to a live performance of Waiting in Vain while changing the words slightly to probe the police as to when they are going to realise where their class loyalties lie. We won’t be holding our breath, this is not Wisconsin. Yet.

As promised, pics of the (now famous) Sisters of Resistance placard

in action!

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Response to London Student Journalism Network’s March 26 Article

“Trafalgar Square hosted a peaceful and pleasant party this evening. Police took a ‘soft touch’ approach and everything seemed to be taking its course. People sat around Nelson’s column listening to music, police allowed them to build bonfires to keep warm and protesters repeatedly commented on how impressed they were by the police’s handling of the situation.

Then a group of protesters were seen on the Olympic clock. It is unclear what they were doing on the clock but it certainly wasn’t deemed acceptable by the police who stormed in, rapidly carving a path through the protesters and forming a wall around the clock. Protesters reacted by running over to the scene from every corner of the square, throwing missiles such as traffic cones and burning wood. Many glass bottles were also thrown.” (How it Happened, Joe Rennison, 27 March 2011)

Joe, your description of what happened tonight in Trafalgar Square is sorely biased and incomplete.